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(02/09/21 2:40pm)
by Arianna SergioThe opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board. A Fourth of July’s worth of fireworks, a light-up tunnel, and masked dancers oh my! The camera fades out from the classic Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show logo and zooms into a neon Las Vegas-inspired welcome sign, featuring: a globe of the world, an old and new Pepsi sign, pink tulips, a dancer, and of course, the Weeknd wearing his signature After Hours glittery scarlet blazer sitting in a decked out Mercedes-Benz. From here the camera pans with the singer as he walks toward the front of the stage and sits on the edge; the choir’s sound-enhancing sounding ethereal. A crimson-eyed “angel” descends from the ceiling and the choir gets progressively louder, singing more eerily and hauntingly, as they wear Star Wars-esque C-3PO masks. This worked in favor of creating the ideal atmosphere for his much-anticipated performance. The Weeknd, known offstage as Abel Tesfaye, waits a few seconds before he opens up with “Star Boy.” He kept the performance of this song fairly low-key, besides the cluster of fireworks going off above the grand choir. He relied solely on his smooth vocals and his happy feet.
(02/01/21 4:28pm)
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
(01/31/21 10:59pm)
by Arianna Sergio
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
Lately, I haven’t been able to stop listening to Dominic Fike. No matter what I do, I find myself pulling up his Spotify profile and pressing the shuffle button, so much so that it has become a part of my daily schedule—like second nature. I first discovered Fike in 2018 when his song “3 Nights” blew up. Whenever I was driving I would turn on the radio and instantly hear the beginning chords to that song. Normally when I hear a song that is overplayed on the radio I immediately change the station or shut off the radio altogether, but not with this song. This time it was different. For some reason, I became mesmerized by this song and addicted to his voice. Every time it ended I found myself hungry and craving more. Alas, I never ended up hearing any more music from him let alone hearing anything about him. It was like he fell off the face of Earth. This past July, I was browsing through Spotify’s new releases and I saw an album titled, What Could Possibly Go Wrong. The cover drew me in, with the neon salmon words of the title smeared to the right and the aesthetic mountain landscape in the background, so I clicked on it. I was shocked, to say the least, when I saw Fike’s name attached to it. From the moment I pressed that play button it’s been an album I consistently go back to every day.
Why don’t you know Dominic Fike?
The 25-year-old artist really emerged out of nowhere. As a child, Fike would always play music. When he was ten, he received a guitar and taught himself how to play it. When he got older, Fike joined a local formative rap collective called Backhouse. Born and raised in Naples, Florida, Fike and the rest of Backhouse started making waves in the local scene and began culminating a following. Fike shifted gears and started focusing more on himself and his craft and, soon enough, he released his solo music. Some of his early music that is still online is an EP titled Dishwasher and a single titled “Jada Pinkett,” but everything else has ceased from existence. He released the EP Don't Forget About Me, Demos in December 2017, which was recorded while he was on house arrest for battery of a police officer, as an independent artist while he was serving time in Collier County Jail. The EP ignited a very public bidding war from a handful of record labels who wanted to sign him. He ended up signing with Columbia Records for around $4 million and his music that was already posted was taken down and re-released months later through Columbia.
Don’t Forget About Me, Demos
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="291"] Image from Amazon[/caption]
“3 Nights'', needless to say, is the breakout song on this EP, generating a whopping 536 million streams, and being what put Fike on people’s radars in the first place. This song talks of the evolution of a relationship: going from someone not being fully interested in someone else, to falling in love with them, to then hesitantly straying away. Even though this song amassed the most attention, with its prominent guitar strums and carefree, sunny chorus, it isn’t the best song on the EP. The two songs that are tied for best song in the EP are “She Wants My Money” and “Babydoll.” In “She Wants My Money,” Fike sings about an ex-lover who only wants him for his money, but Fike needs his money more than his ex, so he doesn’t give in. The lyrics, “Look, f**k 'em, I gotta get the money too/ I got three to protect, I need a money tree/ Like, what you need the money for?” showcase his clever lyricism and play on words with Fike counting from 1 to 4. In “Babydoll,” Fike gets personal and opens up about his upbringing. He vulnerably sings about his father being a “pimp” and not being in the picture and how his mother dealt with drug abuse. This song makes you want to bop your head up and down to the retro bass that shines though. In “Westcoast Collective” Fike takes the listener back on his journey of living on the west coast in a house with a substantial group of people, aka Backhouse, and being an unknown rapper wishing for a discovery of some sort. This was before he adapted the alternative pop genre he has mastered today. In “Falling Asleep,” Dominic Fike sings about consciously distancing himself from people because he has a difficult time trusting others. He also gets candid about the pitfalls of his latest fame and wealth. This EP is as transparent as any artist can get for how fresh Fike is to the music game. Fike lays it all out on the table and he definitely serves.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="293"] Image from Pitchfork[/caption]
The common themes on What Could Possibly Go Wrong are the trials and tribulations of being in a relationship and Fike reflecting on his roots, upbringing, and where he hails from. One characteristic that I love about Fike is that he literally couldn't care less about the fame that goes hand-in-hand with being a “celebrity.” In “Cancel Me” he discusses some of the stresses of his newfound rise to fame. He mentions living in LA being overwhelming and how he wishes that he could just go back to his family. He hopes that people “cancel” him, or that people stop supporting him. “Cancel culture” has become an extremely common phenomenon in recent years. Fike raps the lyrics, “I hope I never, ever have to go on TV/ Mothaf**ka, Jimmy Kimmel does not wanna meet me,” and this lyric is one of the strongest on the whole EP. It oozes sass and character, which I personally appreciate in lyrics, and it gives the listener a small taste of Fike’s personality. “Why” is the standout in the album. It’s catchy beyond belief with its simple yet enticing chorus paired with Fike’s delectable high-pitched vocals about having chicken tenders with a lover. “Chicken Tenders,” blends his signature alternative pop sound with R&B, as he sings about living lavishly with his lover. As its title suggests, “Vampire” gives the listener an eerie Halloween in the summer. The creative aspect is what makes this music video hands down the best music video Fike has ever released. In “Wurli,” Dominic sings about being in a toxic relationship and how he can’t help but feel like a “glorified doorstop.” “Florida” is the final track on the album. Fike ends the album by reflecting on where he hails from and sharing how he’s “still the same” man as he was before fame and fortune and how he remains grounded. What Could Possibly Go Wrong is an exceptional debut album for the young artist highlighting all of his strengths as a musician and putting his one-of-a-kind voice on a pedestal.
