FOR FANS OF: Courtney Barnett, HAIM, Catfish and The Bottlemen
Back at the end of February, indie/alternative singer-songwriter Alyssa Joseph released single "sadboy," and honestly, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. Alyssa is a New Jersey native and recent East Nashville transplant. She draws influence from contemporary songwriters like Julia Jacklin, Sharon Van Etten, and Big Thief. "sadboy" is a guitar-driven indie track about falling for a person who's unhealthy for you.
"sadboy" is a track about the toxic, needy person many of us have fell for. The person who seems to have requited feelings for us but doesn't. They act so sweet to you, make you feel so special, they confide in you. You tell them your secrets, you let your heart be open to them, you fall for them. They talk to you all the time - telling you their fears and joy, you feel as if you are their only one. You text back as soon as they text you, but they leave you on read for days.
It's all meaningless to them - whether it's a deliberate act of using another person for free talk therapy, or they know you have romantic feelings for them and they just don't care.
It's an unpleasant situation to be in, bringing feelings of frustration to you, which Alyssa expresses clearly in "sadboy." To get out of it, communication, honesty, and setting boundaries are needed. It's okay to fall for a sadboy, but, remember that you come first. Love is not a game, confusion, or frustration.
I really love this track. It's relatable, and extremely well done. Alyssa has a confident voice and is a brilliant songwriter. I'm excited to hear more from her, as she has an EP coming this summer called alive. It's said to bring us a "a dynamic and sometimes depleted young woman, fighting to dig herself out of the ground and reclaim the soil below her feet. At times, her sound is tender and quiet, at others - roaring louder than a freeway."
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