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Predestination, especially one cast with music in mind, is a common theme amongst the sonically literate, a belief that constructs into truth the more one exercises its communicative gifts. For the deftly retro-sounding newcomer Sophia Alexa, spurred by a childhood of transcontinental moves, music was a traveling friend, a gift of understanding that could span oceans and accommodate any changing setting. Under the supervision of her music-obsessed father, Alexa grew up listening to the best of '70s Americana, spanning from Joni Mitchell to Joan Baez. Tat brightness built around acoustic guitars, vocal forward production, and self-harmonization has followed Sophia on her songwriting journey right up to her latest brilliantly constructed release, “Hall Pass.” 

Echoing her uptempo single "Hit & Run," a bright diatribe on leaving before the pain can set in, "Hall Pass" slipstreams into another sweet feature of the rising artist's sound as she balances opportunistic sounding production with darker, pensive lyrics. Right from the soft-spoken lyrics over lightly strummed guitars, followed by a rising pre-chorus over a pulsing kick, the song lures you in with pretty plucking but leaves you in a state of melodic melancholy when the song's narrative reveals itself slowly.

Describing the track's lyrical origins, Alexa states, “I wrote hall pass because I wanted to capture the feeling of self-sabotage. I’ve always had this fear that when something is going too well, I’m just waiting for it to fall apart. It’s almost a form of protection and being okay with someone leaving before you get hurt, which is why I loved the title hall pass, it’s giving someone an out.”

The contrasting nature of Alexa's music is a musical hall pass of sorts. It lets you bellow out lyrics that sound like hot girl summer but semi-secretly disguises you cathartically expelling your indecision, angst, and relationship woes. We insist you participate in what amounts to the most beautifully scripted therapy transcript, for Alexa has gifted us our hall pass for the best idle summer song, especially for those who need their poolside sessions painted by a twinge of pensive melancholia. 

Watch the "Hall Pas" video below: