“I'm Your Dog” by scared | Review

“I’m Your Dog” is the debut single from Ada Chen, who records under the name “scared.” The song’s intro and steady rhythm immediately set a coming-of-age mood, making it easy to picture as the opener for a movie about navigating relationships. The instrumentals specifically reminded me of “Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden” by Valley, while also tapping into the driven vocals and storytelling style of artists like Soccer Mommy, Girlpuppy, and Annie DiRusso.

Ada describes her artist project as “another brooklyn-based indie rock project but make it an asian girlie,” and that authenticity comes through in both her lyrics and delivery in the song as she balances exhaustion and defiance. For example, in the chorus where the repeated line “I’m your dog” turns loyalty into something bittersweet and a little self-deprecating. Another line, “All I do is bark and whine when you’re gone,” perfectly captures the feeling of being stuck between letting go and holding on to someone. With consistent drumming and guitar strumming, her expressive vocals give the song a distinct indie rock sound.

Ada Chen, under the artist name “scared,” is a Chinese American artist from NYC with deep roots in the local music scene, even though this is her first release under “scared.” She writes with honesty and vulnerability,, and is definitely an artist to watch for future releases.

Written by Izzy Hory