Sometimes heartbreak writes the best music, but in Aylee’s case, it also brings freedom. On her powerful new single “Dressed Up,” the Glasgow-based producer, performer, and writer turns pain into fire through a searingly thrilling anthem that emerged from the ruins of a fierce break-up. Written and self-produced in her bedroom studio, the song documents the momentous pivot from sadness to power with brutal honesty.
What sets “Dressed Up” apart is its mixture of openness and sharp-edged defiance. The lyrics, written straight from the heart, came before the production, a portrait of Aylee’s creative process. But instead of clothing her heartbreak in wistful regret, she went for something darker, more defiant, and more soul-enriching. It’s anchored by thick, fizzing bass and hammering drums that propel the song forward, following the emotional progression from wounded introspection to unabashed fury.
When listening to “Dressed Up,” you don’t get the sense of a breakup song, you are observing the reclamation of an identity. It’s moody but anthemic, textured but bearing that intimate bedroom-studio intimacy yet packing club-ready punch. There’s this push-pull tension between the intimate and the forceful that makes the track feel alive, that you’re there sitting in front of Aylee as she processes, rages, and ultimately rediscovers her voice.
Follow Aylee on Instagram