Fresh off summer, joan’s latest release has that same seasonal upbeat rhythm as a hot day under the sun. But it also has the touch of autumn and winter beats found in songs like ‘Like Me Better’ by Lauv and tracks from Troye Sivan’s album, Blue Neighborhood. It’s the perfect transitional single for the change in weather. Little rays of sunlight peek through the production, yet its overall aesthetic is very cold and low tempo. This is the effect of the lyrics connecting with the melody; from late-night freakouts to small talks over coffee. Of course, ‘don’t wanna be your friend’ has that signature joan style. It’s that 80s to early 2000s pop romcom flare that keeps them consistent despite the evolution of their sound. From the lyrical notes setting that nostalgic and romantic scene, to the steady and patient rhythm provided by the keyboard.
“We are somewhat known for taking retro elements and bringing them now. While we’re totally for that and proud of that, we also don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves so much that you just expect [we’re] going to release this 80s thing every single time. Because I think we have more range than that,” they once said in an interview with NYLON Manila. Even with all the experimental undertaking, there’s that natural thread that joan follows. A thread full of cinematic scenes reminiscent of 2000s romcom films. That’s why, despite all the new songs in new styles, there’s something familiar to their every new release. For ‘don’t wanna be your friend’, it’s almost like a sequel to their previous track, ‘ease your mind’.
The latter song discusses the immediate aftereffects of a broken relationship. It’s all the wondering, pining and memories exploding into a bid of jealousy. After some time passes, ‘don’t wanna be your friend’ outlines where both individuals are in their present lives. In the lyrics, “heard that you were back in town, well I don’t wanna sit through coffee, feeling like I’m out of body”; she moves back to town and wants to try and mend things with him. But the protagonist just can’t go on living as if nothing happened between them. It’s not just the lyrics of the two songs that bridge the gap that’s there; that gap since the release of ‘ease your mind’, and the gap in the story of their breakup.
The tune and production of both songs are also very similar; ‘don’t wanna be your friend’ is upbeat without being too happy-go-lucky, the same way ‘ease your mind’ is. On its own, ‘don’t wanna be your friend’ is healing and understanding. It lingers with a little bit of bitterness – but not the bad kind. It’s more like desperation to move on and refresh, and leave all the scars behind.
Words by Mae Trumata
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