Track of the Day: Less – Hellya! (2026)
Last year, in October to be exact, I was introduced to the singer-songwriter Less with her single, ‘Instead of Making Love (Say Hello)’ – a song that caught my attention and left me keeping my eye on the rising star. Today, another single from Less captures my attention and sparks my interest. Following ‘Instead of Making Love (Say Hello), ‘Hellya!’ is the Italian musician’s first step into 2026, and she takes that step with an alternative rock shove. Join us as we take a look at and feel the shove of ‘Hellya!’.
Joined by producers Federico Maremmi and Lorenzo Santi, ‘Hellya!’ opens with a bold strum of guitars met by the beating of a bass slithering alongside. In the background, a set of pulsating drums acts like a heartbeat – keeping time while teasing to hit overdrive and a heart attack. Melded in a rhythmic melody, each element contributes to the harmonious arrangement; however, it is a rollercoaster ride with heightened guitar crescendos, a flying bass, and all the while that steady drum with its trembling crash hinted beneath.
Melodically, ‘Hellya!’ is an ode to 90s/2000s alternative rock with early skater-boy charm and emo-kid angst. I particularly favour the neat ending with a solitary drumbeat acting like a final nod saying, “it’s all good”. I’m not saying I enjoy that the track ended so quickly – who knew four minutes could fly by so quickly – it’s that it seems to capture the whole theme of acceptance and empowerment in a few seconds. Speaking about the lyricism, Less shares:
“The lyrics emerged after a period of apathy, when I felt as if I were sinking into a deep hole; a series of heavy emotions suffocating me… I dreamed of escaping to a place where I could make music freely, yet I felt bound. I wanted to share my music, but in this country there seems to be neither the opportunities nor the cultural space to do so… All these feelings poured out in a burst that I summed up with the exclamation, “Hellya”, a word that may or may not exist, but which perfectly captures the anger and the urge to break free from this cage of fear and oppression…”
Find out more about Less on her official website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Soundcloud, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more alternative rock music on The Other Side Reviews Alternative Rock playlist:
