Bigger Baby Steps: Dollface Returns with Honest, Heartfelt New Single“Before"

Bigger Baby Steps: Dollface Returns with Honest, Heartfelt New Single “Before”

Dollface, the moniker of Dublin-born singer-songwriter Aimée Rose, first introduced herself to listeners in January 2023 with her debut single Tired – a delicate track that hinted at her gift for creating beautiful music. Since then, she’s carved out a unique space in the Irish music scene with songs that feel both nostalgic and disarmingly raw. Her music walks a fine line between melancholy and comfort, often breaking your heart while making you smile, sometimes in the very same line.

With the release of her new single Before, Aimée returns from a short hiatus with a song that’s not just a continuation of her story, but a deeper, more reflective chapter.

And I feel privileged that I was able to do a written interview with her.

“A song is never finished, it’s just released.”:

Aimée told me that she was once advised by a college tutor – “A song is never finished, it’s just released” – and it still rings true to her to this day. It’s a part of what led her to release Before now.

“You sort of bite the bullet and realise, okay, this is as finished as it’s going to get,” she says.

But the timing wasn’t only about the technicals; the song’s emotional relevance still resonated.

“It’s true as I heal, true as I grow up.”

“A sense of identity sort of hits the nail on the head.”

One of Before’s most memorable lines for me – “am I made from parts I didn’t make myself?” – captures a crisis of identity that will feel familiar to many. For Aimée, it stems in part from her experience as an autistic person who’s spent much of her life mirroring those around her.

“Now that I’m aware of it, it’s something I’ve been trying to work on,” she openly shares with me.

“Trying to think of when I’m genuinely at my most happy and comfortable, and what brings that out in me.”

Another line repeated – “I would rip my heart out just to prove something I don’t even understand.” – continues that thread, touching on the ways we shape ourselves to be accepted.

“Maybe while I’m not 100% sure who I am right now, I know who I’m not – and I think that’s a good start.”

Creating to feel less lonely:

For Aimée, songwriting is more about reflection than resolution.

“I’m not trying to answer a question in my mind writing; to me, they’re more reflective observations.”

Still, releasing a song like Before brought a profound sense of relief.

“There’s a feeling of release that comes with it,” she explains. “The reactions have always been more than I could have asked for… Maybe surprised at how many people relate to what I write.”

Even the heavier lines – like “I always feel like I’m dying, but I never really do.” – have unexpected layers of humour.

“I wrote it to essentially say, ‘I’m very dramatic sometimes,’” she jokes. “But people have interpreted it a few different ways already, and I love that.”

At the core of her art is a deep desire to connect – not for attention or acclaim, but for understanding.

“Sometimes people message you to say that something in your art stuck with them. And then you feel less alone. That’s the absolute best part of sharing art – and the main reason I release music. It’s absolutely not for the money.”

“Bigger baby steps” into what’s next:

While before might be the only planned release for now, Aimée is writing more and more, and her live shows are set to evolve in the coming months. Though her earlier work was written during a time when she felt “pretty sad, existential,” she’s now exploring new emotional ground.

“In my later twenties I’ve been lucky enough to experience joy and love in ways I hadn’t before.” – “I’m looking forward to seeing where that takes me in my writing.”

She’s also branching out creatively, working with new producers and collaborators who’ve helped her sharpen her artistic vision.

“It gave me a lot more confidence, and I was more sure of myself and the sound I wanted to create.”

Asked to describe this new chapter in just three words, her answer comes with characteristic wit: bigger baby steps.

“I called my first EP Baby Steps because that’s what releasing that music felt like to me.” – “Now I feel more confident and more assured… but I don’t think I’d go so far as to say I’m taking adult steps yet. Maybe one day.”

Quickfire Round – Six Things to Know About Dollface:

To wrap up our conversation, I threw in some rapid-fire questions at Aimée to learn a little more about the person behind Dollface – from iconic first concerts to heartfelt advice.

First concert you ever went to?

“I’m never sure whether to be embarrassed by this because I can’t tell where it falls on the scale from embarrassing to iconic, but it was Glee Live.”

If your music had a colour right now, what would it be?

“Purple. I think the overall feeling of it is a bit melancholic, but depending on the light you look at it in, it can be bright as well. It isn’t all bad.”

An album that changed your life?

“There’s probably a hundred, but one that always comes to mind is Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys.”

A non-musical talent people might not know you have?

“Baking.”

Biggest home comfort?

“A duvet I can have decompression time under.”

And lastly, one piece of advice for anyone dreaming of becoming a musician?

“Just start. Do an open mic, release a single, whatever it is – everyone has to start somewhere. It’s terrifying, but sadly to be a musician, you actually have to be a musician.”

A voice you’ll want to hold onto:

Dollface doesn’t just write songs; she writes truths that feel unspoken until you hear them in her voice. She’s a rare artist who can make pain sound comforting, who can make you feel seen even in your most confused, tender moments. With Before, she invites us deeper into her world – a place where reflection meets evolution, and vulnerability becomes strength.

If Tired was her first foot in the door and Baby steps her tentative entrance, then Before is a confident step forward. Not a leap, not a sprint – just a bigger baby step. And it’s exactly the kind we need right now.

Written by Emma Cody.