Track: #03
Title: “The Hurt”
Artist: CLEO
From: Introducing CLEO [E.P]
Release Date: March 14, 2026
Length: 5:02
Format: Digital Download, Weekly Airplay, Worldwide Streaming
Recorded: RVV Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre(s): Pop, Ballad, Adult Contemporary
Label: Royale Vices & Virtues INC
Written: January 2026
Writer(s): Chloe Rae Brooks, Tiana Monet, Oriana Cruz
Producer(s): Deneil
“The Hurt” is a single by American girl group ‘CLEO’ as part of their debut E.P “Introducing CLEO”, following on from previous singles “Forever, Stronger, Together” and “Wildest Dreams” as they continue to establish themselves within the music industry since being formed by label ‘Royale Vices & Virtues INC’ in late 2025. The group looks set to continue their emergence as one of the most promising new acts in the music industry with their debut E.P expected in late April with one final single from the project set to drop ahead of its release. It’s also expected that their debut album will be released in late 2026, with their debut E.P expected to serve as an intro to their eventual debut full length effort.
The track was written in January 2026 by group members Chloe Rae Brooks, Tiana Monet and Oriana Cruz with the track produced by Deneil once more as the UK based artist and producer took the helm on their debut single “Forever, Stronger, Together”. Aiming to follow the positive response to the groups early singles and continue building the foundation of CLEO’s position as an emerging group within the music industry, the track set to be released through Royale Vices & Virtues INC and made available as a digital download as well as being made available to weekly airplay and worldwide streaming across all major streaming platforms from March 14, 2026.
Background and Development;Arriving as a more emotionally direct track in comparison to their first two singles, “The Hurt” see’s the group lean more into pop ballad territory and an adult contemporary sound and style that highlights the groups vocal dynamics between each other as well as their own individual range, matched with a strong storytelling songwriting ability showcased on this latest track. It’s a track that focuses on a reflective and introspective tone, exploring themes of resilience, self-belief and personal growth in the face of criticism, doubt and internal pressure. While their debut release, “Forever, Stronger, Together” introduced the group with a message of unity and ambition and it’s follow-up “Wildest Dreams” showcasing ideas of youthful desire and late-night escapism, “The Hurt” showcases a more introspective and sombre reflective tone while also championing self-belief and inner-strength in the face of adversity.
The song was written during the late stages of the recording sessions for the “Introducing CLEO” E.P in January 2026, even after the group had locked in three tracks for the release and had already dropped the lead single from the project. Primarily written by Chloe Rae Brooks with additional songwriting credits going to Tiana Monet and Oriana Cruz, the track showcases a more mature side to their songwriting and an ability to showcase depth within their craft. It also shows an ownership in their work, having written the previous track alongside songwriter for hire Abella Diaz, this latest effort shows that they’re not only willing to work with outside talent but also have a very clear vision of their own careers as performers and songwriters themselves. Lyrically, the track centres on overcoming negative voices, learning to reclaim personal power and recognising the value of perseverance, with the chorus framing emotional scars as chapters in a bigger life story. Messages that are likely to resonate powerfully with their young fanbase.
Musically, the production blends piano-driven instrumentation with contemporary pop arrangements, giving the song a powerful pop ballad feel. It gradually builds from restrained verses into a more anthemic chorus that allows each member the opportunity to showcase their own individual vocal tone. While the structure emphasizes different elements within the same general feelings, each member takes their solo moments and adds their own tone and purpose to it which enhances the experience overall. Those individual moments help make the collective harmony during the songs chorus feel more prominent and powerful when it does arrive which reinforces CLEO’s identity as a collaborative group rather than a hierarchy of lead performers.
Critics and early listeners of the track have noted the song’s balance between vulnerability and empowerment, particularly it’s central refrain of being “higher than the hurt.”, which encapsulates the message of rising above hardship and self-doubt. One critic noted that even during this early period of their career as a group, “it feels like this combination of girls already have an identity and already understand the importance and impact that their messages can have on the primarily young female audience that they are slowly building a fanbase around.”
