Hailey Hermida captures the chaos of youth on new single '17'

There’s a specific kind of emotional volatility that belongs entirely to being seventeen. Where every feeling is heightened, every mistake feels permanent, and every judgement cuts deeper than it should. And on her new single '17', Hailey Hermida taps directly into that space to deliver a track that feels like a raw emotional document.

From the opening moments, the song carries a sense of urgency. Guitars arrive with a jagged, unfiltered edge, leaning into a grittier, more abrasive palette than her earlier work. It’s a noticeable shift that draws from the weight and distortion of 90s alternative rock while still holding onto the immediacy of modern production. The result is a sound that feels both nostalgic and sharply current, sitting somewhere between grunge’s emotional heaviness and the punch of contemporary alt-pop.

Lyrically, the track centres on the pressure and confusion of navigating identity at an age where expectations begin to collide with reality. There’s a strong undercurrent of defiance running through the song, particularly in the way it confronts misjudgement and misunderstanding. And it’s this refusal to dilute the emotion that gives the track its authenticity.

And the song’s structure mirrors that emotional arc. Verses feel tight and introspective, before giving way to more expansive sections. It’s a dynamic that keeps us engaged, constantly shifting between internal reflection and outward expression.

At its core, '17' functions as a release for anyone who has felt overwhelmed by expectation, misunderstood by others, or trapped within the intensity of their own emotions. It doesn’t attempt to tidy those feelings up or present them in a more digestible way. Instead, it lets them exist in their rawest form. And in doing so, Hailey Hermida delivers a track that puts you right back inside the feeling of young adulthood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjDFH-Nqf_M