Article 318, Originally Published on September 3rd, 2026

Mariel Gesualdi, an independent recording artist out of the New York area, has been releasing music since 2014, when she released her debut EP Words I Could Never Say. Her passion for music started years before, when she would fill notebooks with song lyrics as an elementary student. Music would be a passion that she would pursue into college, where she would chase her dreams all the way down to Nashville by attending Belmont University, where she would study songwriting.

Though she would eventually transfer and change majors, she never gave up on that pursuit. In 2022, Gesualdi released her debut album, Strangers Again, a work containing 7 songs and running at just over 24 minutes. This being her first release in 8 years (aside from one single in 2020), there is an evident growth stylistically in her work. Where Words I Could Never Say has a roots influence heavily embedded in its sound, Strangers Again has a broader stylistic reach. There is still an impression of the 21st century folk revival influence in her music but it’s paired with pop music sounds. The writing has matured and there is an evident growth in her vocal performance.

In 2023, Gesualdi would release a single, We Were Girls Together, and this would be her last release leading to 2026.

If I am being honest, I have had an interest in hearing new music from Mariel for a while now. Mariel and I used to be work colleagues. Through a couple of short conversations, we discovered a shared passion in making music and I’ve been waiting to hear new music from her ever since. A year ago, she left the company we worked for to pursue her musical passion and she has been hard at work since then, recording an album. She has been bouncing between New York and Nashville playing shows, recording, and collaborating with songwriters and producers. She is hungry, driven, and most of all, talented.

In the early summer, she began teasing new music. Then, in July, there was the surprising announcement that a song entitled Shot in the Dark, that Gesualdi served as a co-writer for, would be featured on the second episode of the reality show Married at First Sight, as well as a few songs that were featured on the reality television series, Temptation Island. Then, we started seeing the first announcements of new music with teaser videos featuring short clips of a new song.

Running Out of Time

Running Out of Time released on August 26th, it runs right at 2 and a half minutes, and was released independently by Mariel Gesualdi. Looking at the songwriting, performance, and production of this song, there isn’t a category where Running Out of Time falls short.

I really enjoy the storyteller atmosphere around Gesualdi’s songwriting technique. Running Out of Time is a story told in first person about a songwriter who is looking at everyone around her and comparing where her friends are in their lives to where she is. As she approaches 30, she is beginning to acknowledge questions of whether or not she will succeed in the path she’s chosen. As a songwriter who is now in his 40’s and spends quite a bit of time looking back at the opportunities he squandered in his younger years, I want to say that there is plenty of time left, but man it happens fast. In all my years, I can’t ever say my songwriting was ever this clean and polished though.

Just as in Strangers Again, Gesualdi’s performance in Running Out of Time centers around a roots/folk influence, but has pop, even rock/ alt-rock vibes throughout. It has a touch more of an “electric” feel than her previous work. Mariel’s vocal work can be compared to Taylor Swift, in that she is what producers would call a “wheelhouse vocalist.” She is very disciplined and stays right at home with where her vocal strengths are. There isn’t a lot of flair, or ornamentation. There are little accents that help to differentiate and identify her work as a vocalist; like how she can slide into her head voice as she jumps up to a slightly higher note. It’s like a subtle yodel, and is a style that can sometimes be heard in country or roots music. Her vocal performance is solid. She never misses a note and the sound quality is excellent.

The production value of the song is spot on. First, it doesn’t sound like an independent release. It is very high quality. I love how the producer produced the song by understanding what Running Out of Time is. The layered vocals in the chorus, and the harmonies are so subtle. The instrumentation doesn’t overpower in any particular place but exhibit notable transitions from verse to chorus, all while ensuring the story is center stage throughout the song.

I really like Running Out of Time. It’s an honest, relatable song that tells a story that so many people share. Questioning our existential place in this world is about as common of a human experience as we can have. Mariel Gesualdi has given us a soundtrack to that very question. The chorus is an absolute earworm. I listen to this song one time and I end up humming it for the rest of the day.

~ Looking Ahead ~

Mariel Gesualdi has just released her first song in 3 years, but there is absolutely more to come. She has indicated that she will be releasing a brand new album when all is said and done. She has already begun teasing more new songs on her instagram profile, as well as this post where she claimed to have worked on 5 new songs! Along with playing occasional shows in the New York area, there are going to be quite a few opportunities to hear some new music by this wonderfully talented musician. In addition to her instagram profile, there are updates about shows and releases that are published at her website, which can be seen right here. Her website also includes links to each one of her social media platforms.

There hasn’t been an official announcement of her next release but I think it’s safe to say we can expect to hear something soon! At any rate, I don’t want to rush anybody as we are merely one week into the release of Running Out of Time. Suffice it to say, when we stop to listen and appreciate the work that musicians put into enhancing their art, we have all the time we’re ever going to need. This is definitely a song we can stop to appreciate.

Running Out of Time is out on all streaming platforms. Go press play!