Frustration is a natural thing we all experience, but Tessa Dalton’s latest single “Nothing Left of Me” highlights the extreme exasperation we feel when we begin to doubt ourselves because of other people– the way they tell you how to live your life, and their unwanted opinions worming their way into how you see yourself. You get worn down to the bone by these words, begin to doubt yourself, and there’s nothing you can really do about it unless you let it roll off your back. “Nothing Left of Me” is an alt-pop/rock track that is an outburst exclaiming that you are tired of hearing the naysayers. It speaks of the trials and troubles we experience from those who speak down about your dreams, focusing that frustration into mesmerizing lyrics with a captivating rock soundscape.
The last time I reviewed Dalton, it was for her single “Whiplash”, which had a decidedly different vibe than “Nothing Left of Me”. “Nothing Left of Me” is much edgier, and definitely leans into the rock genre with the intense percussion and electric guitar. Frankly, rock is one of my favourite genres, and I think Dalton does a fantastic job in synthesizing alt-pop into it; there’s an amazing blend of instruments in the soundscape, all serving to form a rollercoaster of sound that is quintessential rock and alt-pop at the same time. The track also incorporates the fiddle, an important sound amidst all the traditional rock. It’s really spectacular how much this track fits into its runtime– you truly feel the song climb and drop in energy, which adds to the song’s overall message. “Nothing Left of Me” is for those of us that cannot help but nod and smile, the people pleasers who are helpless but to accept the doubt piled atop us by others’ words. And the lyrics highlight just that: in the chorus, Dalton sings, “Every person has opinions, / every phone call is a joke / I say it’s what I want, / but I’m left thinking I misspoke”, telling listeners the struggle of speaking up, but doubting yourself regardless. Much of the song handles this type of self-reflection, the tempo changes mirroring our troubled minds wavering back-and-forth when in these situations. “Nothing Left of Me” truly brings all the best parts of rock and alt-pop to create a soundscape and story that speaks to what we’ve all experienced– crushing self-doubt, though resolution is always on the horizon as the song fades out, suggesting that maybe there is something left of you after all is said and done.
Blending the fiddle and pop music, Tessa Dalton is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who specializes in the fiddle. She is currently a junior commercial violin major at Belmont University in Nashville, although she began her musical journey as a fiddle champion by taking championship crowns in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. She’s also a studio and gig musician at venues around Music City, and her love of bluegrass, swing, and americana have led her to play her original tunes multiple times at the Station Inn, a famous bluegrass venue. Her first independent single dropped in April 2024, entitled “One More Night”, and she hasn’t stopped since. “Nothing Left of Me” is Dalton’s most recent release, and she has further plans to release tracks monthly. If you loved this song, you should absolutely follow Dalton to keep track of her next projects!
Written By Alexa Leung
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