BROCKHAMPTON, Kenny Beats, and what’s next
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="420"] Image from The Fader[/caption]
Some notable features Fike has done are in “Peach” by Kevin Abstract, a rapper/singer in BROCKHAMPTON, “Hit Me Up,” by Kenny Beats and Omar Apollo, “Stop Selling Her Drugs” by Bakar, and “Dominic’s Interlude” by Halsey. Fike has a close relationship with the hip/hop group, BROCKHAMPTON. Abstract directed a video titled, “This is Dominic Fike,” which was posted to the BROCKHAMPTON YouTube channel. In this video, Abstract does a deep and raw interview with Fike, which then shifts into an offhand “3 Nights” music video.
To best describe Fike is to say that he’s a wildcard. Fans can’t predict his next move, but just anticipate that one is coming. Fike recently posted a short video to his Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube of him blindfolded with a baseball bat and hitting a number two piñata while a nameless song, presumably by him, plays in the background. All these posts are followed with the caption, “What’s next?” One can only infer that the number two signifies his upcoming second album; meaning the new music drought will shortly be over and fans of Fike will be able to see the light of day again.
Sources: Florida Arrests, Instagram, Merriam-Webster, Soundcloud, Spotify, The Fader, Twitter, YouTube
Images: Amazon, Pitchfork, The Fader
Featured Image: GoRadio
(12/23/20 10:31pm)
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
(11/06/20 6:00am)
By Arianna Sergio
Ariana Grande is one of the most popular and influential people in the world right now and, needless to say, needs no introduction. With a whopping 205.5 million followers on Instagram, 78.4 million followers on Twitter, and 57 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Grande has made her mark on the pop music industry forever. Positions is Grande's sixth studio album, after the massive worldwide success that was her previous album, thank u, next. Positions delves into themes of trust, sex, love, falling in love, and intimacy. Grande captivates listeners and takes them with her on her journey of falling in love, dubiously, after previously being hurt time and time again by it. She uses various metaphors and clever play-on-words to assert and reveal her intimate desires and needs.
Let’s talk about sex, baby
“Positions” is the lead single off of Positions. This song discusses Grande’s commitment and love for her boyfriend with her flexibility in trying to make their relationship work. The chorus,
“Switchin' them positions for you/ Cookin' in the kitchen and I'm in the bedroom/ I'm in the Olympics, way I'm jumpin' through hoops/ Know my love infinite, nothin’ I wouldn’t do/ That I won't do, switchin’ for you,”
gives the word “positions,” a double meaning. In one way, it refers to how Grande is changing her role in the relationship, from doing housework to becoming intimate with her significant other. Contrary to that, it could be taken a step further, and be interpreted as literally changing positions while being intimate with her significant other.
“34+35” adds up to 69, which is the sex position Grande is yearning for throughout the entirety of this lustful song. The song title also acts as a play on the album’s title. Even though the song is extremely sexual throughout, Grande sings the lyrics,
“Math class/ Never was good,”
as the song’s outro. She jokingly ends the song with the fact that she was never good at math, undermining the sexual nature in the majority of the song and letting her goofy personality shine.
“Nasty” just oozes sex appeal. The chorus repeats Grande singing how “tonight” she wants to get “nasty” and she doesn’t want to wait any longer. She then rhetorically asks what her significant other is waiting for. It flawlessly depicts one of Grande’s consistent themes on the album, sex. In this song, Grande is straightforward with her significant other, by telling him how bad she needs him and wants him.
Collabscollabscollabs
“Motive” feat. Doja Cat and is produced by Murda Beatz. Murda Beatz has produced many songs for popular mainstream artists, like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Drake. This is Murda Beatz’s first collaboration with not only Grande but also Doja Cat. “Motive” is the type of song that you would hear while you’re shopping in Forever 21 and trying on clothes in the dressing room. It’s upbeat and uptempo but falls flat along the way. The chorus is too repetitive and a pitfall, making it boring and ultimately bland. Doja Cat’s verse is not as memorable as it was expected to be. Her verse didn’t pack a punch like her verses/lyrics in her hit songs, like “Say So,” “Juicy,” and “Rules,” have.
“Safety net” feat. Ty Dolla $ign is about giving your everything to make a relationship work and taking that extra leap of faith. In the chorus,
“Tripping, falling, with no safety net/ Got me tripping, falling, with no safety net,”
Grande sings that even though you don't know if that relationship is going to work, she is willing to still give it a try and, in the end, risk it all for that person. Ty Dolla $ign’s voice flourishes with Grande’s, creating an enchanting and divine experience for the listener.
