Getting boxed into being something you’re not is not fun. And it’s not funny, as Lucy Dacus lays out so pointedly on “I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore,” the lead single from the Richmond singer’s forthcoming debut album, No Burden. The track reminds me of when I was in high school and it felt like I was being treated like some sassy gay side character in a sitcom, and it fucking sucked. People stood around waiting for my next punchline, and it was demoralizing and completely out of my control. No matter how smart I was and no matter how hard I tried to push against it, the world had decreed my personality type and there was nothing I could do about it.

But individuals contain multitudes, and feeling constrained by your friend group is a situation that can be changed. Dacus’ song offers an escape, but still feels held back by the fear over forging your own path and bucking societal expectations: “Is there room in the band? I don’t need to be the frontman/ If not, then I’ll be the biggest fan.” Later, she embraces all of the different aspects of herself: “I don’t want to the joke to be on me/ I’ll buy the clothes and I’ll be the best dressed/ I’ll read the books and I’ll be the smartest/ I’ll play guitar, and I’ll be the artist.” Getting people to take you seriously is an uphill battle, but it’s all worth it, and that confidence shines through in Dacus’ music. Listen via The Fader below.

Dacus’ debut album No Burden is out 2/26 via EggHunt Records.