For years, Reyes has been the girl in the band. Now, she’s stepping into her own spotlight with ‘Miss Congeniality,’ an emo-tinged, Y2K pop banger. Brimming with confidence, she sings about the exquisite joy of longing and the powerful realization that one may not be for everyone—a gleeful surrender told in power chords.

On the themes explored on the track, Reyes shares, “It’s like I’ve been shapeshifting into whatever version of myself feels the most likable in the moment. It’s that pageant energy of being everyone’s favorite but still not actually being chosen. I’m very aware of the pattern while it’s happening, which is where the humor and the sting come from.”

Produced by frequent collaborator Blonder (Anna Shoemaker, Ryn Weaver), Reyes continues, “It’s bratty, high-energy alt-pop with crunchy guitars and a bit of indie sleaze, polished on the surface but kind of unraveling underneath.” Trying to remain composed, she adds, “It lives in that space between sweet and frustrated, like I’m holding it together but barely.”

The video, shot at OutBox, a queer and trans boxing gym in Bushwick, sees a bruised Reyes hit the boxing ring donning a pink dress and a tiara. It was co-directed by Reyes and Katie Colwell and edited by Jill Blutt. Reyes says on the video, “I absolutely had to pay homage to Miss Congeniality because the song was so heavily inspired by it, and because I’ve loved that movie forever.”

Playing with the film’s themes, gender and societal expectations, Reyes continues, “There’s something so special to me about the way Sandra Bullock plays this woman who’s trying to survive inside a version of femininity that doesn’t totally fit her naturally. I really connected to that. I liked the idea of taking this super glossy, hyperfeminine world and roughing it up a little. Busted lip, smeared makeup, sweat, chaos. That contrast felt really true to the song.”

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Rivkah says,“’sick’ is about the overwhelming feeling of putting your heart and energy into something or someone, only to realize that the effort and emotion you’re investing aren’t being reciprocated. It’s about the painful awareness that the relationship or situation you’re involved in is unhealthy, yet despite knowing it’s bad for you, you continue to pursue it. You convince yourself that things might change or get better, even when deep down you know they won’t. Over time, the emotional weight of this imbalance starts to take a toll—not just mentally, but physically. It’s that feeling of being trapped in a cycle of giving too much, staying too long, and ignoring your own well-being until the emotional distress begins to manifest as a physical illness.”

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