Following a strong response from SA listeners and the arrival of “beautiful life” on the 5FM Top 40, Phoenix-born, LA-based alt-pop singer Piper Connolly returns with “Unapologetic” – a candid new single about embracing who you are instead of constantly editing yourself to fit in.
Produced by South Africa’s own Esjay Jones, whose credits include Billy Corgan and Dave Navarro, alongside Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft, who has worked with Gwen Stefani and MGK, the track was mixed by Grammy Award winner Nathan Dantzler of The Hit Lab, known for his work with Sabrina Carpenter and Teddy Swims.
“Unapologetic” brings a more vulnerable dimension to Connolly’s pop-rock sound without losing the attitude that makes her music so distinctive. Emotional honesty builds towards a soaring, cathartic release, transforming the song into less of a refusal to apologise and more of a declaration of personal freedom.
Piper Connolly Embraces Self-Acceptance
The new single is the latest preview of Connolly’s forthcoming EP, she’s too much!, which is set for release on 25 September 2026. Across its six tracks, the project combines candid coming-of-age stories with Connolly’s lifelong love of 2000s pop-rock, pairing sharp contemporary production with infectious energy and big choruses designed to be shared with an audience.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the song, Connolly says:
“‘Unapologetic’ is about finally letting go of the idea that I have to explain, soften, or edit myself to make other people comfortable. I wrote it from that place of being a little reckless, a little dramatic, maybe too loud or too quiet depending on who you ask – and deciding that none of that makes me wrong.
“It’s about self-acceptance, imperfection, and refusing to apologise for feeling things fully. I hope people hear it and feel permission to stop overthinking who they are. Perfection is overrated, and I’d rather be real, messy, and completely myself than pretend to be someone easier to understand.”
Growing Momentum in South Africa
“Unapologetic” arrives as Connolly’s relationship with South African audiences continues to develop. Her previous single, “beautiful life”, earned a spot on the 5FM Top 40, introducing her bright and emotionally direct pop-rock sound to listeners across the country and establishing an important radio presence for the new release.
While “beautiful life” captured the excitement of rediscovering joy, “Unapologetic” takes a more introspective approach. Its central message – that being imperfect does not mean you owe anyone an explanation – broadens the emotional scope of she’s too much! while retaining the immediacy, honesty and melodic appeal that have become hallmarks of Connolly’s music.
Check out the lyric video for “Unapologetic” below:
About she’s too much!
Recorded in Los Angeles, She’s too much! is both a bold creative statement and an energetic, no-filler pop-rock journey through the contradictions and emotional intensity of growing up.
The six-track EP moves between celebration, heartbreak, defiance and self-acceptance, with Piper Connolly refusing to make herself smaller along the way.
“It’s the perfect encapsulation of everything in my life right now,” Piper Connolly says. “It’s soft at times and about love, and then you have edgier and sadder songs that are about heartbreak. But all of it is really about being yourself, being loud, and having fun!”
More info about Piper Connolly
Piper Connolly is a Phoenix-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who channels emotional honesty into energetic alt-pop and pop-rock. Inspired by the immediacy of 2000s guitar-driven pop while maintaining a distinctly modern sound, she combines infectious hooks with vocals that can shift from intimate and conversational to full-throttle catharsis.
Her songwriting embraces the contradictions that come with growing up – feeling fearless and fragile, romantic and restless, certain and completely lost, sometimes all within the same song.
That same openness carries into Piper Connolly’s high-energy live performances, which are built around connection, spontaneity and creating an environment where audiences can feel less alone in whatever they are experiencing.
Her growing profile has attracted coverage from LADYGUNN, EARMILK, Atwood Magazine and other outlets, while “Beautiful life” has expanded her reach into South African radio through 5FM.
With she’s too much!, Piper Connolly delivers her clearest statement yet: identity is not something that needs to be diluted simply to make it easier for others to understand.
Watch this space for updates in the Music Videos category on Running Wolf’s Rant,
