Everyone is a little bit emo and anyone who was part of the mid-west emo scene of the early ´2000s knows that most songs were the same. There was some guy either singing about unrequited love, not feeling at home in their town, or longing for a place they would finally fit in, imagining leaving all the hicks behind. Now you can’t tell me those are not the exact themes that run through every queer kids head on a daily basis. 

So, it comes as no surprise that the awesome queer alternative band ‘Hit Like a Girl’ seem to have decided to call this genre their home. 

However, to simplify ‘Hit Like a Girl’ as mid-west emo would be lazy. The band takes influences from pop punk, indie, alt pop, and hardcore! And on their latest song “Only Have Myself” front person Nicolle Maroulis is, in fact, dealing with some pretty hardcore feelings. 

The track is sung from the point of view of someone who’s trying to navigate the often complex scenarios of a polyamorous relationship. It starts with the beauty of twinkly guitar riffs over a steady beat as Maroulis reminisces about the early signs of betrayal but as the song progresses, biting guitar riffs kick in and the beat speeds up, something changes in their voice and something like anger, regret and desperation can be heard in the vocals. 

The song ends in a massive crescendo, that Maroulis themself says they are a sucker for, with them screaming “only have myself to blame” and as the listener we can imagine Maroulis maybe screaming at herself in the mirror, or maybe from a distance while they watch their lost love. 

‘Hit like a girl’ deffo packs a punch. A beautifully complex, alternative, queer one and we are here for it!

‘Only Have Myself’ is available on all streaming platforms now with the album `burning at both ends’ out on March the 27th