There is a deliberate sense of tension running through YACOVELLI’s new single ‘Since Emilia’. Drawing from alternative rock’s heavier traditions while retaining the grit and unpredictability of the city’s underground scene, the track continues the band’s exploration of a sound that sits somewhere between classic grunge, garage-rock and modern alternative music.
Led by songwriter, producer and frontman Alex Yacovelli, the project has steadily developed an identity that embraces both melody and abrasion, and ‘Since Emilia’ may be one of the clearest examples of that balance so far. The song opens unexpectedly, with the delicate tones of a baglama introducing a brief moment of calm before giving way to a dense, low-slung guitar groove that anchors the rest of the track.
From there, the arrangement gradually expands, building around a strong melodic centre while retaining a rough-edged intensity. The guitars carry a familiar weight associated with 90s alt-rock, yet the track avoids simple nostalgia as YACOVELLI weave those influences into something contemporary, allowing elements of punk urgency, psychedelic atmosphere, and hard rock swagger to coexist within the same space.
What stands out most is the song’s sense of scale. The verses maintain a controlled tension before opening into a chorus that feels expansive without becoming overly polished. There is an obvious affection for classic rock songwriting at work here, but the band resist the temptation to smooth away the rougher edges that give the track its character.
Lyrically, ‘Since Emilia’ remains intentionally elusive. Here, the song presents fragments and suggestions, inviting us to draw our own conclusions. And that ambiguity adds to the track’s appeal, creating a sense of mystery that leaves a lasting impression by its end.
For Alex Yacovelli, whose history within New York’s independent music scene stretches back well over a decade, ‘Since Emilia’ feels like another step in a continuing evolution. The song reflects a songwriter increasingly comfortable combining disparate influences into a cohesive whole, while remaining connected to the underground spirit that shaped his musical identity.
‘Since Emilia’ works because it understands that effective rock music is often built on both melody and distortion. YACOVELLI navigate those opposing forces with confidence, delivering a track that feels both familiar and distinctly their own. It is a strong addition to the band’s growing catalogue and further evidence that their particular blend of alternative rock continues to develop in intriguing ways.
