Eem Triplin Delivers His Heartbroken Love Resignation on “Just Friends?”

Jaded and nonchalant, Eem expresses an earnest hopelessness in his relationship with whoever he is addressing his message to on the track. He asks typical questions like “do you like me because I’m famous?” and “is your love money motivated?” but tells a full story which gives depth to these simple and usually cliche questions. Painting the full picture, Eem explains how he’s never been attuned to love, and finds it to be full of  lies, confusion, and angst. Ultimately Eem’s finality in attitude comes from the contradictory nature of whoever he is addressing stating that she originally “only wanted to be friends.” But now, it’s the opposite way around. 

Eem welcomes his uncomfortable narrative to the listener by providing a warm and almost whimsical atmosphere. Slightly augmented vocals over the low key yet beautiful instrumental really push the hidden angst of Eem’s writing as well. There’s never a point where the instrumental swells or heads somewhere else, but it never gets boring. The addicting rhythm of the hi hats push the production forward as tiny key strikes slide through over warm and polite pad chords, making for a calming and reminiscent experience. 

Tapping into nostalgia and heartbreak, Eem shows that he still cares, even though his choice is made clear on “Just Friends?”