“Off the table” feat. The Weeknd is the strongest collaboration out of the three. This is Grande and The Weeknd’s second collaboration after their 2014 smash hit, “Love Me Harder.” This song includes a slow, synth-heavy instrumental, topped off by profuse and delightful strings in the background. The first verse,
“Will I ever love the same way again? (Way again)/ Will I ever love somebody like the way I did you?/ If I can't have you, is love completely off the table?/ Just wanna know is love completely off the table?”
has Grande questioning if she will ever find love again. She is dwelling on her previous relationships and second-guessing if she will ever find that again. The Weeknd plays her love interest, and he assures her that he can fill those shoes and be exactly what she needs. Throughout The Weeknd’s verse, he makes references to his past songs, “Hurt You,” “Love Me Harder,” and “The Hills.” This works in favor of the song because he is leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for his true fans. This is something more artists should do when they are featured on songs.
Another shot at love
“Obvious” talks about how Grande is starting to believe in love again and how her current significant other is helping her in believing in love again. This song has a sweet and comforting melody that drips onto her endearing lyrics. “Love language” is about Grande learning her significant other’s love language in hopes that she can improve in expressing her love for him and she communicates how she wants her significant other to do the same for her. Love languages are various ways that romantic partners give and receive love. There are five different types of love languages: quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, and receiving gifts. In “my hair,” Grande quite literally lets her hair down and bares it all. This 90s style R&B song is about being comfortable enough for her significant other to “run his hands through her hair” when they are intimate, which is an extremely vulnerable action to do, which is another sign that she is opening up to love.
“Pov” is hands down the best song on Positions, no competition. This song will surely make you cry the first time you listen to it. It’s about the heartbreaking reality of not loving yourself and wishing to see yourself from your significant other’s perspective, to know why they admire and love you despite all of your imperfections. And maybe after seeing that, you will believe that you are good enough and worthy of someone’s love. Her silky vocals are on full display as the relaxing percussion and string instrumental plays in the background, building up throughout the song only to let her powerhouse voice take center stage. The lyricism in this song solidifies Grande at her best.
Top Tracks:
pov
34+35
off the table
Recommended if you like:
Selena Gomez
Camila Cabello
Demi Lovato
Sources: 5 Love Languages
(10/30/20 9:58pm)
By Arianna Sergio
Superbloom is Ashton Irwin’s debut album, separate from his band 5 Seconds of Summer. This announcement came as a complete shock to everyone, as 5 Seconds of Summer have been actively creating music and have been very successful. Fans of Irwin and 5 Seconds of Summer were freaking out, thinking that Irwin’s solo debut meant an end of the Australian rock band, but that is certainly not the case. Irwin took to Instagram to share his announcement about Superbloom. In the post, he not only shared his excitement about the album, but he shut down assumptions and rumors that 5 Seconds of Summer was breaking up by saying, “It brings me the greatest joy of all that I am in a band that allows me to create freely inside and outside of it.” Superbloom is a tour inside the mind of Irwin and the mental struggles he faces. Its focus is on all of the key parts of his life, including the good and the bad, and him accepting and embracing it all.
Blood is thicker than water
“SCAR” begins with a magical and otherworldly intro leading into a 90s Foo Fighters-esque rock-infused song. This song is about the strife of staying strong. He is singing this song to his family. In the second verse, he sings,
“Mother mother/ Can you show me the way?/Can you light a tunnel to light of day?/ I'm sick of dealing with the problems at hand,”
in the third verse, he sings,
“Sister, Lauren, don't you fade away/ Sister, Lauren, love you all the way/ I'm feeling hopeful that you'll show a man/ How to love someone as true as you can,”
and finally, in the fourth verse he sings,
“Brother, brother we speak day to day/ You're a blueprint for a future that's paved/ My wishful thinking might not go as we planned/ But I'll help you be a better man.”
He is singing to his mother, Anne Marie, who raised him as a single mother, his younger sister, Lauren, and his younger brother, Harry; whom he loves more than anything. “SCAR” is an ode to them and how they’ve stuck with him through all of the strenuous moments he, and they, underwent.
“Greyhound” is about Irwin’s family’s frustration and the endless cycle of being born, working your life away, and then dying. Irwin told Rolling Stone Australia that it’s also about the relationship that his mother had with a greyhound trainer, and if the greyhound didn’t come in first place, they would be shot and killed. That image scarred Irwin as a child and kept coming back to him. This six-minute and 19-second song, the longest on his album, questions if the race was even worth it in the end.
Self-reflection
“Skinny Skinny” is Irwin’s debut single. This song is about the battle of “not feeling at home in your own body.” It’s about never being happy with the way you look and always striving to look better. Irwin sings about body dysmorphia and eating disorders, specifically anorexia and bulimia. According to ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders), 28.8 million Americans, or 9% of the U.S. population, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. It’s commendable that Irwin is brave enough to use his platform and shed some light on this issue, which isn’t often discussed, while also bringing in his personal experience.
