I first found indie-pop duo joan, comprised of Alan Benjamin Thomas and Steven Rutherford, through their single “i loved you first.” Their ability to capture 80’s-esque nostalgia and preserve its timelessness struck me unexpectedly. With the cinematic opening chords of their newest release, “flowers,” it’s clear that the band’s skill in bottling that feeling has only grown since.
Lyrically, the storytelling element alone makes the song worth listening to, but the duo doesn’t stop there. Rife with word painting—including an iconic and aptly-timed laugh track—and full of impressively-layered instrumentals, the song is a showcase of everything they do well. Combined with the cinematography of the music video, the overall melancholic ambience makes for a compelling, yet surprisingly upbeat, inquiry.
See it for yourself:
Their upcoming debut album superglue is set to release in April of 2023.
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