Joji's Run

From his origins as Filthy Frank and Pink Guy, who would have thought that George Miller, better known by his stage name Joji, would be releasing some of the most compelling music in pop today? 

Joji’s new single, “Run,” is just that: a breathtaking fusion of alternative rock and R&B that not only features his best singing to date (just listen to the passion behind the line “And if we share in this sadness” – hot damn; get it, Joji!), but also masterfully nuanced production that necessitates listening on your finest set of headphones or speakers.

Beginning with a descending, minor key guitar line plucked straight from the best of 90s alt-rock, the song’s first verse finds Joji exploring a relationship that has just come to an end. “I fell for your magic, I tasted your skin / And though this is tragic, at least I found the end,” he sings, mournfully.

 This verse gives way to stunning chorus, propelled by a deep rumbling bass that forms a jagged sonic shore for Joji’s waves of emotion to crash against. So low is the bass frequency, in fact, that it is nearly undetectable unless the aforementioned listening advice is heeded. Believe me, it is worth it. Juxtaposed against Joji’s soaring runs, this is a chorus to be basked in. 

The song’s second verse returns with a boom bap beat that amplifies its somber themes, and sheds light on another possible source of Joji’s anguish: his pursuit of fame. “You bathe in your victory / You blew out on my fuse / And if I took on the planet / Will I pay my dues?”

Brought home by a searing guitar solo, the likes of which has been absent from pop music for some time, “Run” is, simply put, Joji’s finest work, and I for one cannot wait for his follow up to 2018’s BALLADS 1.