When Irwin sings,
“My second face, my damn reflection/ We always meet when I'm defeated,”
he is singing about body dysmorphia in the first verse. According to Mayo Clinic, someone with body dysmorphia can’t stop thinking about "imperfections" in their physical appearance. They frequently check the mirror, searching for reassurance or end up grooming, sometimes for “many hours each day,” because they center their attention entirely on their appearance and body image. This develops into an unhealthy relationship with mirrors and even their own reflection. “My second face” implies that Irwin wants to dissociate himself from his reflection because it feels like it isn’t him anymore. “My damn reflection” shows how disgusted he is by his own reflection, displaying the relationship he has with mirrors. The lyrics,
“I wanna eat, I wanna stay thin/ I wanna dance but I gotta stay in,”
allude to anorexia. According to EDV (Eating Disorders Victoria), anorexia is an eating disorder in which the person who has it has a “low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight, which manifests itself through depriving the body of food. It often coincides with increased levels of exercise.” The lyrics,
“My fingers stretching into my larynx,”
describe purging, which is when someone forces themselves to throw up after they’ve just eaten, to lose, or to stop gaining weight. According to NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association), this is a sign that someone is suffering from bulimia. In addition, this song also talks about how eating disorders are often kept a secret from the person’s loved ones, with nobody truly knowing they are hurting.
“The Sweetness” speaks about how fleeting happiness is. Right from the get-go, the beginning sounds like a drowned out version of the intro of “The Joker and the Thief” by Wolfmother. This isn’t a bad thing though. It works in favor of the song. The lyrics,
“When the sweetness seeps into your bloodstream/ When the sweetness makes you love your life again/ When the darkness creeps into your basement/ When the darkness takes it all away again,”
literally sound like an evil force. It’s to represent the negative overpowering the positive. The darkness depicts the obstacles and challenges Irwin has been facing mentally.
Looking on the bright side
“Sunshine” is a song about feeling disheartened, frustrated, and ultimately down about the issues in today’s society. One of those issues being the news. In the lyrics,
“Stop watchin' the news/ You're something they used to scare you just like a bad dream,”
he talks about his distaste for the news and how it's used to alarm people. The song’s beginning has the same melodies and feel as “I am the Walrus” by the Beatles. The melody is soft and uplifting, with his voice harmonizing gracefully. Throughout the song, Irwin is singing about his dissatisfaction, but he looks for the silver lining through it all--even when it can be difficult at times.
Opening up
“Perfect Lie” is about the previous songs that were written for 5 Seconds of Summer. Irwin recognizes that those songs are a part of his life and helped him and his band climb the ladder to acclaim. He exhaustedly sings of his regrets in regards to the writing behind the songs being fabricated, exaggerated, and coming from a dishonest place. The lyrics,
“Everybody fakes it 'til they make it/ Everybody loves it 'til they hate it,”
are a prime example of that. Along with the regrets comes disliking the songs. The lyrics,
“I'll try to love without hating you,”
represent how even though he dislikes some of their older songs, he loves the fans and could never hate them for liking their older music. He just wants to make it a point that he will no longer write like that or release music that isn’t from an honest and raw place.
Top Tracks:
Skinny Skinny
Sunshine
SCAR
Recommended if you like:
Foo Fighters
The Strokes
The White Stripes
Sources: National Eating Disorders, Eating Disorders, Mayo Clinic, Instagram, Rolling Stone Australia,
(10/29/20 9:35pm)
By Arianna Sergio
Written and recorded in its entirety throughout the period of quarantine, indie/rock band Wallows released their newest EP, fittingly, titled Remote. The whole writing and recording process of this 6-song EP was done remotely, as you could’ve guessed, with the band exchanging voice memos they recorded off their phones. In 2017, Wallows released their first single “Pleaser.” They accumulated a steady fan base after that and have only grown in popularity. It’s safe to say that their once straightforward, heavy instrument, influenced rock sound has matured into their now-signature soft-indie rock sound. Remote is the second EP from Wallows and it follows suit of the success of their debut album, Nothing Happens, and their debut EP, Spring.
From hitting their marks to singing out their hearts
Wallows is a dynamic trio that consists of: Braedan Lemasters on lead vocals/guitar; Dylan Minnette on vocals/guitar; and Cole Preston on background vocals/drums. Wallows released their debut single in 2017 titled “Pleaser”, and it received massive success, reaching number two on the Spotify Global Viral 50 chart. The band only skyrocketed from there, collecting millions of streams on all of their songs while building a sufficiently large fan base along the way.
Before all of this success came barreling in, two-thirds of Wallows were actors. Minnette rose to fame from starring in the smash hit, drama TV series 13 Reasons Why, along with a string of eclectic films. In 13 Reasons Why he played Clay Jensen, an awkward and quiet high school student who gets blindly propelled into solving the mystery of his classmate and crush, Hannah Baker’s suicide. This Netflix original ran for four seasons, before ending earlier this year in June. Lemasters is most well-known for starring as a series regular on Men of a Certain Age, in which he played Albert Tranelli, the son of party supply store owner Joe Tranelli and in R.L. Stine’s Monsterville: The Cabinet of Souls, where he played Kellen, one of four high school students who are targeted by an evil carnival.
Pressing play
Remote kicks off with “Virtual Aerobics.” This song starts with a funky and offbeat piano riff that flows well with the guitar and drum beats and Minnette’s easily distinguishable voice that forms a quirky, catchy, and innovative song. The bridge of the song being,
“Yeah, you called me out like that (Like that)/Yeah, you made me blush like that (Like that)/Only been here one night, leavin' doesn't feel right/ We could live a life like that (Like that),”
and continuing with Minnette repetitively singing “like that” which makes the song even more catchy and lively.
“Dig What You Dug” is the second song of the EP, both Minnette and Lemasters voices’ are the stars of this song. Their voices blend in harmony. In the last 20 seconds of the song, just the upbeat instrumental lightly plays, but there is a spoken outro. The spoken outro says,
“I dig what you dug, and I dug what you dig.”
