Canella transform tension into harmony on their beautifully unpredictable “Cortisol.”
There’s something instantly magnetic about Canella’s “Cortisol.” It opens with an acoustic guitar that feels like an exhale—intimate, unguarded, and beautifully human. Then those layered vocal harmonies enter, spiraling in perfect unison before the track blossoms into full pop-rock colour. It’s one of the most original intros I’ve heard in a while—unexpected yet so naturally right, like stumbling into a melody you already knew deep down.
“Cortisol” dances on the border between calm and chaos. Named after the stress hormone, it translates tension into something almost soothing. Beneath its smooth surface lives a song about betrayal and the emotional spikes that come with it. Juliana Castrillón’s voice carries that mix of ache and ease—the kind of delivery that feels both confessional and forgiving. There’s a clever contrast here: the warm harmonies and steady percussion soften what’s essentially a tale of toxicity, a friendship gone sour. You can feel the release in the way the band lets the melody breathe, refusing the easy, expected path.
What I love most is how little this song cares about structure. There’s no obvious chorus until almost two minutes in, and even then, it feels earned rather than designed. It keeps you guessing, leaning in, waiting for the next shift. It’s that unpredictability that gives it life—a reminder that pop music can still be smart, that acoustic guitars and soft drums can carry emotional weight without shouting. It’s the sound of a band thinking and feeling at once.
About Canella:
Canella themselves are the kind of group that makes you want to be in a band—or at least in the room while they’re jamming. Formed in Albany, New York, they thrive on collaboration and humour. Juliana brings her Colombian sensibility and raw songwriting, while Joe, Gabe, and Dan translate those songs into something communal, playful, and loud in all the right places. They’ve already caught the attention of their local scene, scooping up WCDB awards for Best Song of the Year in 2021 and 2022. “Cortisol” feels like their next leap—a basement-born gem with global potential.
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