Less: Hellya
Breaking the Cage: Less Ignites a New Era with the Explosive “Hellya!”
by Jack Rush
With Hellya!, Less delivers a raw, rock-infused outburst that feels less like a single and more like a personal reckoning set to sound. Bold, unapologetic, and emotionally charged, the track marks a decisive turning point in her artistry — a declaration of identity forged in frustration, resilience, and creative defiance.
Born in Naples in 2001, Less’s story is one of movement and transformation. Raised in a nomadic household as the daughter of two leather workers, she learned early the value of adaptability. A later move to Florence in search of stability coincided with profound personal loss — the passing of her grandmother, a foundational figure in her childhood. By 14, she was confronting tensions within her family after recognizing her sexual orientation. Songwriting became her refuge — a space where she could exist without filters or compromise.
The Covid pandemic marked another creative shift. Investing in a home studio, Less began shaping her sound independently before connecting with producers Lorenzo Santi and Federico Maremmi at Kapow Studio. That collaboration expanded her sonic palette and sharpened her artistic vision. Now 24, she presents herself not simply as a young songwriter, but as a fully formed creative force — a woman channeling lived experience into something visceral and universal.
“Hellya!” was born from a period of deep apathy and suffocating emotion. The lyrics emerged at a time when Less felt trapped — questioning whether she wanted to tie her life to one person, dreaming of escaping to a place where she could create freely, yet feeling culturally and socially constrained. The frustration extended beyond the personal into the professional: the sense that there is little space in her country for pure musicianship without the pressure to also become a content creator.
All of that tension detonates in the track’s central exclamation — “Hellya!” — a word that may not formally exist, yet perfectly encapsulates rage, urgency, and the primal desire to break free from fear and oppression. It’s less a lyric and more a battle cry.
Sonically, the track signals a new and definitive direction. Departing from her previous releases, Less embraces a heavier, more rock-driven arrangement. Gritty guitars surge with controlled chaos, drums pound with relentless momentum, and the production pulses with live-wire intensity. There’s a psychedelic undercurrent woven through the mix — a nod to the atmospheric depth she brings to her live performances — but here it’s sharpened with raw edges and bold dynamics.
Her vocal performance is the emotional nucleus. There’s a tangible sense of release in the way she moves through the song — from restrained vulnerability to full-throated catharsis. It feels as though the studio walls can barely contain the force behind it. Watching the song come to life, she describes feeling as if she were flying — and that sensation translates directly into the listening experience.
“Hellya!” is more than a track; it’s a manifesto. It captures the struggle of a young artist demanding authenticity in a culture that often rewards conformity. It channels personal doubt into defiant self-assertion. And it reclaims music as pure expression — urgent, imperfect, alive.
With this release, Less plants a flag in the ground. This is the sound she wants to be heard through — across Europe and beyond — by listeners ready not just to stream, but to truly feel.
Have a listen and connect with Less:
