Even BETWEEN FRIENDS Aren't Immune to the Pain of a Situationship in "Bruise"
Sibling indie pop duo Brandon and Savannah Hudson, better known as BETWEEN FRIENDS, have released their new single, "Bruise." The track finds the duo expanding on their narrative-driven approach to songwriting while displaying a more mature and self-aware sound, exploring the everyday complications of modern dating and "situationships" in Gen Z's chronically online society.
"Bruise" is led by a driving guitar riff and a pulsing drum beat. Savannah's fluttering vocals usher in an added layer of texture to the summery track, giving it a soft and somber flavor, especially if listeners pay attention to the lyrics. First, she details the complicated feelings from an undefined relationship, singing, "Caught myself falling hard, it's a sign (this time)... I like to think of you as mine." The duo then express that they've "been running in circles," resulting in their love interests bruising their hearts and that ultimately all they want is to be wanted.
"We wrote ‘Bruise’ about giving too much to someone who isn’t reciprocating," shares BETWEEN FRIENDS. "There’s a desperation you start to feel when you’re trying and longing for someone to want you the same as you do them. After some time you begin acquiring internal scars and bruises. We were both experiencing this feeling at the same time and you can almost hear that in our performances. We brought this song on tour with us and lived with it for months making sure it was what it needed to be. We tried adding and then we tried simplifying, slowing it down and speeding it up and nothing felt better than how it was from the beginning. With our music, we are constantly chasing a feeling and that was something we re-learned in the process of making this new project. Sometimes it is what it is and that’s what makes it what it’s supposed to be."
The accompanying music video is a simple, DIY slice-of-life visual showing the pair hanging out in their living room and lip-synching the track. The room's grey mundaneness juxtaposes the absurdity of Savannah repeatedly ironing a shirt while a giant fan blows her hair for an effortlessly glam look. Meanwhile, Brandson sits back on the couch, pensively looking out the window.
Drawing inspiration from the visual aesthetics of the mid-aughts Tumblr-verse, indie sleaze, and the sonic sensibilities of chillwave, space-age pop, R&B, and everything in between, BETWEEN FRIENDS are fresh off a string of sold-out dates in Chicago, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Toronto and have their eyes set on further expanding their colorful universe with more releases to come this year.
Watch the "Bruise" video below:
