Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler capture the fragility of good things on ‘brent iii’

Recommended Tracks: “terrible things,” “five minutes,” “good things”
Artists You Might Like: Alexander 23, Sasha Alex Sloan, Lennon Stella

Alternative-indie singer-songwriters Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler have made Brentwood Road their home for the last five years. The third installment of their beloved brent series, brent iii showcases the duo in their most naturally honest and introspective states. The lead single, “black & white,” sets the tone for the project, exploring themes of comfort and security in a relationship, even when life feels stark and difficult. The track embodies a duality of love, life and self-reflection. Having released their first-ever collaborative album today, Nov. 1, 2024 through CC Ventures, LLC and Republic, Zucker and Cutler continue to captivate fans with their emotive songwriting and highly anticipated collaborations.

The album brent iii opens with “ashes & rust,” which has garnered significant buzz among fans. Built from pain and anguish from a distant relationship with a father figure, the song explores this emotional disconnect and disappointment stemming from indifference and selfishness. Through moments like missing a family member’s funeral and barely showing any attention, Zucker and Cutler create a sense of emotional abandonment that establishes a melancholic tone permeating the 11-track record. They sing, “Who’s gonna think of you / After all that you put us through? / If you won’t change for us / Then at least have the guts to pretend.” Ending with “dust,” which represents this inevitable mortality, “A-frame” features sweeping guitars as the pair seeks an intimate, dreamlike life to escape what they perceive as the pressures and intangible expectations of regular life. Yet, only being together truly reflects what home means.

Zucker and Cutler try to answer questions that only one dares to ask on “i miss you,” reflecting on the lingering feelings that persist after a deep relationship concludes. They long for simple closeness on “terrible things.” On “i miss you,” they wonder if the other is truly happy and whether they have managed to reconnect with themselves or others: “Are you happy? / Do you feel like you’re a human again? / Are you anxious? / Does it take up all the space in your head?” This conveys a profound uncertainty about isolation and the struggle of facing emotional vulnerability. Then, on “terrible things,” they yearn for connection, even fearing that their desires might be considered “terrible.” This longing for intimacy is captured in Cutler’s chorus, where she sings about feeling each other’s touch, seeing the other person in vulnerable moments and being close enough to share mixed emotions, regardless of impact.

While the track is titled “five minutes,” it is only 2 minutes and 39 seconds long. A distant sadness infuses the song as Zucker and Cutler grapple with the lingering pain of betrayal and heartbreak, reflecting on the short distances between their lives while facing the emotional turmoil left by the relationship. Uniquely, the verses alternate between Zucker, who is triggered by memories of losing that special someone (“Five minutes from the bridge to your place / It’s the light off the water that makes me think you’re okay”), and Cutler, who imagines the other person’s thoughts and feelings in the same setting (“Five minutes from my block to your street / All the red in the sky makes me think you’re thinking of me”).

Zucker and Cutler capture the quiet, bittersweet reality of unreciprocated love on “toothbrush song” and “love you into loving me.” The first song begins with Zucker reflecting on the small, intimate moments of his past relationship, everyday routines, such as watching his partner brush their teeth or capturing their connection in the mirror. These memories bring pain to his life and become a meditation on memory as he holds onto what once was. Meanwhile, Cutler confronts this one-sided love, offering comfort while painfully aware that she cannot force her partner to feel the same way in return.

On “and the government too!”, they are frustrated with the distance that keeps them apart, using evocative imagery to illustrate both the literal and metaphorical separation between them. Through geographical barriers and humorous nods to the government and stars as obstacles beyond their control, there is this sense of separation (“I would scream at the stars / For keeping us apart / And the government too”).

We all need reminders that everything is okay. It may come in the form of a breath of air, a shy smile and a hug or listening to music while sitting on the floor. Zucker and Cutler end the album as if they are giving you a warm hug. On “just breathe,” they feel trapped in their own minds as they go through a cycle of anxiety. The phrase “just breathe” is both a desperate plea and a reminder to take things one step at a time. Still, in times like these, where anxiety trumps hope, they admit that “good things” often don’t last. And it becomes a painful reminder that while good things exist, they are fleeting — and it’s best to hold onto them for dear life. Through this bittersweet nature of love and life, Zucker and Cutler create a memorable close, ensuring their music resonates long after the last note fades.

brent iii is all about the human experience. In love, we face the highs and lows of relationships. From longing to anxiety to vulnerability, Zucker and Cutler struggle to let go and hope for reciprocation, just like the rest of us. With a simplistic optimism, the duo showcases this black & white life that one often either craves or must let go.

Zucker and Cutler are heading on the Brent Forever Tour later this month.