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Alt-pop star on the rise Love You Later is living out all of our main character dreams in the new single “Girl With Headphones.” The track navigates feeling lost, longing for the moment where your past, current, and future self intertwine harmoniously. In addition to its painfully relatable lyricism, “Girl With Headphones” delivers on its “straight out of your favorite coming-of-age indie film” sonic promise. It urges the listener to grab their headphones, stroll down the street, and press play on self-reflection.

Sifting through feelings of anxiety is always easier to do when romanticized, which is done successfully as “Girl With Headphones” fits perfectly into the “it’s me and my music against the world” narrative. Love You Later asks the question that’s been on all our minds in a post-COVID world; will we ever feel the way we used to? With its nostalgic production and instrumentation paired with vulnerable lyricism, “Girl With Headphones” creates a safe sounding board to ask scary questions and ultimately be okay with never knowing the answer.

Love You Later highlights the cinematic aspect of the single, recalling, “Things were feeling very dim at the beginning of this year and it made me think about how when I was a kid I would feel like the main character in my own indie film, staring out the window of the passenger seat and romanticizing everything the world has to offer.” This sentiment is readily apparent throughout the track, emulating hope for the future despite how confusing it feels in the present moment. We hear a girl who’s on an endless search for herself, which both she and the listener know deep down is a constant side effect of growing up.

“Girl With Headphones” may be another addition to the genre of using headphones to drown out life’s most confusing moments (Maude Latour’s “Headphones” comes to mind), but it’s a fresh take from Love You Later’s unique perspective. The track’s strength lies in its dialog with the listener, asking relatable questions and chronicling the things we all do when we can’t find the answer. In “Girl With Headphones,” Love You Later highlights the healing power of your favorite playlist, bringing the listener along for an introspective walk around the block.

Listen to "Girl With Headphones" below: