Artist: Ainsley Costello Single: EXLESS Genre: Pop, Rock Pop, Alternative Release Date: March 14th, 2025
Ainsley Costello’s latest single, EXLESS, feels like a big, colorful, high-energy anthem tailor-made for blasting in the car with the windows down. It’s confident, polished, and effortlessly catchy—so much so that you might feel like you’ve already heard it before, in the best way possible.
With a massive, radio-ready pop-rock sound, EXLESS lands somewhere between the punchy hooks of All-American Rejects and the polished, expressive energy of Paramore—which makes sense, given that the song was produced by Nickolas Wheeler of AAR. Costello, at just 20 years old, already has the kind of vocal control and presence that makes her feel like a veteran in the genre. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and it shows.
The Sound & Identity
EXLESS is pure pop-rock confidence. The chorus spells out its title—E.X.L.E.S.S.—a trick that has proven time and again to be a winning formula (H.O.T.T.O.G.O., A.B.C.D.E.F.U.). The production is massive but crisp, with punchy drums, shimmering guitars, and a hook that’s impossible to ignore. It’s bright, bold, and undeniably fun.
It’s easy to see why the song would connect with fans of early-2000s rock, but it’s not just a nostalgia trip—Costello brings a freshness to it. She leans into the genre’s best qualities but makes it feel modern, giving it an edge that places it firmly in today’s music landscape.
The Message
Beyond the infectious sound, EXLESS is an anthem of independence. Costello flips the script on the idea that young women are incomplete without a relationship, instead celebrating self-love and confidence. “There’s so much more to write about than just love and heartbreak,” she says, and that sentiment carries through in both the song and the album it leads. It’s empowering, but not in a way that feels forced—it’s more of a natural confidence, an artist fully in control of her voice and identity.
Ainsley Costello: One to Watch
Costello is more than just a pop artist—she’s pioneering a new way forward for independent musicians, championing Web3 platforms and innovative ways for artists to connect with fans. It’s an exciting approach that sets her apart, even beyond the music itself.
For fans of polished pop-rock, big hooks, and powerhouse vocals, EXLESS is a must-listen. It’s a confident debut for an artist who, by all indications, is just getting started. The single drops on March 14, with the full album to follow on May 9. If EXLESS is any indication, Ainsley Costello is about to make a serious impact.
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This song and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating DA DA DA – Best New Music
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
