nobody gets me (like you) — MUSIC

by emma schoors

“Remote” is uncharted territory for Wallows, and they’re navigating it with style.

Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters, and Cole Preston didn’t physically see each other at all during the recording of their newest EP, which makes its completed form that much more impressive. Instead, they took to FaceTime and the iPhone voice memos app to complete the tracks.

“Dig What You Dug” is bass heavy and spotlights Braeden Lemasters’ stunning vocals. The pre-chorus is catchy and has the same general feel as some tracks on “Nothing Happens,” but as soon as the chorus hits, listeners are reminded that Wallows has changed significantly since then. Both versions of the band are equally worth listening to, but one thing is clear. The band is reigning in on what they do best in this EP, and there isn’t one “boring” song. Each track has countless musical complexities that make it memorable and worth giving another listen.

The intro of “Coastlines” is slightly reminiscent of the band’s most popular track, “Are You Bored Yet?” (feat. Clairo). Give it a mere couple seconds, though, and the band’s progression is clear. One of the most hard-hitting yet simplistic lines resides in this track: “Do your words make up what’s on your mind?” One key difference in this EP compared to the band’s earlier work is that it’s a lot more electronic-centric, and it’s pulled off surprisingly well.

Listen to Remote on Spotify. Wallows · Single · 2020 · 6 songs.

“Talk Like That” showcases Dylan Minnette’s vocals, and overall shows the greatened intensity in the band’s sound. Just after the one minute mark the song takes a turn, and it becomes increasingly difficult to comprehend how the band managed to make such a beautifully complex song remotely.

A beautiful and resonating closing song, “Wish Me Luck,” slows things down slightly. This change in tempo is much needed to contrast the high-paced songs that carry the EP. Dreamy is the first word that comes to mind, but that doesn’t cover how stunning the mix of sound and lyricism is. “I don’t wanna lose myself to all my insecurities. If I told you all of them, who would it hurt more? You or me?” Wallows has always been great at writing songs that connect with people, but this track is especially relatable. The fear of inadequacy that so many people often internally feel is navigated effortlessly.

A true test of a band’s strength is their ability to adapt to abrupt changes in the industry and in the world, and Wallows has embraced these changes with ease... though, in the words of “Nobody Gets Me (Like You),” “All the things that made sense suddenly feel different.” The entire EP is deeply exciting, and a much needed breath of fresh air in an increasingly suffocating world.

by emma schoors

“Nobody Gets Me (Like You)” is one of Wallows’ most unpredictable musical and visual endeavors yet.

Braeden Lemasters carries the vocals of this track as the main character in the band’s coordinating music video. The video, a continuation of “OK,” the band’s last single, is a creative play on romance and parties. It includes countless quotable moments, which fans are sure to make inside jokes out of. It’s a hodge podge of color and sound, and it works perfectly against the backdrop of the new track. The band has entered a new phase in their career, complete with a new sound and a much larger fan base, and they’ve entered that phase with ease.

One look at the band’s latest Spotify playlist, fittingly entitled “quarantunes,” lends you a clue about their influences: Tame Impala, ABBA, and Vampire Weekend, just to name a few. But there’s something distinctive about Wallows that transcends the sum of their parts.

Maybe it’s their rightful bravery and willingness to experiment with different sounds, or their heartfelt dedication to their fans. Maybe it’s their willingness to speak out against injustice and fight for just causes. There’s no way to truly pinpoint one thing that makes the band incredible, because it’s a mixture of hundreds of things.

That’s the unfiltered beauty of Wallows: you can’t pin them down to one genre, or one lyrical matter, or one targeted audience. They’re available to anyone willing to listen, and over the past couple of years, countless fans have taken up that opportunity.

I remember driving past Amoeba Music in Hollywood the week that Wallows was set to debut their first EP Spring, and the pure magic in the air that came with knowing that somehow, someway, the band was going to make it big. Seeing their name on the record store’s signature marquee was electrifying, and that excitement has only grown since then.

If you haven’t yet, consider taking a gander at “Nobody Gets Me (Like You).” Worst case scenario, you’re not into it. Best case scenario, you find a new band to love.