SWEETNESS WITH A SLOW BURN

Side Bangs’ latest single, “Honey, Hi,” slips in like a warm grin from across the room—soft, playful, a little teasing, and absolutely irresistible. Stephanie Rodgers, the Brooklyn-based brain and heartbeat behind the project, trades her usual maximalist fireworks for something more intimate here, and the result feels like a secret whispered just for you.

Recorded in her bedroom studio, the song has this dreamy, hand-stitched charm that makes every line land with a little extra tenderness. The melody loops in that hypnotic, cozy way that feels like lying under a fan on a slow afternoon, letting your thoughts drift somewhere sweet. And Rodgers’ voice? It’s feather-light but full of intention, brushing against the lyrics with a confidence that makes the flirtation feel deliciously genuine.

The lyrics lean into a kind of effortless vulnerability—the kind that comes when you’re safe enough with someone to be silly, bold, tender, and hungry all at once. “Why don’t you tell me a story / Wrap me up tight in your plot”—ugh, that’s a line that settles right under the ribs and lingers.

By the time the chorus cycles through its catchy “Honey, hi” refrain, you’re already in too deep. It’s sticky-sweet without ever tipping into saccharine, the sort of hook that hums in your head long after the track fades.

“Honey, Hi” is Side Bangs opening the window and letting the sunlight all the way in—and trust me, you’ll want to bask in it.