Too often, we feel the need to box one another, but seldom do we ever realize that someone does not need to be one thing or another. A paradox, even niche scenes that claim to be open to all sides of an individual, still require parameters that they expect them to meet. Limiting to those who prefer to judge others on the content of their character, or in the world of music, the artistic quality of their song, Susannah Joffe is a performer hoping to break boundaries.
Born and raised in Texas, but currently residing in New York City, Joffe is a young woman who had the best form of encouragement anyone could ask for: her family. Surrounded by music from a young age, her dad (a songwriter since high school) eventually collaborated with her on some songs. A beautiful father-daughter bonding exercise, even though Joffe had been singing since she was a child, she never imagined pursuing a career as a musician; instead, she thought her path would be in film. Initially, attending college for film production, this form of expression heavily influenced her, and it ultimately became her desired path.
Then, in an interesting twist of fate, she began writing songs on her own around twenty years old, opening a new door to fulfillment, and has not looked back since. An unexpected turn of events, Joffe initially began posting music on social media platforms, attracting attention, and as of spring 2025, has surpassed over one million listeners on Spotify alone. Inspiring and impressive, with tracks like 2020’s “Nobody Wants Me Tonight,” Joffe showed off a sensational emotional singing voice, while future singles like 2021’s “Backseat” displayed further growth before 2024 single “Die Your Daughter” took everything into a completely different stratosphere of attention, amassing over thirty million streams on Spotify.
There is no question that Susannah Joffe has a unique voice and a genuine honesty in her lyrics, which demonstrate a significant interest in her work. Using songwriting as a tool for coping with her own emotions, much of her music revolves around her most intimate thoughts, as well as dealing with heartbreak and loss. A progressive cathartic release that allows her to articulate those feelings into songs, now in 2025, Joffee puts out her most ambitious collection of songs to date with the new EP, Cult Leader. Released on June 27, 2025, the latest release features eight tracks that dive deep into an enchanting, dreamy Pop sound that immediately draws you in.
Full of genuine emotion brought to life by well-crafted song structures, many of the songs on Cult Leader lend themselves to cinematic textures that unify Joffe’s southern background and evolving musical style. With a lot to take in, tracks like “Cult Leader” and “Antler Queen” feature a special blend that makes you want to dig further into the story. Then others like “You’d Kill Me If You Could” and “Call Me Pretty” melt your heart. However, the more ambient Rock guitar-driven “Stillborns and Six Lane Highways” as well as the catchy “Horses Can’t Outrun Me” prove that Joffe urges you not to typecast her one way or another.
In truth, Susannah Joffe is a fascinatingly up-and-coming artist who offers something unique to the modern music scene. Challenging boundaries and seeing where it all goes, this EP is a diverse and eclectic mix of styles that keeps your attention. Furthermore, having worked with her father in the past, she comes full circle, actively singing and recording songs written by him, releasing them under the moniker Your Daughter’s Father. Beautifully herself, it is highly recommended to see what Susannah Joffe, her new father-daughter band, and Cult Leader have to offer, as Cryptic Rock gives the EP 4 out of 5 stars.
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