Chicago-based pop punk band Real Friends (Cody Muraro, Kyle Fasel, David Knox, Brian Blake, Edward Haines) put out their newest single, “Waiting Room”, last Friday, ushering in a new era. Released independently, “Waiting Room” is the first single from their upcoming LP set to release this fall, and it certainly sets the bar high.
Dealing with deeply personal subject matter, “Waiting Room” addresses the pain of loss and will resonate with listeners who have ever gone through something like this. Sharing more about the song, bassist and lyricist Kyle Fasel wrote on his Instagram:
“‘Waiting Room’ is so much more than just another Real Friends song; it’s a piece of my soul poured into three minutes. The lyrics, without a doubt, are the most personal and vulnerable I’ve ever written. It’s about my dad dying in a hospital bed in front of my eyes and the aftermath that still casts a shadow over me today.”
The song explodes in with a high energy guitar riff before Cody Muraro’s smooth vocals sing the hard-hitting lyrics “After I knew there was only bad news / your hospital bed felt more like a waiting room”. Muraro’s talent is on display throughout the first verse as he seamlessly transitions between vocal styles to convey the emotion behind every word.
The chorus brings the energy up a notch as Muraro sings the poignant lyrics “I thought time healed every wound til I lost you” and “everything’s gone but the pain”. The rushed vocal delivery of part of the chorus comes off as somewhat frantic in a purposeful way, mirroring the rush of emotions that comes with this kind of inescapable pain.
The second verse uses layered harmonies over a building soundscape to describe the seemingly small but wildly painful tasks that must be done after the death of a loved one. The urgency of the delivery gradually increases as we head into the next chorus. An instrumental break leads into the bridge as Muraro sings “I need you right now / ’cause I can’t see the end / the space you left goes on forever”.
The final chorus is climactic, bringing in background harmonies and harder hitting instrumentals to drive the point home. Halfway through, though, the energy fades and everything gets slower as Muraro sings the last lyrics, his voice dripping with emotion.
The song also comes with a music video that alternates between the band sitting in a waiting room with a spinning clock and live energy shots of them playing in what looks like a sterile hospital room under fluorescent lights. It ends with the images being put in a slow-motion reverse, perfectly capturing and supporting the emotions behind the lyrics.
This song has been perfectly executed from start to finish. The vulnerable lyrics combined with the raw and energetic vocal and instrumental styles will capture listeners’ hearts, especially if they’ve lost a loved one. With “Waiting Room”, Real Friends has created a relatable track that fans can turn to whenever they want to feel seen and understood, regardless of what they’re going through.
Before their album is released later this year, catch Real Friends touring across the US this summer playing both headlining shows as well as some appearances at Sad Summer Festival.
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