21-year-old singer-songwriter Aubory Bugg has officially announced her debut album, i think i had something once, set for release on September 18th via Dualtone Records. Alongside the announcement, Bugg has shared a new single, ‘nosedive’, available now on all streaming platforms.
The upcoming album marks a defining chapter for Bugg, capturing a period of transformation as she navigates identity, independence, and the emotional pull of leaving home behind. Now based in Nashville and surrounded by a growing community of queer artists and collaborators, Bugg’s trajectory feels both grounded and rapidly ascending, with an artist stepping fully into her voice while still searching its edges.
New single, ‘nosedive’ stands as one of the album’s most immediate statements, bringing together Americana and country undercurrents with the central acoustic-pop accessibility. Driven by strummed acoustics and beautifully placed slide and crisp crunchy lead guitars, the track channels frustration and clarity in equal measure, recounting a tense relational situation with sharp detail and wry emotional distance.
The beautifully unaffected, emotionally attuned lead vocals from Bugg allow the melodies to shine and ring with an honesty which gives the track a real and wholesome sense of sincerity. Written in response to a former partner reconnecting with a past love, the song transforms discomfort into something pointed and anthemic.
“‘Nosedive’ came from a time when a former partner put me in a very awkward situation,” Bugg explains. “Writing this song was the only way to really put into words the way I felt in that moment.”
Bugg’s presence online has grown steadily alongside her artistry, with over 188K followers on TikTok and an early viral breakthrough in her daily cover series launched in January 2024. Her rendition of ‘Tummy Hurts’ by Reneé Rapp helped expand her audience significantly, but rather than remain in the covers lane, she quickly pivoted toward original material, building momentum through a consistent stream of self-penned songs rooted in lived experience and emotional clarity.
On i think i had something once, Bugg leans into a sound that sits between indie folk, alt-country warmth, and contemporary indie rock. Her songwriting recalls the introspective lineage of artists like Joni Mitchell and Phoebe Bridgers while remaining distinctly her own. It is direct, unguarded, and quietly cutting.
Thematically, the album spans grief, memory, and the reshaping of personal history. Tracks such as ‘nosedive’ and ‘i can’t’ explore the aftermath of romantic disconnection, while the title track reflects on childhood memory and the strange way formative moments resurface later in life. Elsewhere, ‘i’ve come to realize’ confronts loss with stark emotional honesty, broadening the record’s scope into more existential terrain.
With early acclaim already building and a run of live shows including support dates with Courtney Marie Andrews and upcoming UK festival appearances, Bugg is entering the run in to her debut album with momentum firmly on her side.
Listen below:
