Abbie Callahan Breaks the Rules on “Simon Says”

There’s a split second in childhood when you realize the game isn’t really about listening, it’s about who gets caught. Abbie Callahan taps straight into that feeling on her latest release, “Simon Says.” What sounds playful on the surface slowly reveals itself as something sharper: a meditation on expectations, obedience, and the quiet rebellion that comes with finding your own voice.

The Iowa-born, Nashville-based songwriter has been carving out her self-described “kaleidoscope country” lane for a minute now, blending Americana, folk, indie pop, and bluegrass into something that feels both familiar and slightly tilted on its axis. But “Simon Says” might be one of her most self-aware turns yet. It’s country storytelling with a raised eyebrow.

Built on a foundation of warm acoustic textures and subtle rhythmic bounce, the track moves with intention. There’s a lilt to it, something that makes you want to sway, maybe even shuffle across a wooden floor in cowboy boots, but don’t let that ease fool you. Lyrically, Callahan is dissecting the pressure to follow instructions that were never meant for her in the first place. The metaphor is clever without being cute. She doesn’t hit you over the head with it. She lets the imagery do the heavy lifting.

That’s kind of her thing.

Abbie writes like someone who’s spent years studying people, the way they talk, the way they dodge truth, the way they convince themselves they’re fine. Her storytelling feels curated but never stiff, personal without becoming closed-off. There’s humor tucked into the corners of “Simon Says,” but also a clear sense of growth. You can hear the shift from compliance to confidence as the song unfolds, like she’s stepping just slightly outside the circle and realizing she doesn’t need permission anymore.

Vocally, she leans into contrast. Soft in one line, resolute in the next. There’s a timeless quality to her tone, something that nods to classic country while still flirting with indie edges. It’s polished, but not sanded down. Human, not hyper-produced.

If her debut EP Grossly Aware introduced us to a writer unafraid of introspection, “Simon Says” sharpens that identity. It’s for the overthinkers who were always “the good kid.” For anyone who followed directions a little too well before realizing they were allowed to make their own rules. And yes, it’s the kind of track you can dance to, hat in hand, while quietly unpacking your entire personality.

Abbie Callahan doesn’t just sing stories. She lives in them long enough to understand their edges, and then hands them back to us, reframed. On “Simon Says,” she isn’t asking for instructions anymore.

She’s giving them.