Australian pop trio PEPTALK and Canada’s ELLES have teamed up to create the soft pop single “Timezones.” Oozing with charisma and excitement, the collaboration balances the fears of homesickness with bright guitars and stunning vocal harmonies.
The fast pace of “Timezones” is strikingly appointed in the intro with a fun, doubled guitar. The light yet brash guitars are soon accompanied by some ethereal backing harmonies by Jay-Lee Kwan, Lara Frew and Phoebe Sinclair. The soft vocals can be barely heard, yet they add a smooth texture against the sharp guitars. A drum machine enters in the first chorus with a tight and crunchy sound that ups the excitement even more and channels the modern tones of G-Flip. An electric guitar solo during and after the final chorus serves as a nice sendoff for “Timezones” with the harshness of the electric guitar giving contrast to the acoustic.
This upbeat instrumentation is undercut by the somber lyrics about homesickness and being away from loved ones. The line “we’re both making memories individually” heartbreakingly highlights the juxtaposition between achievement and isolation. In the chorus, the line “I won’t let myself get lost in you” shows an independence despite these struggles, emphasising both the fears of change but the desire for it. These lyrics playfully toe the line between being too literal and too poetic, giving listeners a fun grey area to engulf themselves in.
“Timezones” by PEPTALK and ELLES is an unforeseen collaboration that has worked out well for both artists. The pop artists from Australia and Canada play to each other’s strengths well and it results in a fun and catchy tune.
