Recommended Tracks: “Lately”, “Waste It All”, “The End”
Artists You May Like: Bazzi, Khalid, Jeremy Zucker
We are made to believe that every couple holding hands and posting cute relationship pictures are happy in love. Their smiles, the way they look at each other – they must always be having the time of their lives, right? What if they’re not? As sad as it might seem, there are times when couples are going to fight, when they are going to lose the love they felt so strongly for each other in the beginning. It is definitely not planned or intended, but it is a real thing that happens, and it is the story that James Hersey so poignantly tells us on his first full album, Fiction.
The first few tracks on the album get into the infatuation and euphoria that occur in the early stages of a relationship. Quasi-disco tracks “Closer” and “Souvenir,” for instance, touch on that need to be with someone and enjoy all of life’s moments with them – anything else would be unacceptable. James builds on this concept even more on “Lately,” where he confesses his innermost thoughts over passionate Spanish-style guitar. You can feel the fire when James sings, “All I think about is you / No matter what I do,” and admits, “You are the one that saves me,” but cannot ignore the feeling that trouble might be brewing in paradise.
This feeling escalates halfway through Fiction, when James starts to toss around words like “wrong,” “problems,” and “excuses.” While the electropop artist does not get into specifics, he does give us the tension and disappointment. After hearing about a silent stand-off in the car “while the lights on the road go by” on “Waste It All,” we also hear James try to patch things up on the subsequent “Between Us.” He takes the blame on this one, finding it hard to believe that he lost sight of everything he has been through with this girl and everything they have. Just as we think the worst is over, though, we hear otherwise on the dramatic “The End,” where the delicate string work cuts like a knife.
The final few tracks on the album try to make sense of the break up, sifting through feelings like hate, jealousy, and hope. Both “Yesterday” and “Full Of Yourself” are full of negativity and disgust for the girl who broke his heart, with James observing, “You don’t care for anyone else” and “You’re so damn full of yourself.” After airing out some of these thoughts, James gets back on track on “For Your Love,” proud to find his worth again. It would have been great to end things right there, but also too easy. The folksy “Upside Down” brings things to a somber close, with questions and doubt that this girl is better off with someone else.
Each stage of Fiction takes a close look at the way love can make us feel towards others, separating what one could fantasize is happening in a relationship from what is actually going on. The pure quality of James’s tone and the charming melodies and rhythms that unfold in each track make for a lightness that enables listeners to feel closer to what they are hearing – it is as if James is confiding in you rather than frustratingly venting about a sticky situation. If anything, fans should be able to take important life lessons from the album, such as acceptance of certain choices and an appreciation for the things that make us better people.
You can listen to Fiction on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
Keep up with James Hersey: Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Website