Having this fresh element really works in favor of the song and adds another layer of depth and individuality to the song. It gives the song more personality.
“Nobody Gets Me (Like You)” is about finding that special someone who you connect with on not just a surface level basis but on a deep, meaningful, level that people crave to find. The guitar riff in the beginning, along with Lemasters’ low-pitched vocals, sets the tone of a 90s coming-of-age high school movie. It has the same feeling as when the “perfect” girl walks into the cafeteria in slow-motion and takes away the main character’s breath, leaving him speechless and gawking at her. This song is charming and will surely appeal to your hopeless romantic side.
Next up is, “Coastlines.” This song discusses the struggles and hardships that come along with maintaining a long-distance relationship. Minnette sings the chorus,
“I don't wanna think about it/ If I'm the only thing on your mind/ I don't wanna think about it/ If I'm really wastin' all of your time/ I don't wanna think about it/ When we're on different coastlines/ I don't wanna think about it/ I don't wanna think about it.”
This is something that many people, especially those in long-distance relationships, will relate to. He sings about being on different coastlines, which is already hard enough to be physically away from your significant other, but he also touches on feeling uncertain and overthinking details about his relationship. These thoughts creep up when you are separated. This song uses synth beats, electronic guitar riffs, and reverb to generate a staggering listening experience that is worth another listen and another and maybe another one after that.
“Talk Like That,” is about being told something that you really don’t want to hear by your significant other. Presumably, in this case, a breakup. In this chorus, Minnette sings
“Cut my heart in half, give it back when you talk like that/ Probably all in all, if they call, get a heart attack/ Feels more like your death, lost my breath, can you give me more?/ Do it all again, by the end, tell me I'll be yours.”
These are my favorite lyrics on the EP. Minnette sings so passionately and his voice works wonders on this song. There’s a spoken outro at the end of this song as well, with the voice saying,
“Hey John that last one was pretty good but, uh/ How do you change the station on this thing?”
followed by a static noise that smoothly begins
“Wish Me Luck.”
The transitions are crisp and clean throughout the whole EP. Specifically the transition from this song into “Wish Me Luck.” It forges a cohesion and fluency that is unmatched.
Remote closes with “Wish Me Luck,” which is my personal favorite. It’s the most candid, open, and honest song on the EP. Minnette sings in the first verse,
“I don't wanna lose myself to all my insecurities/ If I told you all of them, who would it hurt more, you or me?”
Being insecure and being worried about sharing those insecurities with someone else is something listeners everywhere can surely relate to. It’s hard to open up to someone about your insecurities; especially someone you care so deeply about. You don’t want to scare them away and have it blow up in your face if you open up, but it’s also scary to be vulnerable enough to let someone in. The lyricism is exceptional, but it's admirable that the song implements an intentional rhythmic vocal pattern and synth beats. The rhythmic vocal patterns and synth beats balance the heavy subject matter of the lyrics, which discusses personal insecurities and trust issues. This EP stands out from previous music they’ve released because it’s showing their growth as not only lyricists but artists as a whole. The lyrics, production, and transitions on Remote are better than any of the other music they’ve released.
Top Tracks:
Wish Me Luck
Coastlines
Dig What You Dug
Recommended if you like:
Peach Pit
Declan McKenna
The Japanese House
(10/20/20 3:35pm)
One of my favorite up-and-coming artists right now is BETWEEN FRIENDS. After hearing their debut single — “suburban wonderland” — my senior year of high school, I was immediately drawn to their sound. I dove head first into the rabbit hole that was their Spotify artist page and wondered how this band, that I now adored, wasn’t more popular. When scrolling through their artist page, I noticed that they only had their one single released, and it had a little over 1 million streams. 1 million streams is a significant amount don’t get me wrong, but it blew my mind that they weren’t amassing more buzz. I was stunned. Their self dubbed “laptop-dream pop” was something I couldn’t get out of my head. I found myself reverting back to “suburban wonderland” over and over again. Now, they not only have that single, but they also have an EP titled, we just need some time together.
(10/19/20 9:00pm)
by Arianna Sergio
One of my favorite up-and-coming artists right now is BETWEEN FRIENDS. After hearing their debut single — “suburban wonderland” — my senior year of high school, I was immediately drawn to their sound. I dove head first into the rabbit hole that was their Spotify artist page and wondered how this band, that I now adored, wasn’t more popular. When scrolling through their artist page, I noticed that they only had their one single released, and it had a little over 1 million streams. 1 million streams is a significant amount don't get me wrong, but it blew my mind that they weren’t amassing more buzz. I was stunned. Their self dubbed “laptop-dream pop” was something I couldn’t get out of my head. I found myself reverting back to “suburban wonderland” over and over again. Now, they not only have that single, but they also have an EP titled, we just need some time together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKuBVGFnW24&ab_channel=BETWEENFRIENDS-Topic
From Savannah and Brandon Hudson to The Heirs to BETWEEN FRIENDS
Brandon and Savannah Hudson knew they had a passion for performing at an extremely young age. Brandon taught himself how to play guitar; from there, he rapidly grew curious and enthusiastic about writing his own music. Savannah began singing and dancing as soon as she was old enough to walk, and inevitably, she found herself writing music with Brandon. Thus, the start of a masterful musical duo was born.
