Feature: Pola Cecilia Decodes “Dear Little Self”
What was the creative process like for this particular song?
"Dear Little Self" was written like a letter to the girl I once was — the one who still lives inside me. The process wasn’t linear; it came in waves. Some lines poured out in minutes, others sat with me for weeks. I didn’t write this song to impress anyone — I wrote it to free myself. It began with just a piano and a single sentence that made me cry. Every layer added after that — the textures, the harmonies — felt like I was stitching together something sacred.
Could you discuss the lyrical themes or messages conveyed in "Dear Little Self?"
The message is: I see you, I remember you, and you were never too much.
It’s about reclaiming softness, childhood wonder, and forgotten dreams. I wrote it as a way to apologize to my inner child for all the times I silenced her to survive. It speaks to anyone who grew up too fast, who made themselves small to be loved, or who’s learning how to come home to themselves.
What did you enjoy most about making this song?
I enjoyed the stillness it brought me. Recording it felt like sitting in a room with every version of myself — younger, braver, more broken — and letting them speak without interruption. I wasn’t trying to be polished. I was trying to be honest. That freedom felt revolutionary.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
I think music chose me before I ever chose it. I’ve always felt like sound was my first language. As a child, I would make up songs while walking alone, imagining someone might hear them through the wind. I took a long detour — life, survival, motherhood — but music stayed with me like a quiet heartbeat. I’ve returned to it now with a kind of defiance. It’s my way of saying: I won’t abandon myself anymore.
What role do you feel emotions play in your music, and how do you channel them into your performances?
Emotions are the spine of everything I create. I don’t perform — I feel out loud. I think people are tired of perfection; they want something real to hold onto. When I sing, I let the emotion lead — even if it shakes, even if it’s messy. That’s where the beauty is. I believe the heart recognizes truth when it hears it. That’s what I try to give every time I create.
Thank you for giving space to this story. If even one person feels seen or comforted through this song, then it’s already done its job.
