by mariah estran
photo by maxine tamoto
Have you dropped a DM lately? You know what I’m talking about; we’ve all heard a couple of those stories or been, at least, a part of them. Sagas of the individual who musters up the courage to reach out through an in-app, communication feature.
As for this story, it was more of an artistic endeavor that pushed one to send a message. One that brought Stacy Kim and Kaelan Geoffrey together — the now indie-pop duo known as Bestfriend.
It’s a tale of a digital connection that encouraged the two like-minded creatives to pursue what they’ve always wanted to do — music. “I think that Kaelan and I have been sitting on all our feelings about music and wanting to make music for so long, through our entire young-adult lives,” Stacy says. “Once we met and started Bestfriend, we were so ready at that point in our lives.”
In the best way possible, there was no turning back; this was the time to make it happen.
One in Vancouver and the other in Toronto, the team figured out the working-from-afar system, even before the dreaded days of the pandemic, when everyone was adapting to creating through a file share. “I feel like now there’s a little more of a playbook on how to do it from not in the same room,” Stacy says, nervously laughing about the recollection. “But, back then, oh my god, it was a tough one.” Their witted humor fills the room, even over a long-distance Zoom call. Kaelan chiming-in, “back then, we thought we were so interesting.” All in good nature, they can’t help but joke a little about the process.
They released their first EP, places i’ve lived, in 2021. A compilation of tracks that fed the young-adult angst scribbled through their diary pages. It was finding a way to express those heart-staining breakups and long nights out, a homage to the funny chaos that’s part of living. “What I like to say, and what I think still rings true, is that we didn’t really know how to express ourselves through the music. But what we did know was how we felt, and what we did know is what it looked like,” Stacy describes.
places i’ve lived became the roadmap to finding how to communicate with each other sonically, specifically from a distance. The bond they’ve created intertwines firmly through the record. Their tender vocals complement each other as they describe dreamlike romantic encounters in “For Grace, After a Party.”
Then, there is "You Want Everyone to Love You." Which transcends the listener to a serene atmosphere of twinkling keys, finished with a crescendo of twisting synths. A magnetic force of production as Stacy sings about love not being received by the counterpart.
“It’s a fun process of reflection and living in the moment while also, very much dealing with how to express that ourselves,” Stacy explains. “In the end, we had these songs. We were like this, is it; this is exactly what it felt like — these are the songs that work.”
In 2023, it’s about moving to the next chapter in their story. “We lived the experience, and now, we have to move forward,” Kaelan reiterates. Stacy adds that places i’ve lived was a project they owed to their younger selves, “We know how to write, we know how we work together — let’s actually get into this. Let’s talk about how we are feeling right now.”
“LEMON LIME” has now entered the chat.
The three-minute, tongue-in-cheek lyrical number that is jumpstarting Bestfriend’s new phase. It is the observation of the now — a world that feels uncertain and, at times, complex to navigate. “We were very frustrated at what was going on. Capital E, everything — politically, socially, everything was just so confusing,” Stacy shares. Yet, don’t misconstrue the disarray for a dark, extra-emotive ballad. Instead, Bestfriend keeps the air light, consistently showcasing their flair for engaging synths and spiffy drumbeats. As Stacy calls out lines like:
Tell me what's the point of showing up if nothing's for us / Maybe we're alone, maybe nothing really matters.
Stacy explains, “I think everything we wanted to say about this is just coming out of us right now, and we should vibe with it because I don’t think we are the only ones that feel this way.” They agree that in the last few years, mindsets have begun to change, specifically for this generation. Kaelan notes the concept of the American Dream as Stacy elaborates on her parents migrating to the U.S. There was once a time when individuals looked up to those aspirations or ideals centered around “the good life.” Fast-forward and Generation Z are conscious of the reality that might not be as rosey. “LEMON LIME” is that example, serving as a tiny zeitgeist via Bestfriend. Even more so, considering it is named after a vape flavor of the same handle.
Kaelan bashfully grins as Stacy shares, “You know when a word kind of sounds exactly as what it means? Lemon-Lime, for some reason — this song’s vibe felt very correct for that.”
The origin of the song title is indicative of who they are. Even when explaining the deep subject of the latest track, their easy-going demeanors brighten the room. They began reminiscing, mentioning that when they made this song (and the more that is to come on an EP this year), they were finally able to record vocals in the same room. Smiling through the recollections, the two divulge that there were more hangout sessions than music progressions. But that’s what you hope to hear from two good friends, right?
They have recently signed with Nettwerk and are planning on continuously sharing new music. “It’s to the point that we can finally see something,” Kaelan describes when asked about the plans for BestFriend. “We are going to keep going forward and putting out new music,” Stacy begins to conclude.
“I would say, in this next song era, we feel a lot more comfortable — I think you can hear it in the music as well. I think we are really starting to settle into all of this.”