In 2013, they auditioned for America’s Got Talent and got a resounding “yes” from all four judges. That yes brought them to Las Vegas, where again, the judges were impressed with how talented the 13-year-old and 15-year-old siblings were. It was at the Quarterfinals where their America’s Got Talent adventure ended. The duo didn’t collect enough votes to be sent to the Semifinals, so they packed their bags and headed home.
Two years later, the brother-sister duo formed a band with Savannah on vocals; Brandon on vocals and guitar; Brennan Benko on drums; Alex Flagstad on guitar; and Eian McNeely on bass and keys. This Los Angeles based band called themselves The Heirs, or HEIRS, and were recognized as an alternative/indie band. They released their debut EP “Ecliptic” and found themselves on the lineup of the 2016 Vans Warped Tour.
The Heirs quietly drifted apart, but some of the members stuck together. It was then, in 2017, when BETWEEN FRIENDS was created. The Hudson siblings assembled this new band with their drummer, Benko — from The Heirs — and this super-trio was now complete.
Their current sound has definitely changed from what The Heirs sound was. The Heirs were focused on the typical teenage angst and rebellion, whereas BETWEEN FRIENDS is mature and grown and focuses on young adult subjects — like the complications of love and heartbreak. They dress those topics up with an upbeat, pop overcoat.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="325"] Image from Discogs[/caption]
A breakdown of we just need some time together
BETWEEN FRIENDS released their debut EP we just need some time together on April 5, 2018. Throughout this EP, they exhibit what it’s like to be young in LA and share their intimate thoughts and feelings through the art of music. Their EP cover art displays Savannah’s bare back, with the title of the EP written on her in orange capital letters. She is surrounded by a wide array of colorful flowers. She is holding, presumably, her brother's hand to the right. From the aesthetic floral fantasy that is the cover to the personality-filled song titles, everything about this EP is absolutely sensational.
“iloveyou” is the first song off of their EP. This song discusses earnestly looking back on the old times you have with someone, specifically in a relationship. The line, “I love you, tenderly, tragically,” is repeated throughout the entire bridge and chorus. This line is one that their listeners can surely relate to. It’s certainly one that hits home for me. It’s about loving someone so dearly and so deeply, but at the end of the day it’s merely young love. That person wasn’t “the one.” It ultimately didn’t work out; therefore, it ended in tragedy. They did a live version of “iloveyou,” which is just as phenomenal, if not better, than the studio version. This song has such an alluring hook, and in the live version it’s the star of the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GJIJlVnLN4&ab_channel=BETWEENFRIENDS
“u can still come over” is an ode to past relationships that will always mean something to both parties involved, despite the fact that they are over. Even though those relationships are over, the memories and moments shared between those two people will always hold a special place in their hearts. This song sounds like it’s dripping wet, while also being a track pulse. With its downtempo beats, it’s a relaxed song you could blast on maximum volume in a car with friends and cruise and vibe to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62q0R9aCOR8&ab_channel=BETWEENFRIENDS
“affection” is my absolute favorite track from not only this EP but my favorite track they have ever released. They express an inability to find the desired affection they crave; because of that, they fall back on each other — like a back-up plan — to make up for it. They aren’t willing to let go of each other. Even if they are conscious that that person isn’t right for them and are still left unsatisfied in one way or another, they need each other to fill their needs of being loved and giving/receiving affection. Some form of affection is better than none even if it leaves you feeling empty. The chorus is, “Oh I’m looking for affection in all the wrong places/And we’ll keep falling on each other to fill the empty spaces,” is the perfect example of that. This line emphasizes that they are not falling for each other, rather falling on each other. The tone of Savannah’s haunting vocals over the dreamy synth-beat will be sure to make you melt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJoMqYumxmA&ab_channel=BETWEENFRIENDS
BETWEEN FRIENDS explores being young, reckless, adventurous, and ultimately having fun in “better friends.” It’s about living by your own rules and doing things that you want to do. In the chorus, "If I looped my life to live again I'd pick more roses/ And pick better friends who like to sleep in the daytime/ Fall in love and kiss at night,” it discusses picking better friends who will do spontaneous things with them that makes them truly feel alive. This is my other favorite song on the EP because it’s nostalgic of the times of being in high school and doing wild things with your friends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGASobWoiwE&ab_channel=BETWEENFRIENDS-Topic
“blushing!” is the final track off of their EP. It’s simply about wanting to see that special person who makes you giddy and gives you butterflies; makes your cheeks rosy; and leaves you, well, blushing. BETWEEN FRIENDS celebrates that feeling of new-found love and the delightful memories associated with that. The lavish melodies mesh well with Savannah’s soft and warm vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUTIX0Z7Kfs&ab_channel=BETWEENFRIENDS-Topic
When will they release new music?
BETWEEN FRIENDS hasn’t released any new music since we just need some time together; that means they haven’t released new music in over two years. So, the question on everyone’s mind is when will they release new music? When will the wait for new music end? I can’t guarantee anything soon, but in an interview with Ones to Watch, BETWEEN FRIENDS said, “We thought this [we just need some time together] would be a good intro for us and we love being so hands on with everything throughout the process,” so I can infer that this EP being an “intro” for them means there will be new music in the future. At least, one can hope that there is. It did take them two years to release we just need some time together, so hopefully by the end of this year — or by the beginning of next year — we will have some new music to listen to. If not, you know I will be going back to “suburban wonderland” for the millionth time.
