Belle McKee’s 'CYNIC' EP Proves Being Messy Is Human—and Honestly, Kind of Hot

Let’s be real—most pop songs want you to feel good. Belle McKee wants you to feel everything.

With her new EP 'CYNIC,' the New York-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter delivers four razor-sharp tracks that trade gloss for grit, and positivity for piercing self-awareness. Across themes of jealousy, revenge, restlessness, and raw relationship tension, Belle doesn’t shy away from the parts of herself, and all of us, that usually get labeled too much.

What makes 'CYNIC' stand out isn’t just the emotional range. It’s how articulate that range becomes in Belle’s hands. Every lyric lands with intention. Every metaphor is doing its best. It’s Billie Eilish-level brooding meets Gracie Abrams-style intimacy, with just enough bite to make it hit harder than you'd expect from such a graceful delivery.

The EP opens with “PASSENGER” and “FINGERPRINTS”, two revenge-tinged pop tracks that unpack what it feels like to be hurt, and then let the rage out with style. These aren’t chaotic scream-into-the-void moments. They’re methodical, lyrical, and smart. There’s power in Belle’s restraint. She knows exactly when to go soft, when to twist the knife, and when to let the chorus explode.

By track 3, “TOURIST,” the tone shifts. Suddenly, it’s not about the other person. It’s about you. Fear of commitment, the haunting idea that maybe you’re not built for roots, the quiet panic of seeing your life take shape before you’re ready, it’s all here, delicately disguised in soft vocals and devastating one-liners.

And then there's “NERVE,” the final track. If the first half of the EP was about lashing out, this one feels like the emotional hangover. It’s vulnerable, questioning, and a bit sad. But it’s also fearless in its honesty.

What ties 'CYNIC' together isn’t just Belle’s polished vocal delivery or smart pop production; it’s the emotional DNA running through every track. These songs don’t pretend to be perfect. They lean into the mess, the parts of ourselves we try to hide because they’re not “palatable.” Jealousy. Insecurity. Fear of settling. Emotional damage that doesn’t wrap up cleanly. And Belle says: Yep. That’s me. Let’s talk about it.

Having already racked up songwriting awards, showcases, and a spot in Belmont’s elite Songwriter’s program (which she graduated from at just 19, Summa Cum Laude no less), Belle McKee is clearly not here to play games. She’s here to write the truth, whether it’s pretty or not.

And in doing so, she’s giving Gen Z, and really, anyone who's ever hated themselves for feeling too deeply, a place to breathe.

'CYNIC' is a super emotionally layered project. Was there a specific moment or shift in your life that inspired this EP’s concept?

I don’t think there was one specific moment that inspired the concept of this EP—it was more of just me wanting to switch up the topics that I normally sing about. Instead of approaching heartbreak in a sweet or wholesome manner, my co-writers and I focused more on the anger, resentment, and frustration that can come after the initial grief stage of wanting him back is over. “PASSENGER,” for instance, is all about hoping your ex ends up alone—the literal opposite of “wishing them the best."

“Tourist” feels like such a tender but brutal reflection on fear of commitment. What’s your personal relationship with the idea of “settling down”?

“TOURIST” was sort of a funny story for me to write…I’ve been in a happy, long-term relationship for over three years now, so in my day-to-day life, I really don’t relate to the fear of committing to a person. I’m very trusting. A ton of my friends wrestle with these ideas, though, and I tried to channel some of what they’ve told me about being scared to settle down with one person. This song resonates with me in a more literal sense, too, especially when it comes to leaving my small town and moving away to a city like Nashville. When I’m traveling back and forth between the two, it can sometimes feel like neither place is truly “home” anymore. I thought this was such a universal concept—one that anyone college-aged can understand and relate to.

Revenge tracks like “Passenger” and “Fingerprints” hit hard without feeling petty. How do you balance emotional intensity with lyrical control?

When we were writing the first two tracks of the EP, “PASSENGER” and “FINGERPRINTS,” my co-writers and I started off with just a catchy title or hook. This allowed us to decide later on in the session what sort of feeling we wanted to convey to the listener. During a writing session, especially when the song is intended to be used for my artist project, I often lean towards sarcastic or sassy lyrics. That’s who I am in real life, so there’s something really raw and honest about keeping those elements in a song. But if these ideas weren’t balanced out with more vulnerable, heartfelt lyrics, I think they could easily come off as petty. Some artists who I think pull this juxtaposition off really well are Sabrina Carpenter and Gracie Abrams, two of my biggest influences in songwriting.

You’ve had an impressive journey through songwriting camps and showcases. How has all that industry experience shaped how you write for yourself versus others?

Thank you! I think, above all, these experiences (especially the songwriting camps) have given me practice writing with other people. Over time, working collaboratively has taught me how important it is to ask questions. When I’m writing for myself, I just write whatever I feel. But when I’m not the artist in the writing room and am writing for someone else, it can be so helpful to ask things as simple as, “What do you want to say?” or, “Would you say that to somebody in real life?” This way, you can get on the same wavelength, share the same vision, and create something that neither person would have been able to create on their own. It’s all about finding the message and story that exists behind the song.

What do you want listeners to feel, especially younger fans who might be experiencing envy, fear, or insecurity for the first time in a big way?

I hope that listeners, especially younger ones, feel understood when they listen to these songs. When I’m struggling with something like envy or insecurity, which is a pretty constant thing (especially in the music industry), it’s so comforting to know that other people have felt that same way, too—that there’s not something inherently “wrong” with me for feeling that way. Shedding light on these less talked-about emotions can help more and more people feel seen in their struggles, encouraging them to be open and honest with what they’re experiencing.