Recorded at the label’s new state-of-the-art recording facility ‘RVV Recording Studios’ in Los Angeles, California, “The Hurt” continues the sonic partnership between CLEO and producer Deneil with whom they worked with on their debut single and is reportedly lined up as a primary producer on the debut E.P as well as their debut album which is already in it’s infant stages. His polish and emotive production style is showcased once again on this track, briefly switching out for Latin producer BLOOM on their second effort, the dance-influenced “Wildest Dreams” before returning to the production desk for their third effort “The Hurt”. Within the context of their debut E.P “Introducing CLEO”, it’s expected that “The Hurt” will serve as the penultimate track prior to the release of their extended play with one final single expected to drop around the time of the debut E.P. as the group continue to further establish their own sound and style and build a fanbase that appears only likely to grow as the year progresses.
Song Description;The track begins with a soft piano-led instrumental which immediately establishes the reflective tone of the song. Soft ambient tones and restrained drum pads sit quietly behind the piano melody which allows the emotion of the lyrics to sit front and centre for this track. The percussion is minimal during the opening moments, but just enough to feel like a faint heartbeat-like rhythm that works underneath the instrumentation as Chloe Rae Brooks opens the track with a vulnerable and softly delivered vocal, her voice with a fragility and tone that matches the lyrical content perfectly,
“I’ve been navigating the cracks in my foundations/Like they’re the constant proof of how fragile things are in this life/Every whisper feels so much like a verdict/All my internal doubts keep telling me that they’re right/I’ve tried bending just to belong/Tried dimming my own light just to fit/But I was never made for breaking/I was born for more than this.” with her performance immediately highlighting the emotional direction of the song, focussing on internal struggles and self-doubt while also adding a powerful message about not moulding your true self in order to fit in with the crowd.
The first pre-chorus arrives and Tiana Monet steps into the fold vocally, adding a sense of vocal composure while giving the song it’s lift in inflection, the drum rhythm becoming slightly more pronounced as the pre-chorus progresses.
“Pulse beating, hands shaking, heart wide open/Standing in the aftermath/If I fall, I fall forward/I won’t ever take one step back.” which showcases the musical theatre training in her vocal delivery as she delivers it with a note for note perfection, helping build a sense of anticipation ahead of the songs chorus as the piano chords expand and the string textures rise which helps guide the pre-chorus into the songs chorus for it’s first major moment.
As the chorus arrives, the full emotional weight of the production comes into play. The piano becomes more dramatic and layered, joined by a fuller percussion and swelling arrangement that gives the chorus its powerful pop-ballad energy as all five girls sing in harmony the tracks message of inner-strength,
“I’m higher than the hurt/So much stronger than the words they threw/Every scar is just a paragraph/Of the bigger story that I’m living through/I won’t disappear in the chapters/I won’t fade from the page/You can watch me rise with main character energy/I’m so much higher than the hurt.” as the collective harmonies truly fill out the chorus as it progresses, adding to the emotional strength of the message.
The second verse see’s the instrumental slow slightly once again, allowing the focus to return to the storytelling elements of the lyrics as Olivia Monroe takes the opening section of the second verse, her delivery carrying a more traditional pop vocal element with her higher more feminine register,
“I’ve carried my silence everywhere with me, fixated like a shadow/I’ve let the doubt speak way too loud/Drowning in expectations I only placed on myself/Trying to make everybody else feel proud.” which builds to the lead vocal being taken over by Leilani Monet as she sings powerfully over the tones of the piano,
“I found my voice in the pain/Realising I don’t need no permission/I’ve got a passion for days/And I will carry the weight of my name.” as her vocal delivery carries a sense of personal conviction, generally considered the powerhouse vocalist of the group, it’s a strong moment in the track that helps shift the narrative from doubt toward empowerment.
The songs pre-chorus is taken by Tiana Monet once more, this time with alternate lyrics, delivered once again note for note perfect with the composure of a seasoned theatre veteran,
“I was bleeding, always believing/That this crown was cursed and made of thorns/Every tear became my own reason/To trust in the rise and never fear the fall.” which leads and builds perfectly into the songs chorus, which see’s all five girls harmonise together once again.
