Brooklyn’s indie music scene has long been a breeding ground for raw, heartfelt artistry, and dearest—Emma Rose Botti—is quickly emerging as one of its most promising voices. Her latest single, Court St., is a dreamy, deeply personal track that explores the fleeting nature of modern love with a tender yet haunting honesty. Slated for release on April 3, 2025, the song is a poignant reflection on connection and uncertainty, wrapped in a lush soundscape that blends indie R&B and rock influences.
At its core, Court St. is a snapshot of a moment—a last goodbye at a train station, a lingering sense of “what if?” Inspired by a real-life encounter, dearest translates that emotional weight into a song that feels intimate yet universal. There’s a melancholic beauty in the way she captures the push-and-pull of a relationship still finding its footing, where every interaction is laced with hope and hesitation. Her songwriting is as much about what’s left unsaid as what’s sung, making Court St. a track that lingers long after the final note fades.
Musically, Court St. is a stunning showcase of dearest’s evolving artistry. She wears her influences proudly—channeling the soft, soulful indie R&B of Olivia Dean and Arlo Parks, while drawing on the introspective indie rock textures of Sabrina Song, Nieve Ella, and Gracie Abrams. The result is a sound that defies easy categorization, floating effortlessly between warm, jazz-inflected chords, intimate vocal delivery, and a rich instrumental palette. Recorded between her home studio and Arcade Studios in New York, the track highlights dearest’s hands-on approach—playing guitar and keys herself while also scoring the song’s horn parts, adding an extra layer of depth and sophistication.
A collaboration with longtime friend and fellow musician Benzi Edelson, Court St. carries a sense of organic chemistry that shines through in its arrangement. The production is both lush and restrained, allowing dearest’s voice to take center stage while subtle instrumental flourishes create an immersive atmosphere. There’s a warmth to the track, a feeling of being wrapped in a memory—both comforting and slightly heartbreaking at the same time.
Dearest is no stranger to the stage, having already shared bills with acclaimed artists like Eva Westphal. With upcoming shows at Bowery Electric and beyond, her live performances promise to bring the same raw vulnerability and musical craftsmanship that define her recorded work. It’s this combination—an unfiltered emotional core paired with a meticulous approach to sound—that makes her stand out in an increasingly crowded indie landscape.
With Court St., dearest cements herself as an artist to watch—one who can take a small, deeply personal moment and turn it into something timeless. The song is a reminder that love, in all its uncertainty, is often most beautiful in the spaces between beginning and ending. As she continues to carve out her own lane, dearest is proving that sometimes, the most powerful stories come from the quietest corners of our lives.
