Macy Krew lives as her most authentic self. With “Girl Next Door,” she encourages the listener to do the same. Handclaps fly into the neon glow of ‘90s boot-scootin’ country. “Grew up on red dirt, two-lane tumble weed highways / Raised upright, but I went my own way,” she sings in the opening verse.

“Ain’t the cookie cutter, picket fence, fairy tale, white lace / Legs crossed, lips sealed / Picture in the frame,” she sings, letting her emotions guide her lyrical hand. “Sometimes, I smell like cigarettes / A little bit of whiskey on my breath / Ain’t scared to say what needs to be said.” She spits absolute fire in the lyrics, but long-standing fans will already know that’s just what she does. She sings exactly what needs to be sung.

In her life, she’s learned a thing or two about what it means to live fully and unapologetically. “Don’t ever hold back who you are in life to fit a cheesy definition.  Do what makes you happy regardless of what anyone thinks,” she says in a press statement. “Break the damn mold and celebrate that. Be the different kind of girl next door that unapologetically is cut from a new cloth.”

Listen to “Girl Next Door” below.

Out of Nashville, Krew appeared on American Idol a few seasons ago and left an indelible mark. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, and Shania Twain, Krew fuses the styles of her predecessors into something uniquely her own. She’s a little bit ‘90s and a whole lotta contemporary pop-country. Her style bridges between genres, even when it’s polished and clean.

Krew’s upward trajectory is a marvel to behold. She’s already opened for the likes of Toby Keith, Kris Allen, and many others. If you’re in the Nashville area, she hosts a monthly show at The Listening Room. She’s not to be missed.