YDE radiates the confidence of a Gen Z icon on new single “Old Her”

Let’s face it: the biggest stars in pop music today are Millennials. Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, and Harry Styles were all born before the official 1997 start date of Gen Z. There are plenty of talented Zoomers waiting in the wings, but YDE (pronounced “EE-dee”) has the charisma and musical virtuosity to lead the pack.

YDE’s new single "Old Her" adds to her already sizeable fan base built from years of acting in Nickelodeon and Netflix tweener shows like The Haunted Hathaways, School of Rock, and Malibu Rescue. But like fellow thespian Jared Leto, YDE doesn’t consider music to be a sideline. She plays every instrument needed for a rock band – guitar, bass, keys and drums – and her piano skills are a prominent part of “Old Her.”

In the new video, the new and old YDE personas dance and grapple with each other while the lyrics summarise the ongoing struggle: “She miss the old her, even though the new her is better than the old her…”

Breanna Nicole Yde is half-Filipino, born in Australia and raised in California. Her 2020 single "Stopped Buying Diamonds" had the confident catchiness of Lorde’s smash hit "Royals" – and not solely because both songs mentioned diamonds. YDE’s song was more of a face-off between Gen Z values and those of jaded Baby Boomers, who don’t realize that many of today’s teens don’t go on lavish holidays or buy luxury products by choice.

In contrast, "Old Her" is a bit more lighthearted. “The song is my perspective on growing up and feeling like life never gets easier,” YDE shares. “Each verse is a real-time reflection from different chapters of life that all point back to the sarcastic conclusion that ignorance is bliss.”

The release of "Old Her" comes just one day before YDE’s 19th birthday. She’s already accomplished more than most artists twice her age, but there are still mountains to climb. Although she occasionally embraces throwback sounds (like the Jimi Hendrix-style guitar on "Stopped Buying Diamonds"), YDE is all about facing the future with humour and resilience. “Ultimately, I really hope that people who need to hear my music, hear it,” she concludes, with truly the potential to be the musical face of her generation.