Sources: Galore, Ones to Watch, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Images: Discogs, YouTube
Featured Image: Forbes
(09/14/20 10:05pm)
One week and four studio sessions was all it took for Logic — with the help of producer No I.D. — to record his seventh and final studio album, No Pressure. The album was then edited, mixed, and mastered to perfection over the course of the year that followed. On July 16, 2020, Logic single-handedly broke the internet with the announcement of his retirement on Twitter and Instagram. He posted the album cover of No Pressure with the caption, “Officially announcing my retirement with the release of ‘No Pressure’ executive produced by No I.D. July 24th… It’s been a great decade. Now it’s time to be a great father.” This post shocked his fan base — also known as the Rattpack. Comments and tweets came flooding in with overwhelming support, sadness, and love.
(08/12/20 5:21pm)
by Arianna Sergio
One week and four studio sessions was all it took for Logic — with the help of producer No I.D. — to record his seventh and final studio album, No Pressure. The album was then edited, mixed, and mastered to perfection over the course of the year that followed. On July 16, 2020, Logic single-handedly broke the internet with the announcement of his retirement on Twitter and Instagram. He posted the album cover of No Pressure with the caption, “Officially announcing my retirement with the release of ‘No Pressure’ executive produced by No I.D. July 24th… It’s been a great decade. Now it’s time to be a great father.” This post shocked his fan base — also known as the Rattpack. Comments and tweets came flooding in with overwhelming support, sadness, and love.
After releasing his first mixtape Psychological in late 2009, the past 10 years of Logic’s career have been nothing short of incredible. He’s released six mixtapes and seven albums. No Pressure is Logic's best work to date. Logic hinted in the booklet of Everybody that his next album was going to be his final album, and it was going to be called Ultra 85. For the Logic fans that were expecting Ultra 85 and not No Pressure, Logic said on his Twitch stream, “A lot of people might say ‘Oh, Ultra 85,’ and da da da, this is Ultra f***ing 85. This is what that would’ve been… I put my heart and my soul into this. This is the one… When it comes to my die hard fans, this is for you.” No Pressure is paying homage to his first studio album Under Pressure and celebrating rap as a genre.
Not Living Behind a Persona Anymore
No Pressure is a full circle moment for the Maryland rapper. His first studio album — Under Pressure — tackled topics such as his violent childhood, the gangs in his neighborhood, his past cooking drugs, his battle with nicotine, his struggle with fame, and ultimately, the hardships of his life. The Under Pressure album cover features Logic, phone in hand, sitting with two friends in the basement of his friend Lenny/Big Lenbo — whom he used to live with and who helped him work on his career in music. In the picture, they are working on music, surrounded by some furniture, a couple computers, some works of art on the walls, and several other items. In the No Pressure album cover, Logic is seen alone underwater surrounded by all the items depicted in the Under Pressure album cover. It shows that Logic no longer has to worry about the struggles he once battled while trying to make a name for himself in the music industry. He’s free from the pressures of the rap game; he’s just floating and enjoying his life now. Portraying that on his final album cover is absolutely genius. No Pressure doesn’t focus on Logic or Bobby Tarantino or Young Sinatra or any of his personas. It focuses on himself, Bobby Hall, and it’s more transparent than any of his music before.
Blasts from the Past
“No Pressure Intro” features Thalia, Logic’s android narrator who was inspired by the hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest’s album Midnight Marauders, saying, “Welcome to the No Pressure Program.” Then, it goes into a chopped up version of filmmaker Orson Welles’ intro to the 1942 Suspense Radio Theater show “The Hitchhiker.” The intro of the song is diced up and pieced together with words, names, and phrases said by Logic, which is thoughtfully done in order to present the thematic elements of the album. It’s safe to say that every Logic fan can remember the first time they heard the song “Under Pressure” and the feeling they got when they heard it. “No Pressure Intro” offers listeners that same feeling. The newly euphoric, yet nostalgic, sound is a treat every single time you listen to it.
The sixth track on No Pressure is “Soul Food II.” “Soul Food II” is what Logic wanted the original “Soul Food” to sound like on Under Pressure; unfortunately, he couldn’t clear the licensing for the sample he wanted to use. “Soul Food II” is a more grown up and artistic version of “Soul Food,” with his genuine, authentic outlook on life over the slightly altered “Soul Food” beat which overall works in favor of making this song the best produced on the album. Logic is known for frequently referencing his other songs, which act as Easter eggs for his devoted fans. In “Soul Food II” he makes reference to — yep, you guessed it — 2014’s Under Pressure predecessor “Soul Food.” In “Soul Food” Logic raps, “Goddamn, goddamn, conversations with legends/Crazy how one day yo' idols can turn into your brethren” and in “Soul Food II” he raps, “Goddamn, goddamn, conversations with people/ Crazy how one day, the legends forget that they equal/ On this Under Pressure sequel.” In “Soul Food II” the word “legends” is replaced with “people.” This implies that he doesn’t praise the image of rappers he once idolized. In actuality, he calls them out and believes that many of them lose themselves within the world of fame.
The New Logic
When I first heard the piano in the song “Hit My Line,” my jaw literally dropped. This song is easily the front-runner of the album. It’s about Logic preaching to God about the worrisome, alarming, and troubling things he bears witness to in his everyday life; this is shown through his lyrics, “I'm just sayin', God, I need to talk” and “It's been a long time, God, can you hit my line?” Logic raps in “Hit My Line” in a happy and bubbly tone which can be attributed to the level of happiness he feels in his life recently. Rather than acting as a contrast to some of the dark subject matter the song entails, the upbeat tone is actually Logic accepting all of those things and knowing he will make it out okay. Throughout the song, he evokes previous life experiences while also speaking about his life since fame. “Hit My Line” has a captivating melody that immediately draws the listener in and holds them tightly until the four minutes and 25 seconds are over.
