Cece Coakley's "Pleasant Attack": Raw Storytelling Offers A Refreshing Take On Young Adulthood

Adeline Williams '26  ~  March 2026

Nashville based singer/songwriter Cece Coakley has been honing in on making songs with honest storytelling and unique guitar riffs since beginning to release in 2022. She has developed a discography that highlights the complex emotions of young adulthood, making listeners feel seen and encourages them to embrace the messiness of this period of their lives. Coakley brilliantly blends indie pop, folk, and rock elements together to create masterpieces, most recently her third EP, Pleasant Attack, where she addresses a panoply of topics including unrequited love, repentance, heartbreak, and personal growth in just 18 minutes and 49 seconds. 

“Future Tense,” the second track on Pleasant Attack, is, in short, about when you have given someone too many chances and finally have accepted that they will never change. Coakley highlights the bittersweet feelings of this situation, the struggle to balance how you are sad that your relationship with someone has ended while also coming to terms with this and accepting reality. Not only is this a relatable song, but a catchy one too, with its riffs flowing in a perfect way that makes the song absolutely addicting to listen to.

While initially sounding upbeat, “Marrionette” is a vulnerable song about the struggle to accept that someone you love does not treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Coakley discusses feeling like you need to change to fit someone else’s expectations and how even when we know someone is not good for us, we still love them. Originally released back in November, this song was what really got me hooked on Cece Coakley’s incredible music and had me eagerly anticipating Pleasant Attack.

The EP’s title track “Pleasant Attack” is a heartwarming song about beginning to believe in love again once you find the right person. My favorite part of “Pleasant Attack” is the subtle nod to Buffalo, when she writes “The leaves were turning orange in Western New York.” Outside of this line, Coakley sheds light on the importance of self love and independence, singing “I’m learning how to be a person without needing a person,” which is such a powerful statement that holds universal for listeners.

Cece Coakley’s impeccable lyricism is underscored throughout Pleasant Attack. The EP, while deep in meaning, has such a nice flow that is perfect as the sun is beginning to peak out this spring. Similar to how Spring and fresh starts are on the horizon this March, by the end of Pleasant Attack happiness, hope, and love are peaking out for Coakley. From top to bottom, the six tracks go through the stages of love, letting go, self-love, and new love in a poetic yet oh-so relatable manner. Pleasant Attack is surely a new release that you won’t want to miss!