There's freedom in making your own way, and those themes of self-sufficiency -- no matter the cost -- are at the heart of Julia Wolf's song "Rookie of the Year."

"I heard fakeness in everyone's voice/ I stay guarded and I stay poised/ Now s— came together like I thought it would/ New York girl out in Hollywood," Wolf sings in the autobiographical tune, which is proof that betting on yourself can pay off. 

In this episode of Press Play, watch Wolf perform the song with her signature vulnerability and confessional honesty. The singer/songwriter sits at her keyboard for the performance, keeping the spotlight on her clear, emotive voice — channeling her story into a vocal delivery that gives an unflinching look at her journey toward musical success.

Wolf's at-home setting is just as personal as the song's lyrics. Her self-described "gothic babe tendencies" are on full display, with a throw pillow decorated like an Ouija board beside her, candles lit in the background and dark-colored furniture spread throughout the room.

The rising indie-pop singer's performance is a preview of her debut album, Good Thing We Stayed, which is due out in full on January 13, 2023.

"This album is a collection of memories that have left heavy marks on my life," she explained on Instagram when she announced the project. "It story-tells the journey of how we got here today and the reasons that make me who I am. Having almost gave up a few years ago, ready to move [to] a different country and live someone else's life, all I can say is, it's a good thing we stayed."

Press play on the video above to watch Wolf's performance of "Rookie of the Year," and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of Press Play.

5 Takeaways From Selena Gomez's New Apple TV+ Documentary: 'Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me'

Lily Kincade traces the struggles of moving on from a short but impassioned fling in her latest single, "3 Months." She recognizes how irrational her feelings might be, but that doesn't stop the pain burning in her soul.

"I don't know why I'm still hung up/ On something that never made its way around the sun," Kincade sings in the pre-chorus. "Look how much damage three months can do/ It's almost September, what happened in June?"

In this episode of Press Play, the rising singer delivers a stripped-down performance of the introspective track. Kincade performs the song from her home studio, only using a keyboard to accompany her vocals. The simplistic arrangement allows the storyline of this heartbreaking tale to take center stage: "Maybe that's why I won't let us fade/ 'Cause we never made our way through the holidays."

Reflecting on her journey while writing "3 Months," Kincade revealed that the song's purpose was to help people realize that their feelings matter. "They're worthy of feeling. It doesn't matter if there's a reason. Feelings aren't logical, and that's a beautiful thing. After all, we must feel to heal," Kincade detailed to Showbiz CheatSheet.

Press play on the video above to watch Lily Kincade's performance of "3 Months," and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Press Play.

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Has Officially Begun: Here's What Swifties Have To Say About It

During Ava Maybee's run on American Idol in 2020, judge Katy Perry told the singer she has "a cool Blondie-esque voice." This year, Maybee takes her Debbie Harry-inspired vocals to the next level with the release of her pop-rock single, "Puke."

In this episode of Press Play, Maybee chronicles her experience living with anxiety in this premiere live performance of "Puke." "It's getting dark in here/ And no one's here to flip the switch/ Am I just too f*cked up to fix?/ God, it makes me sick," Maybee sings in the track's chorus.

Maybee's songwriting is largely focused on her struggles with mental health; she believes that starting the conversation surrounding mental health normalizes self-expression and admitting that it's okay not to be okay. When she released "Puke," she shared on social media, "I hope this song makes you feel less alone. That’s the whole point of why we do this s— right?"

Outside of her musical career, Maybee is a philanthropist, serving as the Youth Ambassador at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and co-founding the UNICEF Young Ambassadors group. This June, Maybee will graduate from New York University's Clive Davis School of Music with a minor in child psychology.

Press play on the video to watch Ava Maybee's cathartic performance of "Puke," and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Press Play.

The Psychology Of "Sad Girl" Pop: Why Music By Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Olivia Rodrigo & More Is Resonating So Widely

As a first-generation Indian-American artist, Shuba strives to uplift minority voices through her progressive music and break down toxic socio-cultural norms. In her breakthrough single, "Indian Summer," Shuba takes full authority over her autonomy and works to normalize unapologetic sexuality.

In this episode of Press Play, Shuba offers a provocative, stripped-down performance of the empowering single, also known as the "Brown Baddie Anthem" online. "Pass out when he kiss me/ Lose track of time when it's in me/ Woah, I'm supposed to be a lady/ They say I'm going crazy," raps Shuba on the track's second verse, acknowledging the chatter surrounding her sexual liberation.

Known for her combination of Bollywood sounds and pop-rap vocals, Shuba sings along to an Indian tabla drum. Her signature Indian-American fusion is also represented in her outfit, as she combines a paisley-print skirt and gold dangle earrings with a white lace-up top.

Shuba first rose to fame in 2021, posting snippets of her music on social media under the alias TikTok Brown Chick. As of 2023, Shuba has accumulated over 6 million followers across all platforms. Earlier this year, she released two more singles, "Come Here" and "Bad Date."

Press play on the video above to watch Shuba's alluring performance of "Indian Summer," and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Press Play.

Listen To GRAMMY.com's Women's History Month 2023 Playlist: Swim In The Divine Feminine With These 40 Songs By Rihanna, SZA, Miley Cyrus, BLACKPINK & More

Budding pop singer DAMOYEE chronicles the heart-wrenching surrender to unrequited love in her latest single, "to the next one," but she knows her future won't always look bleak.

"Maybe if I move on to the next one/ Just by a little/ A little less heartbreak by the next one," she sings in the track's outro, coming to terms with the realization that the visceral heartbreak will fade once she finds true love.

In this episode of Press Play, DAMOYEE performs "to the next one" live from her home studio. She is a known multi-instrumentalist and constructs the entire production of the song herself on a piano, electric guitar, and bass guitar. Still, she allows her warm vocals to take the spotlight as she bares her soul in the track's vivid, vulnerable lyrics.

"to the next one" is the third single from her forthcoming studio album, a collection of songs about DAMOYEE's college experiences. Outside of her musical career, she is a lively TikTok content creator and an advocate for social justice and bullying prevention.

Press play on the video above to watch DAMOYEE's candid performance of "to the next one," and keep checking GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Press Play.

Listen To GRAMMY.com's Women's History Month 2023 Playlist: Swim In The Divine Feminine With These 40 Songs By Rihanna, SZA, Miley Cyrus, BLACKPINK & More