By Victoria Hernandez
Last August, alternative-pop artist JAWNY opened for Oliver Tree in Fayetteville. That was my first time hearing his music, and now his debut album It’s Never Fair, Always True has been on constant repeat for me.
Setting the stage for the album is “intro,” creating a buildup into the first single released off the album, “strawberry chainsaw.”
The song is a mix of classic electric guitar paired with tambourine and clapping throughout. The lyrics “one day, you’re harsh, and then you’re sweet” and “‘cause I’m more than sure you’re the one” set the stage for the conflicting feelings of love and loss as the theme of the album.
The repetition of “la, la, la, la” on “lalala” makes it hard for the listener to not groove.
The lyrics are almost overdone with the constant reiteration, but the interludes of behind and in between give the feeling of what falling in love could be. The carefree joy that comes along with being smitten is present throughout the song.
Following “lalala,” is “wide eyed” which is more in depth with the lyricism including “Heaven’s lost without you” and “I wanna live in your goddamn veins.” The tone of JAWNY’s voice shifts half way through the song almost sounding like spoken poetry intriguing the listener more.
The next track and another single released prior to the full album is “adios” reveals the heartbreak that is to come for the remainder of the album. Even with the lyrics revealing the heartbreak of his love interest saying “adios,” the track is yet another indie jam that could make you dance or sob depending on your own mood.
Featured on “take it back” is Beck, a fellow American artist, who’s vocals pair with JAWNY’s making up a fuzzier, guitar shredding song of regret.
“Death is a dj” is another song that makes it hard to not dance wherever you are. The lyrics make you question–are you one of the people “to check off a list, and not die alone (‘lone)” or one of the ones more adventurous “dancing with someone (you) don’t know?”
The track is another where he shifts his singing style to almost spoken poetry giving more variety to the song.
A trend throughout the record is the seamless shifts between the tracks, one of my favorites being into “giving up on you.” Here JAWNY addresses his love interest saying he had to choose them or himself.
At this point in the album, “true” reveals the feelings that still linger despite having to make that choice. Although he wishes to move on, he can’t.
This same heartache is felt in “everything.” It’s the kind of song you want to hear fullblast laying on the ground in the downpour of the rain. The lyrics truly encapsulate the feelings of everything at once. The overwhelming unknown of getting older and being in love.
“Fall in love” the lyrics repeat over and over that he “don’t wanna fall in love” but it’s clear to the listener he already is. And it seems he realizes it to with the next track being titled “i look better when i’m in love.”
Here, JAWNY addresses the front he’s putting up to others, that if they ask him “I’m okay, But if I ask myself, the answer will probably change” expressing he’s lost a part of himself since he’s lost his love.
The instrumental breaks throughout the song leave you thinking. Bringing in more piano and orchestral strings, JAWNY gives into the cliches of romance leading seamlessly into the final track “selfish hate.”
The last song keeps the sober theme, the lyrics are filled with questions of the unknown that comes after losing a love. The album’s namesake is finally sung, “It’s never fair, it’s always true, I hate that I’m in love With you again.”
The distortion of the lyrics and instrumentals, occasional singing and screaming truly encapsulates the confusion of the emotions of love.
This debut album covers it all, the ups and downs of falling in and out of love. The unknown of moving on, whether or not you truly are. It’s raw but fun in all the right ways.
Rated nine out of ten.