TAYLAA - Socially Unsocial Single review

A bowl of pastel capsules in milk. It’s surreal, almost playful at first glance but there's something deeper beneath the surface. Just like TAYLAA’s single ‘Socially Unsocial’, the cover art is a contrast of brightness and discomfort, a symbol of masking struggle with a smile.

Emerging from Adelaide’s alternative scene, TAYLAA delivers a punchy, emotionally charged alt-rock track that speaks to the quiet chaos of not fitting in. ‘Socially Unsocial’ opens with a pulsing, atmospheric intro, like a heartbeat heard underwater. The production builds steadily, layers swelling in and out of focus, giving the track this hazy, dreamlike quality.

TAYLAA’s vocals are soft, hesitant, almost like she’s confessing in real-time to us, and yet they sit against a backdrop of tight, punchy drums that drive the song forward. There is this tension built between delicacy and intensity that is what gives the track an emotional pull. “This song is about feeling like you don’t fit in — and being okay with that,” TAYLAA shares. “It’s about embracing who you are, even if the world doesn’t get it.”

There’s a weight to the way each line is delivered, not dramatic, but honest. A "blurry-at-the-edges" vibe that runs through the whole track. Not quite lo-fi, but gentle, giving the tone a raw, confessional feel. The lyrics are unfiltered, touching on mental health, social anxiety, and the uneasy art of self-acceptance. It’s the sonic equivalent of lying awake at 3 a.m., doom-scrolling, and wondering if anyone else feels like this.

TAYLAA

Lines like (“Happiness makes me sad”) and (“So scared of failing that trying just seems weird”) are simple, but devastating. There’s an almost coastal drift about the song, as if waves were lapping at the edge of a quiet beach, the calm barely covering the chaos beneath. That juxtaposition of soothing sound and mental overload mirrors the experience of being overwhelmed in silence.

TAYLAA’s strength lies in how she channels personal experience into something that resonates. Her music doesn’t beg for attention, rather it commands it, with a kind of messy grace that feels earned rather than manufactured. There's no forced rebellion here, just a clear voice saying: “This is how it feels.”

‘Socially Unsocial’ is available now on all streaming platforms.

7/10