Celebrating her womanhood the only way she knows how to, American singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress returns to the fold with a powerful, captivating track about owning herself and her unique femininity.

Buoyed by striking piano chords that match Andress’s cutting deep voice, ‘Lady Like’ explores the challenges of embracing oneself amidst rigid traditions and conventions, as Andress muses on the range of traits that may seem ‘unladylike’ but makes herself feel like a joyful, passionate and complex woman nonetheless. 

Speaking on her life’s experiences that lead to her composing this song, Andress says, “For the longest time I felt out of place and misjudged by the people around me because I never seemed to fit into the “gender stereotype” boxes we’ve all sat in for so long. I tried to “fix” or hide the woman inside of me so I could be accepted by the majority, but it ended up making me miserable, bored, and lonely.” 

And Andress’s renewed enthusiasm and self-acceptance are embodied in both the break-out chorus that doubles down on the vocal intensity and the amplified instrumentation of the synth and the bass. The production put into this song is highlighted further upon the slow, rustic folk-country sounds that simmer in the chorus, the harp and the fiddle meshing together to add yet another fascinating layer into the sensational chorus. 

Being a recipient of a degree in music composition from Berkelee, Angress knows how important it is for a song to reflect the musician’s personality, experiences and talent. Her versatility at songwriting is established here through not just the risks taken with tempo, rhythm and sound design but in the honest, relevant and visceral lyrics. She writes about the many ways in which she can be “controversial” and “outspoken” but at the end of the day, she is very much a lady, a driven, complicated but complete lady. Angress has previously discussed how she grew up idolizing some of the most iconic women in country music, and their sass and confidence is reflected in the overall vibe of this piano pop power ballad. 

 

For the longest time I felt out of place and misjudged by the people around me because I never seemed to fit into the “gender stereotype” boxes we’ve all sat in for so long. I tried to “fix” or hide the woman inside of me so I could be accepted by the majority, but it ended up making me miserable, bored, and lonely.

 Country