Review: "He Asked For It" - Ella Red

“He Asked For It” by Ella Red is a moody dark-pop anthem that flips the script on the patriarchy. In her infectious new single, Red turns the toxic rhetoric “she asked for it” into an empowering message for women. The lyrics paint a morbid picture of Red murdering a man. But she’s not guilty of any crime, because he asked for it. She uses the song to challenge men, society, and the justice system, all of whom find horrific ways to blame the woman. Lyrics such as “He was almost begging for it // I wasn’t the only one,” and “He asked for the blood that I gave him // When he was out walking that night,” are directly ripped out from this disturbing playbook. The woman’s past or what she was wearing is always put on trial, while the man’s behavior is brushed off because of his “natural urges.” Red’s song puts perspective on this enraging phenomenon. It’s absurd that she is excusing her actions because of her claim that the victim asked for it. So why is it acceptable to use the same language when a woman is harmed? Red’s clever ability to call out important social issues through her creative songwriting is why she is one of my new favorite artists.

Red’s newest single upholds her typical dark-pop soundscape while remaining fresh. “He Asked For It” starts with short, shallow breathing that emulates the sound of her victim gasping for breath. This directly correlates with both the cover art and the line in the second verse: “We spoke for a moment or two // He didn’t have enough breath.”  A raw, muted kick drum plays alongside the breathy intro, immediately catching the listener’s attention and making them excited for what’s to come. Red’s sultry voice introduces the verse, lulling the singer into the unsettling soundscape. Similar to previous songs in her discography, “He Asked For It” contains a dark atmosphere that intrigues her audience and makes them feel like the main character of a horror film. When the pre-chorus comes, the production adds a deep synth and vocal layers that enhance this wicked energy. Before going into the full chorus, she breaks into another verse with an additional drum beat that builds the tension of the song. When Red finally reaches the chorus, the song explodes into an infectious instrumentation that the audience has no choice but to dance along to. The first time I heard “He Asked For It,” it was live at dark-pop singer-songwriter Ellise’s L.A. tour date, where Red was the supporting act. She mesmerized me on stage from the very first note to her finale – and when she performed this track, unreleased at the time, I was beyond excited for it to drop. From the morbid imagery to the villainous soundscape, Red ensured that she would make my top ten most-played songs list this year.

Ella Red is an alt-pop singer/songwriter who has been seeking justice through music since her elementary school days. She started her musical journey on the cello, crafting melodies in her bedroom as a child and writing down lyrics in class. She officially released her first-ever single in 2022, titled "Damsel in Distress", but it was in 2023 when she released "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" that she became a breakout artist in the pop music scene, gaining over 4 million streams on Spotify alone. Just a year later, she broke her own record with another hit single, "I Like You Best", which currently has over 14.5 million streams on Spotify. Ella Red likes to use her talents to shine light on the issues of society, all while giving us something to jam our hearts out to at the same time. "He Asked For It" is a single off of her highly anticipated debut album, IT'S NOT REAL, which is set to release January 26th, 2026. If you loved "He Asked For It", make sure to pre-save the album and follow Ella Red below to keep up with what else is to come!

Written By Karlee Skipper

FOLLOW ELLA RED:

Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube | Website | X