by kayla kreller
photo by grant jones
Since my first time interviewing them back in February 2019, 90’s Kids have gone from achieving 100,000 Spotify plays on their debut single to gaining well over 100,000 monthly listeners and nearly 3 million total streams over their entire discography. With two tours now under their belt, the Columbus, Ohio band has blown up in their first few years and show no signs of stopping. 90’s Kids describe their sound as "pop music for people who don't like pop music" and this definitely shows through with their newly released EP, Doing Love Wrong.
90’s Kids seem to always find a way to make their music feel familiar and brand new all at once. With Doing Love Wrong, they bring a nostalgic early 2000s vibe to a modern alternative sound.
The EP begins with the most musically heavy song the band has released to date, “F*CK UP.” Not only does this feel like the perfect opener for the EP, but it’s just the song we all need in 2020. “F*CK UP” is about letting go and being yourself, despite the approval (or lack thereof) of your partner’s friends and family. It’s fun, it’s energetic, and it’s the song I’m most looking forward to dancing to live once concerts start up again.
The next few songs consist of the singles from the EP. I first heard “Freak Me Out” back in March when 90’s Kids played it live while opening for Phangs on tour. Usually when a band plays brand new music at a show it doesn’t really stick with me, but “Freak Me Out” was different. I had this song stuck in my head from March all the way until it was released in June despite barely even knowing the words. By far one of the catchiest songs on the EP, it still sits at the top of my most played list for the year.
“Love Like That” tells the story of recognizing a toxic relationship and realizing that you deserve better. This is another song that’s been stuck in my head since its release. I always love when a band can take a serious subject and transform it into an upbeat anthem. Have you been looking for the perfect song to hype you up and add to your breakup playlist? This is that song.
“Bummer (Don’t Feel Right)” is where the EP title originates— “maybe I’ve been doing love wrong, ‘cause it just don’t feel right.” Described as a love letter to the early 2000s, this song sends me right back to the days of Hilary Duff’s Metamorphosis (one of the highest praises I can give, as that is the album I’d credit for defining my love of music). For those of us who have been revisiting our favorite childhood bands during quarantine, this song may hit a little harder than the rest. The nostalgic sound and modern themes mix so well and make one of the strongest songs of the EP.
“Still Got Feelings” is one of the most emotionally heavy songs the band has released so far and is my personal favorite from Doing Love Wrong. It’s about the internal struggle of being honest with yourself that you miss someone and doing all of those little things we all do to try to get their attention—even when it might not be the healthiest option. It’s relatable and real and perfectly illustrates that back-and-forth you often go through after a breakup with lines like “I hate you, I love you, you know.” Then, just before the final chorus, the bridge comes in with an epic, emotional instrumental that really ties the whole record together.
The final song adds a little shred of hope to the previous songs’ emotional challenges of current and past relationships. “Prague” is about waiting for and wanting nothing more than that one last chance to start over fresh with an ex. When it’s too sad to think about things ending for good, even if there might not be a chance to fix it, sometimes you just have to let yourself dream about the what-ifs.
I’m so proud of how far these guys have evolved as artists over the last few years. They’ve created an emotionally beautiful and cohesive story with this EP and it really seems like the start of something incredible. I cannot wait to see a crowd of thousands of fans lose their minds to “F*CK UP” or scream back the lyrics of “Still Got Feelings” at a show in the future.