New York indie rock band Joywave released their third studio album ‘Possession‘ last month, and it couldn’t have come at a better time! The upbeat, yet haunting music style that has now become Joywave’s staple really shines through in this record. Hitting heavy on synths and guitar, their music leaves a lasting impression that has me going back to this record over and over again. And the best part is just how relevant these songs and their lyrics have quickly become as the days go by in this pandemic. So, if you’re looking for a new record to dig into during these long days of quarantine, ‘Possession’ is the perfect album for that!
To give you a little backstory on the album concept itself, ‘Possession’ is based heavily around the thought of taking a step back, zooming out, and distancing yourself from the media and certain social situations that weigh heavier and heavier as the days go by. It’s also majorly themed around the Golden Records on the Voyager spacecraft, including samples from it woven throughout the album. If you aren’t familiar, the Golden Records were two phonograph records containing sounds that show off the diversity of life on Earth, intended for some extraterrestrial life to one day find. They were included on the Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977, and you can actually listen to them on YouTube!
This is an album I’ve listened to a lot since it came out, so I’m going to be going over some things I’ve gleaned from listening to it as well as referencing back to the “Tales of Possession” video series, where lead singer Daniel Armbruster narrates the inspiration behind each song.
“Like A Kennedy“: This song kicks off the album in the best possible way, with the piano taking the forefront throughout the track and a steady drumbeat building up a crescendo to an amazing guitar solo by Joey Morinelli. This track, as Armbruster puts it, “is about complete exhaustion and media burnout“, which is what everyone out there is feeling at the moment with the state the world is in. Everyone is being holed up inside with nothing to do except turn on the news and see nothing but doom and gloom. This track encapsulates that feeling perfect, while also sending the message that we need to step back from all of this every now and then, for our own sanity.
“Coming Apart“: This song starts off with a sample from the Golden Records, of a woman saying “annyeonghaseyo”, meaning hello in Korean. The vocals in it are more relaxed in comparison to the intense synth carrying throughout the song, which sends us straight into the vibe the whole album is about. If you’ve ever felt pressure from friends/family about the direction your life is going, whether that be finding a significant other, settling down with a family, your job, just anything, this song will instantly hit home. Everything in this world is just go, go, go, to the point that we find ourselves basically coming apart at the seams whenever someone questions us.
“Half Your Age“: We’ve all had big, insurmountable dreams growing up. Few have actually made those dreams a reality, and many of us have spent so long chasing after these dreams. But sometimes, those experiences might lead towards something else, something that fits even better than the original, and this song is all about that! It’s entirely about figuring out your way in life, and how it may not be what you expected. The first time I really sat down and listened to this song and absorbed all the lyrics, it was like the biggest sigh of relief to know that it’s okay to give up on the dream I spent years chasing but never caught up to. That it’s fine to let go, to move on with my life without that burden dragging me down. Everyone fails at what they want to do in life, but it’s about picking yourself back up and knowing it’s not a crime to move on. Paul Brenner’s drumming is a great constant, carrying hopeful undertones all throughout the song, adding to the catchiness of the track. This song, in particular, is one I always get stuck in my head, and I find myself bopping along to it more often than not!
“Obsession“: This captivating electronic pop song focuses on something every one of us has done: we’ve all latched onto something to help us escape the pressures and anxieties of the world. Whether it be video games, a TV show, or even a new album you just got into (wink), there are times where that can be the only thing getting us through the roughest of nights. This song is especially relevant today, where we need a new obsession, something to keep us sane while everything is under lock-down.
“Blank Slate“: One of the spookier sounding tracks off the album, this song is all about finding someone and letting yourself be open to them. Open to changing your old ways so that you fit easier with them, open to molding yourself a little instead of remaining unchangeable. The mix of haunting synths and samples makes this song so unique, a staple of the band’s sound.
“F.E.A.R.“: This track is all about how we let our fears control too many aspects of our lives. We go back and forth with ourselves, saying “I’ll start that project later.” or “What if they say no?” that we completely miss any opportunity we could’ve had if we had just taken the jump. The chorus, paired with great lyrics and layered vocals, drives that fact home; saying that you bow down to your fears each time you make excuses as to why you can’t do the thing. This song is one I latched onto very quickly and personally gave me the drive to get shit done. Listening to this for the first time showed me that making all these excuses and being too scared to cross that line won’t get me anywhere in life. Yeah, taking risks is never going to be easy, but you never know what will come of it until you try!
