Megan Phillips
Having released their first album in 2014, JOSEPH are set to release their 6th album The Sun on the 28th of April 2023. The trio have released one song from their album so far, Nervous System, moving them away from their previous indie folk style. With its prominent bass and kick drum line, upbeat tempo and repetitive hook, it feels as though there has been a transition to the pop genre.
Change In Sound
Most comments so far on this single are hugely positive, with excitement gearing up for the rest of the album. JOSEPH’s new sound has resulted in an incredibly catchy tune, increasing the appeal to a mass audience.
“maybe this sells more and is why they’ve gone this route”
However, one commenter on the song’s YouTube video did not agree with this change: “This sounds just like generic pop. Maybe this sells more and is why they’ve gone this route.”
Perhaps this is a valid point. Pop music sells to the masses: it’s more mainstream. Maybe JOSEPH moved to pop for this very reason; to get their music heard by a wider audience. Regardless, this single is stylistically catchy, and the lyrical content is interesting.
Lyrical Meanings
Nervous System appears to be about a relationship (romantic, familial or platonic) crumbling because of an inner turmoil or struggle. The lyrics: “The harder you thrash the more likely you’ll end up capsized,” and “The worst part is watching how you push me away/And that I can’t help you when you stir up your hurricanes” identifies issues people encounter in relationships when going through hard times. It’s easy to push people away instead of opening up and asking for support.
Also reflected in the lyrics is the idea of trying to help someone who doesn’t want the help or can’t accept it. For example, “If I try to save you now/you’ll spin us out, you’ll take us down/And say it’s me, catastrophe”. There is implication of blame being placed on the person attempting to support the other. It becomes easier to push someone away when you believe they’re in the wrong.
“Sometimes it’s better, and not a selfish act, to remove yourself from a toxic environment to help yourself”
Later, the lyric “No, it’s not selfish if you save yourself” appears. Perhaps here, in combination with the previous lyrics mentioned, this is about the person trying to help. Sometimes it’s better, and not a selfish act, to remove yourself from a toxic environment to help yourself. However, from the other perspective it could be reflective of the person who needs helping. There is reassurance that someone leaving to help themselves is okay. This idea appears more prominent in the lyric: “Save yourself/Don’t feed the paranoia, that won’t help.”
Relatable
“the theme of the lyrics is incredibly relatable”
The theme of the lyrics is incredibly relatable. When battling with individual struggles it is hard to know how to maintain relationships and not push people away or place blame. This is quite contradictory from the upbeat feel the song has, which is one of the reasons, along with their move away from indie folk, why it is all the more intriguing.
Feature images courtesy of Bogomil Mihaylov via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes have been made to this image.
