joan – “Nervous” [Song Review]

Little Rock, Arkansas-based alt-pop duo joan unveils their new single/music video, “nervous,” a track lifted from their forthcoming debut album, superglue, slated to drop on April 19, 2023. The pair also announces their nationwide tour, beginning on May 13th.

Talking about “nervous,” joan shares, “We wrote this song with the lovely Emily Falvey of Nashville and Jonathan Capeci from Nightly, and the second we all walked into the room together, there was immediate chemistry between us. We wanted to get as close to the emotion of a sort of school-like love story, where you constantly want to be around them, but you also literally feel like you’re going to throw up because you’re so… nervous (wink), and you don’t want to say the wrong thing around them. it’s such a cool and distinct feeling; we hope this song takes you back to that place.”

Made up of Alan Benjamin Thomas and Steven Rutherford, joan released their debut EP, portra, in 2019, followed by cloudy, partly cloudy, and 2021’s hi & bye EPs. With more than 160 million streams and over 800,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, joan’s music is simultaneously evocative, intoxicating, and vibrant.

“nervous” starts off with an acoustic intro of subdued yet catchy tones rolling into a beatboxing, clapping rhythm topped by luscious swirling leitmotifs. Delicious, breathy vocals imbue the lyrics with anxious flavors of enveloping rapture.

“You make me nervous and now I’m / Slurring my words and it’s like you / Do it on purpose and I / Nah nah nah / Twist the chain on my necklace / Try not to throw up my breakfast and / I’m obsessively trying to hide.”

Overflowing with infectious rhythmic beats, polychromatic surfaces, and stylish pop savors, “nervous” evokes the sensation of a first crush.

joan

Run Time: 2:58
Release Date: January 25, 2023
Record Label: Photo Finish Records

U.S. Tour Dates (purchase tour tickets here):

May 13 – The Masquerade (Hell Stage): Atlanta, GA
May 14 – The Basement East: Nashville, TN
May 16 – Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
May 17 – The Lounge @ World Cafe: Philadelphia, PA
May 19 – The Black Cat: Washington DC
May 20 – The Sinclair: Boston, MA
May 23 – The Velvet Underground, Toronto, ON
May 25 – Subterranean: Chicago, IL
May 31 – Parish: Austin, TX
June 1 – Club Dada: Dallas, TX
June 3 – Valley Bar: Phoenix, AZ
June 4 – Voodoo Room @ HOB: San Diego, CA
June 6 – Constellation Room: Santa Ana, CA
June 7 – Teragram Ballroom: Los Angeles, CA
June 8 – Popscene @ Rickshaw Shop: San Francisco, CA
June 10 – Polaris Hall: Portland, OR
June 11 – Barboza: Seattle, WA
June 13 – Soundwell: Salt Lake City, UT
June 14 – Larimer Lounge: Denver, CO
June 16 – Little Rock Music Hall: Little Rock, AR

Artwork for the album ‘superglue’ by joan