Norway Artist JOA Embraces Bittersweet Release in the Hauntingly Beautiful “Let Go”
The song “Let Go” by Norway artist JOA exudes a warm nostalgia that doesn’t let go of the air like mist and wraps you in the reverie of its almost cinematic album experience. More than a simple alt-pop single, it is a slow-burning meditation that carries the spirit of humble acceptance and bittersweet loss. Over-production is the enemy with JOA's vocals gliding effortlessly raw and honest, all knocks, scrapes, and bruises—a lived-in lyric. She sounds both vulnerable and restrained, which is magnetic enough to make you want to turn away almost.
The folk-infused undercurrents fit perfectly atop a laid-back pop sound, making for a bittersweet peace that reflects the heartache of moving on. Lyrically, JOA deals with the realities of letting go and poses questions that remain long after the song ends: "when you go baby, will you even miss me?" In it, she wins back release from a single act to a slow and sweet unspooling—a cathartic song that you won’t shake off anytime soon.
The single “Skipping Stones” by American singer-songwriter SOZI conjures a folk-infused reverie that glides between wistful reflection and buoyant optimism. The track, featured in Episode 9…