Pop singer/songwriter Saturn Lane is back with a new single, out now on all streaming services, called “Didn’t Know Better.” It serves as a brighter, more “bubblegum” pop follow-up to the moody, emotional “Messed Up,” released this past April. The track, slightly theatrical but more reminiscent of an upbeat Sara Bareilles pop tune, once again showcases Lane’s impressive vocal range and stylistic inflections (she’s inspired by Ariana Grande and Bebe Rexha, two people who know how to fill space). “Messed Up” detailed the falling out of a personal relationship while “Didn’t Know Better” sees Lane giving herself permission to move forward; “I didn’t know better. Take a breath, head up high. You’re gonna be just fine.” 

“The songs are almost a continuation of the same story,” said Lane. “It’s like, ‘I’m messed up and here’s why’, but then looking at it later on, I didn’t know all of the things I know now and that’s ok. It’s more about my intentions and value versus a poor choice or mistakes that we made.” However, while acknowledging that the song touches on the aftermath of “Messed Up”, it goes beyond. “It applies to mistakes in general,” she said. “But I wanted it to be anthemic, upbeat and celebratory of this feeling of, ‘It’s all good. You live and you learn, and you just have to roll with it.” 

Lane, an independent artist from Staten Island, NY, completely self-funds the music she puts out. She takes it seriously and is a true student of the DIY generation of artists, putting the money earned from summer jobs towards online promotion and quality vocal production, mixing and mastering. Working with a now trusted collaborator, she is heavily involved in the process and enjoys coming up with melodies from scratch as well as contributing to certain aspects of the production within the song. She also considers other critical aspects of a release, such as music videos and photo shoots, into the equation. 

Even so, despite all the hard work that goes into putting out a song, she still gets restless soon after. “I’ll listen to a new song in the first few days after it comes out but then I’m looking in my dropbox,” she said. “I’m already listening to the next song. I just get bored.” While Lane boils it down to boredom, it is clearly just the artistic drive pushing her forward, always looking towards that next thing. 

Lane looked to the music of pop juggernauts like the aforementioned Grande and Katy Perry, among others, to help form the songs landscape of acceptance and empowerment. “Beating myself up, getting mad at myself and regretting things in reality does nothing,” she said. “It may feel, in the moment, like I’m doing something about it, but I’m really not. The only thing I can do at this point is work on my future.” 

With another song already in the works and upcoming shows at NYC’s East Berlin as well as others in Staten Island with fellow local musicians, Lane is working hard to hone her craft and grow as an artist. Her music, while addressing old wounds, is a clear sign that she, and anyone, can move forward from life’s obstacles with grace and maturity. 

You can check out “Didn’t Know Better” here, or wherever you stream music: