Passenger Princess: A Deep Dive into Nessa Barrett's Single
John Wayne-quoting cowboys and romanticizing motorcycle rides past desert abysses, rarely adorned with mirages or aqua-diamond lagoons are the landscapes traversed by Nessa Barrett, a small-town New Jersey native now thriving in Hollywood.
Barrett’s artistry captures the growing pains of youth, reflecting on themes of discovery amid chaos and tragedy. Since the release of her debut EP, pretty poison, in 2021, she has woven innocence and sweetness with a penchant for the gothic and macabre. After moving to Los Angeles at just 17, she dove headfirst into her unique blend of pop-punk and dreamy bedroom pop, maturing as a songwriter and artist along the way.
pretty poison made a striking mark on the pop landscape, merging delicate melodies with gritty instrumentation. Tracks like “la di die” and “pretty poison” featured shimmering electric guitars and thumping bass, all underpinned by Barrett’s nostalgic, angelic vocals. The EP's confessional track, “i hope your miserable’s,” offered raw emotional depth that resonated with listeners.
Her follow up, young forever pushed her artistic boundaries further, incorporating experimental sounds. Songs like “tired of california” and “lovebomb” introduced metallic textures and horror-film samples, while “gaslight” and “madhouse” explored fragmented industrial punk, mirroring the inner turmoil and complexity of youth.
But it was on her sophomore album hell is a teenage girl that Barrett’s pairing together of childlike dreaminess, unbridled, gasoline-ignited emotion were diamond-sharp in their development. (Whether Nessa pursues perfecting her grip on this duality further, or chooses to polish up a style or pairing of styles speaking more closely to where she is now, I am eager to see.) “american jesus” creates a gothic lullaby out of hopeful acoustic guitar strings, nostalgic, haunted echoes and wistful harmonies, as “motel whore” tableauxs true heartache, from bluesy-folk instruments left to shine in a bare-bones composition, and Nessa’s whispered prayer vocals. “lie” transforms Barrett’s early dreamy bedroom pop to represent the sacrifice and pain of an ill-fated love story with an outlaw during young womanhood – the former’s romance becoming ghostly and out of reach; with piano keys lilting yet hollow, Nessa’s singing cracking, and reflective digital effect (a modern tool very seldom used in the artist’s work). “hell is a teenage girl,” unapologetically takes as prisoner, baby pink nails digging crescents into flesh, the men and the systems that get away with ; nee oft, are praised for; tricking and exploiting young women, and have for too many centuries – building an epic, Barrett’s voice growls, her voice conducting classic orchestra instruments to sizzle with anticipation, before breaking into scream.
In 2024, her latest single “PASSENGER PRINCESS” continues this journey of self-discovery and emotional openness. Accompanied by “alt versions” that explore heavier metallic soundscapes, Barrett reveals a newfound willingness to love and trust, shedding past defenses forged from heartbreak. Lines like, “I’m your shotgun, baby, for the long run / Don’t you know I’d die for you?” illustrate her desire for connection, framed in a dreamy, wistful grunge sound.
On this 2024 Summer single, cyberspace is introduced to soft, wistful grunge. Creeping, careful real and digital drums bond into a nouveau yet nostalgic 1984-esque backbone. Nessa’s voice acts as an ambitious acrobat. She chooses a smoky, alluring chest voice on the languid choruses; to be delicate, light-as-air diaphanous on the blissful dizzying choruses; a satiny, melting soprano on the heavenly, intimate pre-choruses (Her voice and a heartbeat-ticking thumb-cymbal being the lone sounds in these bars, every other element of the soundscape falling out.)Nessa never surrenders up her roots, what she is instinctively drawn to, with raw, ragged bluesy electric guitar and bass thrumming steadily beneath the gauze and iridescence.
“PASSENGER PRINCESS” and its EP can be found on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and iTunes, showcasing Barrett’s continued growth and artistic exploration as she navigates the complexities of youth and love. As she evolves, fans eagerly await her next chapter.
