Rocco & Frankie, an up-and-coming indie pop duo composed of two brothers, released their latest single “Not There” earlier this month.
The brothers draw heavy musical influence from the likes of Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson, and this is immediately evident in the new single through the glittery instrumentals and smooth vocals. The rhythmic background vocals and retro synths transport listeners back to discotheques of decades past, while a persistent drum beat and groovy guitar anchor the song in the present.
The lyrics confront feelings of uncertainty about a relationship, as the other person seems to be inconsistent. The repetition of the lyrics “I’m critical / I’m critical of you” and the line “but if I don’t have your heart or your mind / I can’t keep tellin’ myself that it’s right” reveal how the narrator really feels about this person. While this message certainly can come with a bit of anxiety, the Rocco & Frankie manage to smooth it out in their delivery to create an upbeat, danceable song nonetheless.
The accompanying music video leans into this cheeky energy, featuring the brothers playing the song in different silly outfits in their studio.
With a funky, nu-disco energy, “Not There” belongs on your feel-good playlist that’ll lead you through spring and into summer.
