Girl Code by EDIE YVONNE is a grungey alt-rock pop track with some vintage influences, harkening back to the stylish distorted haze of the nineties. This stylistic choice is impressive, coming from such a young artist. YVONNE captures that early 2000s flair while only being fifteen and never having experienced it herself. The vocal execution has a subtle, could-care-less attitude that disguises the meticulously crafted delivery and leans into that vintage alt-rock pop angle.

The throwaway confidence of the vocal delivery reminds me slightly of Avril Lavigne. The vocals have an intense compression that ebbs and flows at different moments throughout the track. It almost feels as if it becomes more pronounced as the track gets more intense, capturing the suspense within the mix through the heavy effects on the vocals. This effect is never overdone, still allowing the subtleties of the performance to shine through while also giving the track a specific musical personality, different from other contemporaries in the genre. The guitar also utilises a steezy fuzz that adds charisma as it builds up the texture of the melody. The guitar elaborates on the ineffable emotions that can’t be expressed through words in the vocals. Together, they create a unified melody where each element emphasises the strengths of the other. It is astounding to hear crunchy distortion played like an instrument in all facets of the track’s mix. The guitar becomes more pronounced in the latter parts of the track, employed for these beautiful falling patterns that reminded me of wedding bells. With the tone of the track and the careful mixing in mind, this feels like a conscious tongue-in-cheek choice that juxtaposes the tension in the vocals and the rest of the track with a reference to an entirely different part of life. The track’s tone overall is edgy, confident, and articulate. It captures a style so beautifully but goes further, elaborating on its influences to make something unique from its retro sound.