Tiffany Stringer Lifts the Veil on "The Lone Starlet"

Written by Sofia Treviño

Photo courtesy of Spotify

When the curtain closes, and an artist steps away from a crowd’s applause, what do they feel? Tiffany Stringer’s second EP, The Lone Starlet — released May 8 — navigates the singer’s rising popularity and mixed emotions in sharing herself with an audience.

Born in Texas, Stringer moved to Los Angeles at age 17 to pursue a music career. The pop musician’s lyrics usually feature an alter ego version of herself, manifesting her stardom. In The Lone Starlet, Stringer’s debut project under Atlantic Records, six songs uncover an artist’s varying feelings once the spotlight turns off. 

“We have our truth, and I really wanted to share that behind the scenes of what happens that people don't really see from fame, artistry, songwriters and singers,” Stringer shared to PEOPLE in April.

An old-timey Transatlantic voice presents Stringer’s songs through a speakerphone in “(Introducing) The Lone Starlet.” The theatrics are similar to those of her last EP, The Texas Primadonna, where Stringer portrayed an exaggerated version of herself and had an introductory track that set the storyline. Here, the dust settles down, and Stringer begins to reflect on her journey in Hollywood.

In “Damn Good Actress,” Stringer reveals a contradiction between the pain she feels when sharing intimate lyrics and the joy she receives from the audience’s affection. “Now I’m someone that I don’t know / Ain’t nothing to it, just the way it happened / Only cryin’ when the lights low / Pretty little face, when the cameras flashing,” she hums out over bouncing violins.

The rising artist also released music videos for each song alongside the release, rounding out her artistic vision for the storyline. 

The catchiest track, “Bullet,” envisions a satirical response to wishing an ex the best. On social media, Stringer explained the country-infused pop song came to her after seeing an old lover getting engaged. “You got your woman, and I dodged a boyfriend,” Stringer taunts, while a twangy guitar pulls in Stringer’s Texan upbringing. The music video showcases her in a small Western town, where she line dances and engages in a gunfight with an ex-lover. 

Meanwhile, “Supernova” strips that hyperbolized version of Stringer back. The anxious song portrays Stringer’s nervousness when it comes to how her ambitious pop star dreams interact with her personal relationships. The snappy chorus compares Stringer to a supernova, making a large impact on the environment and the people around her.  

Slower songs tie the collection together with “Casualty” and “The Encore.” The former shares a similar melody to Miley Cyrus’ “Butterfly Fly Away,” with a quiet voice drifting above a strumming acoustic guitar. Personal lyrics show Stringer coming to terms with her evolving personality as she moves up in the world and drifts further away from her life in Texas. 

Rounding off the EP, “The Encore,” highlights Stringer’s vocal talent as she stretches to high notes singing of waiting for close love beyond an audience. Though Stringer’s last projects have garnered new listeners, this track discloses potential strains in her personal relationships due to her chasing her dreams. 

As Stringer jumps between different genres in The Lone Starlet, her commitment to telling a story shines throughout. The Texan star holds a clear vision of the success she’s working toward and shows her willingness to let her audiences in on her journey.