A longtime lyricist in the Advanced BMI Songwriting Workshop and an award-winning indie filmmaker (most recent project: directing/editing two music videos for Amy Helm / Sun Records), Cleo Handler splits time between LA and NY. Her new album, compare & contrast, was recorded with Claire Morison at Wild Horizon Sound in Los Angeles.
On her new single, “Maybe You’ve Noticed,” Handler opens up about heartbreak in a raw, intense show of vulnerability. The punk-tinted single finds a delicate balance between anthemic and balladry, giving the performance a quaint warmth bolstered by distorted guitars. The relatable single takes the sugary side of pop, ties it to the back of a truck, and runs it through a few mud puddles, allowing Handler’s infectious tendencies to develop a rough edge. While there are plenty of sonic nuances to explore here, Handler’s songwriting steals the show. The poetic storytelling tells the tale of realizing someone you hold close has been wearing a mask, disguising their true selves from unwavering love. “Maybe You’ve Noticed” takes this moment of heartbreak and spins it into blunt and emotional songwriting, giving Handler’s latest an extra layer of honesty. Handler’s new single is a moving piece of pop-punk that explores profound, personal truths and paints them as opportunities to create and grow.
“‘Maybe you’ve noticed’ is sort of my take on ‘you’re so vain,’ explains Handler. “It’s about the feeling that you can’t really miss someone if they never showed their true self to you. And maybe there wasn’t even much of a true self to show.”
