Recently, many influencers have branched out to try new things, like YouTuber Jacksepticeye starting a podcast with Ethan Nestor or TikTok stars going to the music industry. These projects tend to yield mixed results. However, one group who’s achieved mainstream success, even making it onto the Outside Lands lineup, is Lovejoy. If you don’t know this group by name, you are more likely to recognize one of its members from YouTube or Twitch. It includes vocalist Wilbur Soot, guitarist Joe Goldsmith, bassist Ash Kabosu, and drummer Mark Boardman. Yesterday, they released a music video for their new song, “Portrait of a Blank Slate.”
Music Video
Filmed entirely in black and white, the music video paid homage to 1900s silent films. It used subtitles to voice the professor, who explained that his team observed sonic frequency’s effect on the cerebral cortex. It then showed a test subject with wires attached to his head as he sat on a chair. He watched Lovejoy perform the song as the scientists noted his brain readings. Once they got to the chorus, a giant speaker blasted sound waves, affecting the test subject. His brain went dark on a diagram as he caught on fire and exploded. It is a dramatic ending to an explosive song. Literally.
Meaning of the Song
The opening track of the band’s third EP is about an obsessive, almost stalker-ish lover, according to Genius. One of the opening lines states, “Taught me to kill my indulgences with a sharp blow to the temple.” He had to knock these fantasies out of his head to stop indulging in them. The narrator wants to be with a girl already with someone else. However, he thinks he’s too ordinary and says he can wait for her from a distance. The song ends with him apologizing for being predictable, likely referring to the unrequited love tropes.
When I was asked to write this song to distract people from the recent disasters I thought, what better way to distract people than with the concept of society’s relationship between sex and love. The constant grapple between what you want now and what you need forever.”
–WILBUR SOOT VIA TWITTER
My Thoughts
I loved the hypnotic guitar riff at the song’s beginning; its low notes reminded me of Maneskin. When Wilbur Soot started singing, you could tell how far he’s come since his first song, “Your New Boyfriend.” His singing has more vocal variety and an added grit that suits the mood well. The verses and chorus have different vibes but work well together to create the story. I haven’t gone out of my way to seek out Lovejoy in the past, but that might change now. I encourage you all to do the same!
