Los Angeles, CA – Surging indie pop artist Aly Navarro returns with “If I Were A Man,” a danceable track that dives into the complicated emotions of becoming a different variation of yourself after a relationship with the wrong partner. Blending playful energy with lyrics about anger, avoidance, emotional distance, and reclaiming your sense of self, Navarro contrasts the song’s carefree momentum with its heavier subject matter. Released as an extended variant of the single, “…i learned from the best” is the final curtain call, where the crowd gets to sing back and release their inhibitions on the road to moving on. “If I Were A Man” and “…i learned from the best” are now available to stream and download on all major platforms.
“If I Were A Man” immediately pulls listeners in with a lively electric guitar strum before Navarro’s soulful vocals enter alongside steady, driving drums. The single builds its energy around a rhythmic arrangement that keeps the track moving while contrasting its sanguine sound with the weight of its subject matter. “This song is about feeling a part of yourself change after a relationship with the wrong person; the way it can make you a cold, distant, and overall worse version of yourself,” Navarro explains. “A big part of this song is the ‘if’ in the title. If I were more like the person who made me feel so unlike myself, I would be avoidant, selfish, and angry.” The release’s chorus brings that idea to life through catchy lyrics like, “if I were a man, I would be good at avoiding / bottlin’ it up just to spit out the poison” and “if I were a man, I’d be making a killing / counting all the ways I could win as a villain.” The repeated “if” allows Navarro to explore the partner she could have become while recognizing that she does not have to become that idea. “I think the reason this song can be so honest and sad while also being upbeat and carefree is because that “if” is conditional,” Navarro says. “I am not that person, and I am glad I’m nothing like them, because they set a perfect example of what not to be.” The single also reflects the people who helped Navarro reconnect with herself. “I was lucky enough to record a lot of this song with people that I love so much, who helped me be able to see myself after not feeling seen for a long time,” she says. “I love this song so much, because it can explain all the complex emotions of feeling like you’re losing yourself, while also exploring the upbeat excitement of escaping that.”
Following the main single, Navarro dropped the extended version “…i learned from the best” giving the story another chapter as she continues to go through the motions after a turbulent partnership ending. “…i learned from the best” emits that freeing sentiment of singing along with your best friends with a cocktail and a dream. The reprise closes the chapter of heartbreak and allows an optimistic new one to start. The two-part release was written by Aly Navarro, Makena Tate Shlens, and Michael Leto. Produced and mixed by Leto, the longtime Navarro collaborator also plays piano, organ, and drums on the songs, while Ethan Rounds contributes acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, bass, and banjo, with additional electric guitar from Zach Ryan. The singles were mastered by Théo Quayle (Laufey, Lauv, Alex Warren), co-engineered by Shade Tramp, and feature background vocals from Leto, Shlens, Tramp, Navarro, and Natalie Sullivan.
Aly Navarro is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter paving a path that is all her own. From learning piano at 3 years old to writing songs at 12, it’s clear that music has always been running through her veins from an early age. Earning a degree in songwriting from Berklee College of Music, Navarro has curated a catalog from her personal experiences and journey of growth through adulthood. Coming off the heels of her debut EP, Do Not Resuscitate, Aly Navarro has been a flourishing force in the indie pop scene. She’s been championed by outlets like Music Connection Magazine, EARMILK, and Melodic Magazine.
“If I Were A Man” brings together a hopeful arrangement and introspective songwriting, allowing Navarro to examine what it felt like to forfeit herself while celebrating the process of finding your way back, while its reprise, “…i learned from the best,” acts as the perfect closer. Both tracks are available on all major digital streaming platforms. Be sure to stay connected and follow Aly Navarro on her musical journey @alynavarromusic on Instagram and TikTok, and visit her Linktree linktr.ee/alynavarro for more information.
