The person behind this technology’s unhappy anthems has returned with extra music to soundtrack your newest heartbreak.
The album titled, “SMITHEREENS” sees two sides of Joji’s musical type, the primary being a extra produced, polished sound with lyrics reflecting heartbreak, whereas the second exhibits a looser, extra uncooked and trustworthy type.
The primary aspect additionally has his single “Glimpse of Us,” a heartbreaking track for all of those that have jumped into a brand new relationship with a view to recover from their final one, solely to seek out {that a} new love can’t make up for an outdated one. The track additionally showcases the flexibility of the singer, changing synthy lo-fi sounds with easy piano notes.
Each the sentiment of heartbreak and lacking an ex in addition to the rising versatility carry all through the album. The track “Die for You” is an ideal instance. The extra poetic lyricism exhibits a brand new maturity in his writing type.
Nonetheless, the message of being prepared to die for somebody you’re not longer with just isn’t misplaced within the prose, with emotional intestine punches being delivered all through the track, comparable to, “Burning images, needed to be taught to let go, I used to weep, someone in one other pores and skin,” or “It kills me a little bit, that’s okay, ‘trigger I’d die for you, you realize I’d nonetheless die for you”.
The musical maturity, nevertheless, shines via on the observe “Dissolve,” through which the acquainted hip-hop sound is changed by a guitar drenched in reverb. It combines the extra tech-oriented parts of his previous work with a extra acoustic type, giving it a contemporary sound for listeners to take pleasure in.
The second aspect of “SMITHEREENS”, although, makes a whole 180 right into a extra uncooked, DIY sound.
“BLAHBLAHBLAH DEMO” is a good instance of this, with a extra simplistic sound of a synthesized beat, easy bassline, and auto-tuned vocals, giving it an total extra bed room hip-hop type.
“YUKON INTERLUDE” is one other good instance of this. One other synthesized beat is mixed with piano notes, harkening again to the Japanese-Australian singer’s roots. Nonetheless, the lyrics steal the present right here, with a mix of each tangible issues and summary ideas being explored within the track.
He explains an evening spent driving round city in quick vehicles, such because the all-white truck and the all-black Demon he describes. Nonetheless, there’s nervousness beneath the coolness of quick vehicles, the place he describes the thought that he “can’t be endlessly younger” and the truth that he was “considering ‘bout us rearranging items.” The track explains the nervousness hooked up to youth and the will to cling to previous relationships.
General, Joji showcases a musical and lyrical maturity while briefly returning to his SoundCloud-esque roots, creating an album of melancholic unhappy songs to soundtrack your newest heartbreak.