When it comes to stripped-back pop tracks with moving, heartfelt lyrics, Eighty Ninety are on it. The duo, consisting of brothers Abner and Harper James, have been releasing such intimate music since 2016 with their first official single, “Three Thirty.” The track rose to #2 on Spotify’s Global Viral Charts fairly quickly and put the guys on the map. Ever since, the brothers have found praise from millions of fans, and support from Ones To Watch, Billboard, and Taylor Swift. Giving us a single well within the realm of a “sad girl autumn” tune, Eighty Ninety are closing out the year with the bittersweet “Heart on the Line.”
Focusing on a pivotal moment in a relationship, “Heart on the Line” showcases Eighty Ninety’s storytelling ability. Over minimal instrumentation, Abner sings, “Now I’m all choked up / And now I can’t sleep / Are we falling in love / Or apart at the seams?” recounting how it feels to watch a relationship collapse. His calm timbre pairs nicely with the cinematic feel of the choruses, which feature fuller production. You can check it out below.
Describing the process behind the track, Eighty Ninety reveal,
“When we produced ‘Heart on the Line,’ we wanted it to feel personal — almost like it was recorded late at night after one of the midnight phone calls we’re writing about in the song. But we also wanted the choruses to feel cinematic because even though feelings around these moments are personal, they can feel so huge. To show that contrast, we used minimal verses and lonely, distant counter melodies with sweeping, harmony-stacked choruses.”
You can listen to “Heart on the Line” on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify.
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