Internet pop artist Cece Natalie has made blingy 2000s-inspired bedroom pop and hypnotic R&B infusions. Her latest track, “Not even lying,” is a moody swirl of downtempo piano and whining synth. Its mesmeric hook describes the unsettling feeling of anticipating a betrayal that never comes: “You were supposed to turn evil, but you never did/You were not even lying,” she sings through the haze, sounding jaded. Broody and pouting, the song conjures the same atmosphere as early collaborations by Lana Del Rey and the Weeknd.

“Not even lying” and May single “So proud” mark a turning point in Cece Natalie’s burgeoning catalog. On her 2024 debut, Miss Behaves, gritty production and ample Auto-Tune drained the color from bubbly, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Her newest songs feel darker and more melancholy, picturing an artist in transition after a recent move to New York City. Cece’s star is on the rise: Jane Remover has featured her songs on NTS Radio, and she’ll tour with Snow Strippers and Isabella Lovestory this fall. On “Not even lying,” the young artist imagines stepping out in the West Village with her bodyguard: a new New York persona now under construction.