The final verse of the song takes a noticeable change in style as the rhythm increases slightly to allow for Oriana to deliver a free flowing rhythmically charged vocal performance, bringing a confident and fiery energy to the track. The percussion and rhythmic textures increases to faster bpm as Oriana delivers her vocals,
“Yeah, I come from pressure, diamonds from nothing/This heart is on fuego, ain’t no stopping/My default mode is survival, ya’ll already know I’m the fittest/Every scar’s just a scratch/I’ve always been at the top of their hitlist/This bitch don’t ever bend/Ice cold in my veins/But now I’ve got an entire army
Backing my name/Ain’t no permiso needed/If we want it/We take/Don’t ever doubt/I’m so much higher than the hurt.” which changes the tone to a fully confident and self-assured mindset, it’s got the hint of a rap flow while still sticking to the general pop-sphere that CLEO are so clearly already embedded within, showing the potential for an expansion and addition of other styles and variations within their work.
Tiana’s pre-chorus returns once more, a replicated version of her first pre-chorus which once more leads into the songs emphatic and powerful chorus, which once again see’s the five girls come together and harmonise beautifully and anthemically to close out the track. Leaving a lasting impression of resilience, growth and self-belief that showcases the girls depth beyond just another pop group and showcases that they are aware of their own potential influence on a growing young fanbase, delivering a message that could have waves of positivity to those that take heed in its overall message.
”The Hurt”
Leilani MonetTiana MonetOriana CruzChloe Rae BrooksOlivia Monroe“I’ve been navigating the cracks in my foundations
Like they’re the constant proof of how fragile things are in this life
Every whisper feels so much like a verdict
All my internal doubts keep telling me that they’re right
I’ve tried bending just to belong
Tried dimming my own light just to fit
But I was never made for breaking
I was born for more than thisPulse beating, hands shaking, heart wide open
Standing in the aftermath
If I fall, I fall forward
I won’t ever take one step backI’m higher than the hurt
So much stronger than the words they threw
Every scar is just a paragraph
Of the bigger story that I’m living through
I won’t disappear in the chapters
I won’t fade from the page
You can watch me rise with main character energy
I’m so much higher than the hurtI’ve carried my silence everywhere with me, fixated like a shadow
I’ve let the doubt speak way too loud
Drowning in expectations I only placed on myself
Trying to make everybody else feel proudI found my voice in the pain
Realising I don’t need no permission
I’ve got a passion for days
And I will carry the weight of my nameI was bleeding, always believing
That this crown was cursed and made of thorns
Every tear became my own reason
To trust in the rise and never fear the fallI’m higher than the hurt
So much stronger than the words they threw
Every scar is just a paragraph
Of the bigger story that I’m living through
I won’t disappear in the chapters
I won’t fade from the page
You can watch me rise with main character energy
I’m so much higher than the hurtYeah, I come from pressure, diamonds from nothing
This heart is on fuego, ain’t no stopping
My default mode is survival, ya’ll already know I’m the fittest
Every scar’s just a scratch
I’ve always been at the top of their hitlist
This bitch don’t ever bend
Ice cold in my veins
But now I’ve got an entire army
Backing my name
Ain’t no permiso needed
If we want it
We take
Don’t ever doubt
I’m so much higher than the hurtPulse beating, hands shaking, heart wide open
Standing in the aftermath
If I fall, I fall forward
I won’t ever take one step backI’m higher than the hurt
So much stronger than the words they threw
Every scar is just a paragraph
Of the bigger story that I’m living through
I won’t disappear in the chapters
I won’t fade from the page
You can watch me rise with main character energy
I’m so much higher than the hurt”
Credits & Personnel;CREDITSProduced by Deneil
Executive produced by Imani Jasmine Woods
Engineered by Vincent Cooper Jr.
Mixed by Leon Ferreira, Vincent Cooper Jr.
Mastered by Leon Ferreira, Vincent Cooper Jr.
Recorded at RVV Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA
Production Management: Imani Jasmine Woods
Production Assistant: Haley Dean
Creative Director: Sabrina Ariana
PERSONNELLeilani Monet – vocals
Tiana Monet – vocals, lyrics, composition
Oriana Cruz – vocals, lyrics, composition
Chloe Rae Brooks – vocals, lyrics, composition
Olivia Monroe – vocals
Deneil – production, composition
Imani Jasmine Woods – executive production, production management
Vincent Cooper Jr. – engineering, mixing, mastering
Leon Ferreira – mixing, mastering
Haley Dean – production assistant
Sabrina Ariana – creative director
