Q&A: Aylee
In her bold new single Dressed Up, Aylee pulls no punches. Turning raw emotion and lived experience into a fiercely cathartic anthem. Born from the aftermath of a toxic relationship, the track explores themes of emotional manipulation, betrayal, and the often-dismissed power of female rage. With unflinching honesty, she channels not just heartbreak, but the relief and clarity that follow survival—and does so with self-produced, distortion-fueled intensity. In this interview, she opens up about the healing process behind the song, the strength in vulnerability, and why embracing anger can be a vital part of reclaiming your voice.
Check out the Q&A below:
1. Your new single “Dressed Up” is incredibly raw and emotional—can you tell us what inspired the track and what the writing process looked like?
I wrote Dressed Up after coming out of a particularly toxic relationship. I had spent months writing sad, heartbroken songs about the breakup, but this one felt different. As soon as I came up with the line “a lucky escape dressed up as a heartbreak,” I knew I wanted the track to channel the anger and sheer relief I felt at finally being free from such a controlling situation.
Heartbreak is far from an underrepresented topic in music, but I really wanted to explore the betrayal and the anger that can come with it, which, sadly, is also a very common experience. I’ve come to realise that female rage is often dismissed or labelled as “crazy.” I mean, I can’t count how many times I’ve heard someone say, “Oh yeah, my ex was crazy.” But with Dressed Up, instead of pushing down that rage or fearing the label, I chose to embrace it, because I genuinely believe female rage is not only valid, but incredibly important. I refuse to let someone else’s actions define me. This was my experience, and if writing about how someone mistreated me makes me “crazy,” then honestly, I’m okay with that.
The actual writing process is a bit of a blur now. I didn’t start with the title, which is usually how I write. I just picked up my guitar and began writing what I thought would be another heartbreak ballad, but pretty quickly, I realised that wasn’t what this song wanted to be.
2. You’ve said this song came from a place of deep hurt and reflection. What was the turning point for you emotionally that led to creating it?
I feel like there wasn’t a specific turning point that stood out to me. I know it should have been when all of my friends and even my therapist told me to leave the situation, but when you’re so deeply invested in something, it can be difficult to see it for what it is. I was always so entangled with what it “could be” if only I had been treated better.
I could go so deeply into the ins and outs of it all, but I guess once I finally had some distance from the relationship, I could finally see it the way those closest to me had; they didn’t view everything through rose coloured glasses and weren’t caught up in the manipulation or lies I was being constantly fed. Looking back I fully understand why they wanted me out of it but when you’re trapped in an emotional situation it isn’t always as easy as just walking away, I mean I had tried but every time I did something dramatic and outof control would happen and I’d end up right back in it, which again, looking back was some top tier manipulation and again happens all too often.
3. Compared to your previous single “Good Enough,” “Dressed Up” feels darker and more introspective. Was that a conscious decision, or something that unfolded naturally?
I wrote and produced both of these tracks very close together, I think ‘Good Enough’ was a turning point for when I started to see my selfworth and I guess ‘Dressed Up’ goes hand in hand with it as it sort of explains how I got to a place where I felt ‘not enough’ and ‘too much’ at the same time. I don’t think I consciously decided that ‘Dressed Up’ was going to be dark and angry until it came out, and suddenly it just was.
4. The song explores heavy themes like emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and narcissistic abuse. How did you find the courage to put such personal experiences into your music?
As I’ve grown as an artist, I’ve found that the music I’m most drawn to, and that inspires me to write, is always the most honest. When it comes to something like emotional abuse, sadly, it’s so common that I knew it was a topic many people could relate to.
