Stella Smyth leans into the shadows of longing on the new single Streetcar Named Desire, released last Friday. Self-produced alongside Marty MARO, known for his work with TWICE and Selena Gomez, the track pulls inspiration from the 1950s film of the same name, yet feels wholly modern. It unfolds as a slow-burning electro-pop confession that dares to articulate the thoughts we are often reluctant to voice.
“Streetcar explores the discomfort of admitting what you are not supposed to want,” Stella says. “It is about fantasising about infidelity and the shame that shadows those thoughts, a confession of yearning, of chasing fantasy at the expense of dignity.” Evocative and alluring, the single traces the thin line between fantasy and guilt, turning inner conflict into something hypnotic enough to keep on repeat.
Originally from Los Angeles, Stella Smyth is a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who released a debut EP only last year, yet has already gathered nearly two million streams organically. Drawing on Southern California’s blend of folklore, nature, and city nightlife, Smyth has built a sound that pairs atmosphere with emotional candour.
The artist is also the co-founder of Producers Against Misogyny, an organisation dedicated to addressing inequities in the music industry through workshops and talks with guests including Weyes Blood, Jack Antonoff, Mereba and Jacob Collier. That same commitment to agency and honesty runs through Streetcar Named Desire, a track that is as precise in its production as it is raw in subject. With poised vocals, layered synths and a narrative that lingers in the mind, this latest release signals an artist stepping further into a confident and distinctive voice.