An indie pop artist from Perth, Jess Cullity infuses her music with sincere, genuine storytelling, the relatable nature of her lyrics offering a sonic window to escape through.
After releasing two singles – 'Sweet Game' and 'Breathe' – in 2024, Jess follows up her earlier 2025 single 'Someone New' with 'Shadow Love', a song that focuses on the fallout from realising your partner isn't all they said they were.
Gently plucked acoustic guitar serenades a voice message (from a friend sharing advice on a 'boy situation'), the stirring emotional weight of the tones produced matched by Jess' vocals that pierce the song's atmosphere, her lyrics painting vivid imagery.
The song's pop beat builds in intensity, the strumming guitar joined by pounding drums that offer both bruised reflection as well as infusing the song with a simmering resentment. 'Shadow Love' also has a number of tempo changes, the vocal breakdown offering a sense of introspection.
The addition of strings near the end further strengthens the song's sentimental feelings of emotional hope in the wake of realisation, before a delightfully fragile piano loops, the deafening silence produced as the song fades out mimicking the exasperation felt when someone shows their ugly side.
"'Shadow Love' is about the aftermath of a relationship – when their mask slips and you see someone for who they really are," offers Jess. "It explores the illusion we fall for, even when we're warned, because deep down, we believe we'll be the exception."
Ahead of the song's release on Friday (22 August), today scenestr is delighted to premiere 'Shadow Love'. Enjoy.
A singer-songwriter who draws influence from the likes of Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo – "the way Rodrigo's lyrics can be relatable for so many girls," – Cullity is inspired by the trials and tribulations of relationships.
"The song actually starts with a voice memo my best friend sent me back in December. She was giving me advice on how to deal with a boy situation and I thought why not make it a part of the song?!
"I wanted to write a song that girls could listen to and think this is so relatable, I’m not alone and listen to it to get them through tough times."
The recording of 'Shadow Love' found Jess and her producer turning the home studio into a playground of sorts. "My producer Glee Depot has a home studio," Jess says.
"So when recording 'Shadow Love', to make sure we got the acoustics as perfect as possible, we essentially turned the studio into a cubby house, hahaha. There were mattresses, pillows and doonas everywhere – but whatever works right!?"
