Review: "You Didn't Text Me" - Estella Dawn
- Karlee Skipper
- 23 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Trigger Warning: Emotional Abuse/Suicidal Ideation
Estella Dawn’s latest release explores a darker, more sinister theme than her previous tracks. In “You Didn’t Text Me,” Dawn describes the devastating truth about a toxic relationship she once found herself in. Every lyric truly happened, delving into the details of the fateful night her ex-boyfriend was unfaithful to her while under the influence of heavy drugs. However, instead of taking accountability, he told Dawn, “he’d lost his mind and that he was going to kill himself, so cheating ‘didn’t matter.’” This is textbook emotional manipulation that is all too common. Dawn eloquently utilizes her sharp lyrics to break free from the abuse and not let her empathy and compassion bring her down with him. She knew he was bluffing to avoid admitting he was wrong and to keep Dawn on his hook. In the prechorus, she sings: “You know that I don’t make light of other people’s demons // But you’re making it kinda hard to believe them,” before going into the fiery chorus. Her rightful anger at this man, who tried to take advantage of her kindness to flip the script, shines through in these lyrics. “You Didn’t Text Me” is an empowering anthem that implores listeners who have experienced the same abuse to escape their toxic environment and step away from the false responsibility imposed on them by their abusers.
You are not alone, and there are resources out there to help you.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | Website
Suicide Hotline: 9-8-8 | Website
“You Didn’t Text Me” by Estella Dawn contains a dark, moody soundscape that matches the scornful lyrics. The artist is known for her powerful yet sultry vocals, and her new song showcases this through the soulful production. A subtle wave introduces the track before Dawn’s iconic vocals kick off the verse, immediately propelling the listener into the storyline with the lyric: “Called me on a Sunday, said you fucked up // Shot a couple holes in the ceiling // Then you wrecked us.” The singer instantly paints the gruesome picture for the audience, illustrating the evil that has occurred. The verses contain a more R&B, melodic rap soundscape that complements the vivid storytelling. Then, the pre-chorus transitions to a more dream-pop instrumentation, shifting the focus to the lyrics. When the chorus hits, the beat drops and returns to the soulful R&B sound with Dawn’s strong vocals. The production throughout the track drew emphasis on the candid lyrics and the delicate storyline, making “You Didn’t Text Me” one of the most intricate and clever songs in the artist’s discography.
Estella Dawn is a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from New Zealand, now based in San Diego. Her music does not stick to one style but rather mixes the sounds of multiple genres to create her own unique sound. In 2018, she made her debut with her first single, “Feet". She released several singles leading up to the onset of the global pandemic. During quarantine, she took the time to hone in on her sound and capture her true essence within her music. That year, she released 10 original singles every six weeks, defining her impeccable ability to keep audiences engaged with anticipation of her next masterpiece. Dawn continues to regularly release incredible singles that reel in hundreds of thousands of listeners. Her creativity shines through every single one of her releases, and she shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.
Written By Karlee Skipper
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