Fans of Phoebe Bridgers and Mitski, we just found your new favorite artist. Ada Marques has the same introspective lyrical flair of some of our favorite indie-rock darlings while also giving us a new experience unlike anything we’ve heard before, and her debut single “Bell” is a journey from start to finish. 

“It was the first song I wrote that I didn’t absolutely cringe at the thought of anyone else listening to it,” Ada tells TREMG. “I wrote it a couple of years ago on my bedroom floor while experimenting with tunings and listening exclusively to Elliot Smith for weeks. I was trying to make sense of all these strange and confusing emotions of an unfinished relationship, and I think this song captured that experience. It’s one of the songs I’ve written that I still relate to this day. I think that’s what makes it so special to me.”

Throughout “Bell,” it’s clear that Ada spends a decent amount of time choosing her words carefully, picking the perfect combinations to get her feelings across and create a lush sonic wonderland of just the right delicate touches. So it’s no surprise that she draws inspiration from some of the most prolific female singer-songwriters in music history! She’s a product of some of the most awe-inspiring artists out there and it certainly shines through in her own work.

“I am such a huge fan of both Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers,” Ada shares. “Singer-songwriters are everything to me. I grew up listening to Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Carole King, Fiona Apple, Tracy Chapman, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and I could go on and on. The stories they told and how they expressed emotions through it is insane to me. I studied them and, to this day, always turn back to their music when I feel stuck or unsure about how I want to say something.”

Luckily for us, “Bell” is far from the last we’ll be hearing from Ada. Throughout 2022, she’ll be gracing us with more incredible music and unapologetically vulnerable lyrics, so now is the perfect time to get her on your radar. 

“I have an EP coming out at the end of the year that I am very excited about,” she reveals. “I am still working on it right now, but it should have around eight new songs. ‘Bell’ will be on it, too. After ‘Bell,’ I also have about three other singles I hope to release this year. It will be a year of setting free a lot of songs that contain my deepest secrets and fears, so it’s going to be interesting. I’m especially nervous about what my parents are going to think about it.”

We’re sure that just like us, Ada’s parents will be thrilled to hear everything she’s cooking up. You can find “Bell” on your favorite streaming services now, and get to know Ada Marques on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! Keep reading for more from our conversation with the thoughtful singer-songwriter.

Congrats on your debut single, “Bell!” How does it feel to finally share the song with the world?

It honestly feels beyond terrifying. Songwriting, for me, has always been something I kept just for myself. It’s a safe place for me to be as horribly sensitive and emotional as I please without judgment. I have always been very conscious of my feelings and how they are presented to others, but songwriting is a place where I can express my most shameful and embarrassing feelings without the fear of anyone else knowing about them. So sharing this song feels like giving away a vulnerable and imperfect part of me that people can take, leave or criticize. I’m trying to be okay with that concept and accept what I have to give as I go through this process.

What does the song “Bell” mean to you?

It was the first song I wrote that I didn’t absolutely cringe at the thought of anyone else listening to it. I wrote it a couple of years ago on my bedroom floor while experimenting with tunings and listening exclusively to Elliot Smith for weeks. I was trying to make sense of all these strange and confusing emotions of an unfinished relationship, and I think this song captured that experience. It’s one of the songs I’ve written that I still relate to this day. I think that’s what makes it so special to me.

Is there a certain lyric on “Bell” that you’re particularly proud of?

Lyrics are the first thing I usually write and the last thing I change, to my producer’s dismay. I usually always start with one line that I think represents what I want to say, and I go from there. The first lyrics for “Bell” that I wrote were “the trace of every pen always leads me back to you.” I’m really proud of that one because it summed up what I was feeling at the time. The song is about that feeling that you can’t seem to escape someone even though you try your best to forget them. That’s why I decided to start and end the song with that line because the lyrics between them are the aftermath of your mind wandering to those tender memories.

How did you know that now was the time to debut with “Bell?”

When we finished producing the song, I played it for my best friend, Alex. She’s the person I turn to to tell me the truth. She’s very straightforward and picky about music, so I respect her opinions so much. When she got excited about this one, I knew this had to be the first one.

“Bell” gives me similar vibes to artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Mitski! Who are some of your biggest influences on your music?

That’s the greatest thing anyone has ever said to me, and I don’t deserve it, but thank you. I am such a huge fan of both Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers. I have a Mitski sticker on my phone case and a poster of Phoebe Bridgers up in my room. My mom will be hearing about this comparison, so I hope you mean it. Singer-songwriters are everything to me. I grew up listening to Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Carole King, Fiona Apple, Tracy Chapman, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and I could go on and on. The stories they told and how they expressed emotions through it is insane to me. I studied them and, to this day, always turn back to their music when I feel stuck or unsure about how I want to say something.

We at TREMG love getting to know new artists who haven’t gotten the success or attention they deserve. Who are some of your favorite underrated artists at the moment?

Ooooh, I have so many. My favorite, though, is Caity Krone. A couple of years ago, I stumbled across her music through Spotify’s Discover Weekly, and I have been obsessed with her ever since. She reminds me of a modern Carole King with the way she tells stories and her soulful voice. She recently followed me back on social media, and I panicked because “Record About You” was my most played song back in 2017 and it inspired the music I wrote back then so much. I tried to play it cool, but it’s physically impossible for me to ever play cool with anything, really.

What can your fans look forward to later this year?

I have an EP coming out at the end of the year that I am very excited about. I am still working on it right now, but it should have around eight new songs. “Bell” will be on it, too. After “Bell,” I also have about three other singles I hope to release this year. It will be a year of setting free a lot of songs that contain my deepest secrets and fears, so it’s going to be interesting. I’m especially nervous about what my parents are going to think about it.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention that the questions didn’t touch on?

Even though I sound like I’m terrified, songwriting is all I have ever wanted to do so thank you so much for giving me a platform to talk about my song and the process of making it. I appreciate it so much!