Inspired by ultra-vulnerable songwriters like Elliot Smith and Tracy Chapman, 24-year-old artist Blondshell (fka BAUM) returned to the music scene guns-blazing with her debut single “Olympus”—a murky tale outlining a toxic relationship where romance is desolate.

Between a growingly identifiable vocal and looming guitars, she delivers a performance both devastating and liberating here. Now several releases in, Blondshell is continuing to turn heads in a way that only further confirms her star power.

Written by Olive Soki-Kavwahirehi