Stela Cole‘s latest song, “Star,” is a reminder of her heroic traits. Rather than being a modest boast, the song is meant to function as a hype track, with Stela singing about gaining self-assurance and surpassing others’ expectations throughout the course of the song’s throbbing rhythms and dazzling harmonies.

“‘Star’ is an antidote. I’m a firm believer in the idea that the energy you pour into the world is reflected in what you get back,” the musician says regarding the record. She adds, “It’s natural we all go through phases of doubting ourselves or not feeling our best. As an artist, I’ve gone through periods of feeling turned down, rejected, or judged. So with ‘Star,’ I just wanted to write something fun and confident.

Furthermore, the song highlights the lighthearted and carefree side of the singer’s artistry as she continues to win over fans with her catchy pop songs. It follows Stela Cole’s previous release, “Rhapsody in Pink,” an ambitious pop-come-hip-hop interpolation of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” and is intended to bolster the listener’s self-assurance as they enter the new phase of her music. That particular song, which highlights the importance of recognizing your own value, is typical of her work.

Elsewhere, she continues, “I’ve come to realize that you cannot control how the world thinks about you externally, but you can control how you treat yourself internally. Over time, that energy will resonate on the outside. No matter how far away something might feel in the moment, we owe it to ourselves to stay true to who we are, to those we love and those who love us exactly for those reasons. We owe it to ourselves to be the stars in our own movies.”

Listen to Stela Cole’s “Star” below.