Which is more devastating – the breakup or that part just before the breakup when you sense the beginning of the end? That part when you know what is bound to happen, but you don’t want it to – at least, not yet. In times like these, it is good to have someone who’s been there and can relate to what is happening, which is why we turn to Emily James. Emily has always been open about these more complex emotions, previous tracks like “Lovely Enough” and “For an Evening” unravelling some of the layers. On her new single “Past Tense,” she deconstructs the pre-breakup experience, giving us a slice of cool indie pop with all the tea.
With “Past Tense,” Emily goes back and forth between staying in a relationship or ending things. She can sense that it’s time for a change, as told through lines like, “I don’t wanna be missing you / But I got things that I wanna do / And I don’t know if it’s with you.” As much as she claims that she’s not ready for the break, she reveals, “I keep catching myself thinking in the past tense,” showing that she’s already moving on. You can check it out below.
About “Past Tense,” Emily shares,
“‘Past Tense’ is about being on the verge of a breakup, in that in-between place where deep down, your heart knows it’s over, but your head isn’t ready to accept it just yet. It’s as if your mind keeps rewinding back to all of the good parts of the relationship, and wants to hold onto them, but then it will fast forward to where it envisions a future without that person. It’s the struggle of knowing what you need to do, but not feeling ready to do it.”
“Past Tense” is the latest single released from her upcoming EP, Grey, out June 23. For now, you can listen to the single on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
Catch Emily on tour supporting The Ballroom Thieves here.
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