I wanted to share my own experience because when you’re in that kind of situation, it can feel incredibly isolating. Emotional abuse often includes textbook tactics like trying to isolate a partner, and while I always stayed true to my friends, I definitely felt very alone at times. I’d find myself lying about my ex’s behaviour or making excuses for them, probably in an attempt to ‘protect’ the relationship. But in the end, keeping all of that to yourself only makes the loneliness worse. I wanted to show that it doesn’t have to be like that. No, it’s not always as simple as just leaving, and yes, I completely understand the fear of judgment. But if the people closest to you are concerned about how you’re being treated, maybe it’s worth considering that they have a point. They only want what’s best for you.
So I would say that some space and perspective inspired me to share this fairly heavy experience.
5. You produced “Dressed Up” entirely by yourself. What was that process like— especially working on such an emotionally charged song alone?
I think initially I had the lyric “you say that I’m a saint but I’m not one for praying, claim I deserve more god that’s an understatement’ because I was constantly told that I was a saint and that I deserved better by my ex. I had those lyrics and a rough melody accompanied by my acoustic guitar, so initially this song started off fairly stripped back and sad, much like the other tracks I had written but as soon as I had the hook I knew I was on to something and I just knew I wanted to let the anger that had been building for all those years out.
When I write, I tend to build a rough loop in logic to get a general vibe for the track, so often the production leads the writing for me. I remember messing about with the bass and just adding more and more distortion until I had this furious sound to write around.
I love collaborating with other people, but I do find that when I write and produce alone, I tend to be more honest with myself, and I feel that often translates in my lyrics and production. I usually start my loops with a mixture of samples of my voice and chords, and just take it from there, but this time round, I specifically remember finding the bass sound and loving it. At no point when I wrote this song did I struggle to find the next line, lyric or where the production needed to go; it all just kind of poured out of me, so I’d say the writing and production process was cathartic. I remember feeling as though a weight had been lifted once I finished this one.
6. You’ve mentioned artists like Muna, Sabrina Carpenter, and Billie Eilish as influences. What about their work resonates with you creatively?
I think all of these artists have such unique perspectives and writing styles, so there’s a lot I could dive into here. With Muna, I’m obsessed not only with their lyrics and the meaning behind the tracks, but also with the production - every song is so catchy. They’re incredibly skilled at making even minimal sounds feel interesting and full of emotion. When it comes to Billie Eilish, I deeply connect with her lyrics, and once again, the production stands out, each track is so distinctive. I feel like I could listen to one of her songs made up entirely of layered vocal harmonies and still fully understand the emotion behind it. Her voice is so rich and stunning, I could honestly listen to it all day. And with Sabrina Carpenter, I’m just truly inspired by everything she does. Of course, her production is flawless and super catchy, but it’s the lyrics that really get me. They’re so clever, and the way she weaves in a tongue-in-cheek attitude, laced with satire, wit, and humour, is something I really aspire to as a songwriter.
7. Looking ahead—what’s next for you after this release? Any live shows, music videos, or collaborations in the pipeline?
Later this year, I am beyond excited to be releasing another few songs as well as hopefully getting out and gigging again! I’ll be releasing both a live visuals version of Dressed Up as well as a mini stripped-back version titled ‘Dressed Up, Dressed Down’. Other than that, I’m just focusing on writing more and hopefully working with some other artists on their material, which is exciting! I definitely want to keep up this momentum I’m building since I’ve been getting such a kind and welcoming response so far, which I am beyond grateful for!
8. Finally, what do you hope people take away from listening to “Dressed Up”? Is there a message you’d like to leave with anyone who might be going through something similar?
I hope that if anyone listens to Dressed Up and relates to the lyrics, they take it as a sign to step back and reflect on why it resonates with them. I want to help anyone who’s caught in a similarly toxic situation feel less alone and isolated. While yes, “I hate that all my friends were right” about my previous relationship, I’m incredibly grateful to be so far removed from it now, and able to look back and see that they absolutely were. I think it’s important to mention, and to remind people, that abuse comes in many forms. One of the most common is emotional abuse, which includes gaslighting, manipulation, lying, and a whole range of other deeply harmful behaviours. No one deserves to be treated like that—and if you have been, it’s okay to feel angry about it.