Jason Bembry’s latest soirée into the alternative pop space arrived with ‘My Friends’, a synth-driven track that has a raw backdrop in its thematic tone and a nocturnal sonic atmosphere. The usually glossy and optimistic Bembry, in the same vein as previous single ‘Frozen Hearts’, trades unparalleled joy for a more subdued, heart-wrenching experience.
The vocal performance is weightless as it delivers direct lyricism, floating among a pulsating mix of dance and pop music. Tempering the tempo for a slow-burn, the four-to-the-floor is present but steady, the bass slipping in and out and the middle of the percussive mix is characterised by clicks and claps. It’s neon sure, but captures the surrounding darkness that makes those lights shine all the brighter, a push and pull as from the shadows flows a reflective current.
Jason shares, “My Friends is all about the isolation and self-confidence that comes from feeling othered by people you thought were your friends. Sometimes, we need to write them out of our lives in order to move on.”
The New Jersey songwriter explores the different corners of pop, unconstrained by the latest trend, but able to introduce enough modernity to make any nostalgia or experimentation feel polished and contemporary. A classically trained pianist with a background in composition, his 2018 debut brought that knowledge into a new palette, one that has only grown more colourful since.
Listen here…
