Lipstick & Leather

A song about desire, danger, and stepping into your power without asking permission.

People sometimes assume Lipstick & Leather is just a fun, flirty song, and it definitely is that, but underneath it’s really about confidence.

I wrote it after thinking about how women are so often expected to choose between being strong and being feminine, as if you can’t be both at the same time. I’ve never understood that. You can wear boots and eyeliner. You can be kind and still stand your ground. You can be soft without being easy to push around.

The title came first. I loved the contrast between those two words. Lipstick feels glamorous and playful. Leather feels tougher, a little rebellious. Put them together and they become this person who’s completely comfortable being herself without worrying what anyone else thinks.

There’s a bit of attitude in the song too. I wanted it to feel like the moment you catch your reflection before walking into a room and think, “Yeah… I’ve got this.” Not because you’re trying to impress anyone, but because you’ve finally realised you don’t need anyone else’s permission to feel good about yourself.

I think everyone has a version of Lipstick & Leather in their life. It doesn’t have to be about makeup or clothes. It’s that thing you wear, or that song you put on, or that little ritual that reminds you who you are when your confidence needs a boost.

More than anything, I hope it makes people smile. Not every song has to carry the weight of the world. Sometimes it’s enough to celebrate feeling fearless for three and a half minutes.