Sunshine Coast’s Cora has made her mark on the alt-pop scene, with the 20 year-old artist having delivered her debut EP, ‘be that girl’. Unfolding over six tracks, the EP is an irresistible culmination of years spent finding her voice and learning how to use it.

Balancing 2000’s pop-rock nostalgia with the modern weight of girlhood, Cora knows when to go straight for the jugular and when to let her vulnerability do the talking. Featuring tracks “(boy)cott”, “be that girl” and “gotta be done”, Cora’s debut EP introduces us to three brand new songs, including focus track “she’s so pretty”.

Co-written with and produced by Chris Collins (Royel Otis, Kita Alexander, The Veronicas) in his Byron Bay studio, “she’s so pretty” turns insecurity into defiance. Falling into a pit of jealousy, Cora shouts back at the voice that says she's not good enough.

Cora shared, “‘she’s so pretty’ is the definition of navigating being a girl in today’s society. About how ‘normal’ it is to compare yourself to others and have that constant feeling that something about you needs to be fixed, never being satisfied. I guess for me, learning that no matter what I do, I’ll never feel right or look the way I think I want to look, and society wants me to look. I’m sure a lot of girls feel the same way. I often feel insecure, and this song perfectly encapsulates how I feel during those periods.”

'be that girl' captures the fire and turbulence of girlhood; the uncertainty, double standards, and emotional f***-arounds that come with it, channelled through six pop-punk-coded alt-pop bangers that nod to both the early-2000s femme-rock boom and its recent revival. With flashes of Olivia Rodrigo throughout, Cora exudes confidence in both her songwriting and vocal delivery, yet never shies away from moments of vulnerability, particularly on the title track. 'be that girl' rubs grit into the gloss of alt-pop, making it feel a little rawer, a little more real, without ever sacrificing its sense of fun.

Diving into the remaining tracks of ‘be that girl’, “(boy)cott” is a viral anthem of girlhood angst, with its razor-sharp lyricism earning over 300k Spotify streams. Cora goes to bat for a friend being treated poorly on “take a hike”, delivering a cutthroat pop-punk takedown. The EP’s title track serves as a diary confession, seeing Cora peel back the armour to unpack the growing pains of womanhood and the societal expectations that come with it. A nostalgia-soaked rock anthem, “your toy” plays out like a scene from a 2000’s coming-of-age movie, capturing the heartbreak of falling for the wrong boy. “gotta be done” closes the EP with an unapologetic middle finger to someone who spent years trying to knock Cora’s confidence, only to become the punchline himself.

‘be that girl’ declares Cora a bold new voice in alternative pop, serving equal parts catharsis and chaos.

Recording music since she was 16, Cora sprung onto the music scene in 2025 with her debut single “(boy)cott”, scoring a top 50 spot in the prestigious Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition. Selected as BIGSOUND 2025 showcase artist, Cora performed her punchy pop anthems to fans and industry alike at the world-renowned music industry gathering in Brisbane. Going on to release “gotta be done” and “be that girl”, Cora caught the attention of triple j Unearthed and earned three nominations at the Sunshine Coast Music Awards 2026.

Listed as a finalist for Young Artist of the Year, Song of the Year ((boy)cott) and the Rising Star Award, Cora also performed to crowds at the awards ceremony. With The Annex (aleksiah, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teaser, Lime Cordiale) and Fidelity Corp (Thelma Plum, Trophy Eyes, Molly Millington) by her side, Cora is set to shake up the world of alt-pop.

‘be that girl’ is out now on all streaming platforms.