The intro and first verse deliver an extremely personal moment, so raw, driven by clean acoustic guitars and Strange’s stunning and gentle tone.

With his contribution to The Baby Reimagined, Bartees Strange dials up both the expansiveness and the intimate tone. Samia explores a fleeting intimacy, the song bubbling up as more questions come pouring out. The introduction track to Samia’s debut record The Baby, the original version of 'Pool' is a beautifully expansive song. Internalizing feelings, Stokes discusses preserving a relationship by crafting protected memories in her own mind, becoming obsessive with another and creating visions of how she wished the relationship was: “But I'm making up stories, I'm making up you / All of the things that I wish we could do / And all of this time I wish that you knew / I've been thinking of you.” Stokes’ lyrical honesty and organic sound mixed with lo-fi piano, heavenly harmonies and smooth vocals emphasize empathy for her listeners. Highlighting “Parking Lot,” a song of fantasy and longing from her debut album Swimming Lessons , released on March 5, Stokes sings of a relationship in the way that it existed and the way that she wished it existed. The Portland, Maine native takes inspiration from artists like Maggie Rogers, Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver and Lorde, but it's her intimate recounting of memories that sets her sound apart from others. Honest ballads, peppy stories of heartbreak and new perspectives and narrating vivid memories through song are characteristics of the young musician’s sound that we so love.

Genevieve Stokesis the musical hero we’ve been waiting for.

It's OK to be Gay by Alison Stokes