“Open Mic/Aquarius III” is about Logic’s rapping skills, family, and career. The lyrics, “Tryin' to be the greatest, that sh*t been dead/I'm trying to be the happiest that I can be instead/ I'm trying to get ahead like a fetus/ Money don't complete us, but it feed us, it can lead us to depression/ Being rich is not a blessing, fame is not a blessing” are part of a longer verse used on his single “OCD.” “OCD” didn’t make it to No Pressure, but implementing these lyrics still packs a punch that only his longtime fans will recognize. With Logic paying homage to Under Pressure on this album, "Aquarius III" uses the same sample that was used in the song “Under Pressure.” As noted previously, Logic is known for making references to his other songs, and in “Open Mic/Aquarius III” he references 2014’s “I’m Gone.” In “Open Mic/Aquarius III” he raps, “Living life like this is so crazy/Hip-hop is amazing/One day, you're on top and the next, they want to erase 'em/ Goddamn, what I'm facing,”and in “I’m Gone” he raps, “Living life like this is so crazy, this world is amazing/ One day you’re on top and the next she having your baby."
“DadBod” is another standout. Logic opens up about his current life: being a new dad and a loving husband while also cultivating his rap career. This new life he has created is a complete 180 from his extremely difficult upbringing that he used to rap about in his early career. Throughout the song, he jokes about people wanting him to revert back to the way he used to rap. It’s refreshing to hear the artist’s points of view on how his life has changed, especially considering how drastically it has changed. In “DadBod” he makes reference to “Upgrade,” which is from his sophomore album The Incredible True Story. In both “DadBod” and “Upgrade” Logic raps, “I've upgraded while they waited, will they love it, will they hate it?” This lyric is recurring in his music because Logic has essentially “upgraded” his life. He is a totally different man and artist than he was when he started rapping. He’s asking if his fans will love or hate the new him. “DadBod” is one of the most telling and raw songs on the album.
In “A2Z” Logic is teaching his son Little Bobby the alphabet. This is lyrically one of the most clever and witty songs Logic has ever released. The song begins with Logic asking his son, “You wanna learn your ABCs Little Bobby? Yeah? You wanna learn your ABCs? Yeah? Yeah, let's do it,” and then you can hear his son trying to formulate words to respond to him, but it comes out as babbling. Throughout the song, Logic raps the letter of the alphabet he is trying to teach his son as a lower pitched voice in the background repeats the letter. Having that voice in the background fuels the message Logic is simply trying to teach Little Bobby his ABCs. The second half of the song is Logic playing his demo from 2005. Incorporating his demo at the end adds to the song, because it shows how far his rap skills have developed and how vastly they have improved. Logic is playing as his most creative self with the concept of this song.
Open Topics
“Dark Place” is Logic’s most personal song to date. Logic discloses personal details about his mental health — specifically his depression and anxiety — discussing topics ranging from the amount of hate he receives online to inner struggles and worries that he may never climb over the pedestal his fans put his early music on. Overall, Logic confesses that sometimes people are sad, with no particular reason behind that sadness, and that’s okay.
“Obediently Yours” is the closing song on No Pressure. It goes into the July 28, 1946, episode of the “Orson Welles Commentaries.” Logic raps, “This is Logic” for the first line of the song and for the rest of the song this sample plays over a low piano melody. This episode is related to a black veteran, Issac Woodard Jr., who was blinded and abused by a white police officer. With the Black Lives Matter movement being so prevalent, prominent, and crucial within our world, the audio used in this song drives the message home that there is still an immense amount of work that needs to be done in order for each person to really be equal.
Top Tracks:
Hit My Line
DadBod
Soul Food II
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Mac Miller
Featured Image: Genius
Sources: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube
(07/22/20 4:00pm)
Relationships between sisters form a special kind of bond. For many, sisters are not only family, but a best friend.
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Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, or 5SOS, raked in thousands upon thousands of fans after they went on the Take Me Home tour with British pop band One Direction back in 2013. They released their first EP Somewhere New in 2012, and in 2014, they released their self-titled debut studio album 5 Seconds of Summer. Since then, they have only skyrocketed further into fame by making a name for themselves. Their notoriety has led them to their newest studio album, CALM. This album has more lyrical depth than any of their other albums, with the band being vulnerable, honest, and authentically themselves.
(06/03/20 5:10pm)
by Arianna Sergio
(05/27/20 9:12pm)
As summer draws near, music festivals and artists typically blast social media and their websites with promotional videos and pre-sale ticket options. But social distancing guidelines issued to stop the spread of COVID-19 — a disease that has taken the lives of more than 323,000 globally — has taken center stage. Although many fans are sympathetic to the regulations, they are bummed at the slew of music festivals and concerts that are either being cancelled or postponed. Many are worried about the long-term impact of the pandemic on the music scene.
(05/27/20 8:55pm)
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(05/27/20 8:46pm)
With dreamy, soft vocals over a relaxed electronic beat, it’s difficult not to fall head-over-heels in love with pop duo X Lovers. This duo consists of London Jackson and Jacob Ames. They are childhood best friends who met in fourth grade in their hometown of Nevada City, California, and have been inseparable since then. Jackson is the vocalist and tends to most of the songwriting while Ames produces all their music. They are stars on the rise and — in my eyes — they deserve more appreciation.
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