“CIGARETTE” by Katie Belle

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Katie Belle’s latest single, Cigarette, released on May 9th, 2025, adds another compelling layer to her evolving artistry. With an established creative partnership alongside LA-based producer Fabio Campedelli, this new release reveals a matured sonic depth and emotional candor that positions Katie as one of indie pop’s most promising singer-songwriters. At its core, Cigarette is a meditation on the long tail of past relationships—the kind that ended long ago but never fully extinguished. Rather than portraying these romantic ghosts with melancholy alone, Katie uses subtle instrumentation and a reflective vocal tone to evoke a sense of warmth, wistfulness, and acceptance. The metaphor within the title is carried with elegance throughout the song’s tone: it smolders, lingers, and leaves traces—much like the memories she sings of.

What elevates Cigarette is the seamless interplay between Katie’s lyrical sensibility and Fabio Campedelli’s textured production. Having collaborated since 2022, the duo continues to cultivate a creative trust that allows each track to sound polished without losing its raw, human feel. The song was mixed by Lukas Cuman and mastered by Sanjeeve Easwar—both based in Los Angeles—who round out the team’s attention to sonic detail, offering a mix that balances crisp clarity with an ambient softness. Katie’s strength lies in her ability to thread emotional complexity into concise narratives. Her songwriting doesn’t rely on dramatics; instead, it leans into honesty and poetic understatement. Cigarette showcases this by drawing from personal history without being weighed down by it. There’s a sense of emotional distance in the delivery that speaks to growth—memories revisited, not relived.

Instrumentally, the song maintains a clean yet dynamic palette. It fits comfortably within the Indie Pop and Singer-Songwriter Pop genres but leaves room for sonic experimentation. Soft guitars, ambient textures, and light percussion serve as a framework for Katie’s voice to carry the emotional weight. Her vocal delivery is intimate and steady, guiding the listener through the song’s introspective path with grace. Beyond the studio, Katie Belle’s presence continues to grow. With regular songwriting sessions in Los Angeles and performances across the Southeast—including a recent standout set at Virginia Highlands Porchfest—her work ethic and consistency are as notable as her music itself. Cigarette not only marks a high point in Katie’s catalogue but also hints at where she’s headed. It’s a thoughtful, finely crafted track that reveals an artist who’s not just chasing trends but building a lasting voice—one memory, one melody at a time.

Garcia Penned 🖊️