“Funny Thing About Opinions“: In this social media age, everyone has an account on one platform or another, with instantaneous ways to get their thoughts out into the world. While social media can be a good way to connect with others in a way we’ve never been able to do before, this song shines a light on the more annoying aspects of letting anyone have a platform. Everyone gets to shout their opinions and plaster them everywhere, and more often than not people will fight over who’s right or wrong. The choppiness of the verses in this song gives a perfect contrast to how melodic the chorus sounds, and it drives the meaning of the song even more. The verses being everyone shouting their opinions online, and the chorus showing how exhausting it is to be constantly barraged with it.
“Who Owns Who?”: The vocals shine through in this song, especially in the chorus. The very simple, repeating lyrics give the music center stage, with many interesting sounds coming together to make it sound almost (for lack of a better word) jungle-y. In this song’s “Tales of Possession” video, Armbruster explains how the song is about ownership, specifically the ownership a lot of fans feel over certain art/artists. For example, fans of ongoing franchises like Marvel will fight and argue about how things ended because it didn’t suit their narrative, even though that’s how the writers envisioned the story. Similarly, some fans will feel like a band owes them because they’ve supported them, completely forgetting the fact that there are real people behind the music. It’s very interesting to go back and listen to this song again after learning what it was written about!
“Blastoffff“: Joywave made the right decision to revamp this song from its original version released in 2018. In this new and improved version, they made a clear distinction between the verses and the pre-chorus, something that was lacking in the original, and it really drives the build-up and intensity of the chorus! In this song’s “Tales of Possession” video, Armbruster talks about how they wrote it to be about how vastly different touring life is from normal life. How touring artists live in this bubble, and their daily routine is to wake up, play a show, sleep, and go to a new city; meanwhile everyone back home is going about their daily lives. Having been on tour myself, I can attest to how weird it is to get used to ordinary life again after the whirlwind that is going on tour. Armbruster also goes into how the verses of this song are about how he thinks the audience sometimes views them; otherworldly, untouchable, larger-than-life. It’s a pedestal a lot of fans put the people they idolize on when in reality they’re just people too.
“Possession“: This song goes hand in hand with “Blank Slate”, only it goes much deeper and gets even more personal. With very melodic and spooky vocals, it takes on the theme of discarding your old self and your old habits to become the best person you can be for someone else, even though you may get stung in the process. In Armbruster’s words, “I say it’s one of the only true love songs in the Joywave catalog.” and it’s all the more special for it! Joywave put their own spin on this love song, making it unique and wholly theirs.
“No Shoulder“: This track is one of the slower songs off this album, and it’s a heavy hitter. It’s very existential and gets really personal with its lyrics. This song is all about trying to make sense of the world, and how repetitive questioning your existence can be. The uneasiness everyone gets whenever you think too hard about life and why things are the way they are is perfectly encapsulated in the hypnotic sounds of this song. The repeating lyrics of “I’m stuck in a landslide” makes me envision this song being performed live, with a venue full of people singing those words over and over again.
“Mr. Eastman“: In the final track of this record, “Mr. Eastman” perfectly sums up the messages of all the previous songs. It’s similar in concept to “Blastoffff” about how being in the spotlight is a very strange situation to be in, and how it flips everything upside down. The opening lyrics of not talking about yourself too much or bringing too much attention to yourself immediately melting into the lines “You could be something different/great” feel almost like a callback to “F.E.A.R.”. This song tells more of a story than I feel the other tracks do; with layered vocals giving it a spooky, yet hopeful sound, and Morinelli taking the spotlight with incredible guitar.
Joywave exceeded all expectations with ‘Possession’; the incredible music paired with personal and relevant lyrics are sure to be my daily soundtrack moving forward in these times!
Listen to ‘Possession‘ by Joywave, and watch their music video for “Half Your Age“!
Be sure to check out our full photo album and concert review of when Joywave opened for Bastille this past fall!
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Post by Taylor Pettitt (Website | Twitter | Instagram)
What are your favorite songs from ‘Possession’? Let us know in the comments below!
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