Singer-songwriter Jenny Baker’s new single, “Person That You Need,” off of her latest EP of the same name, is a love letter to her younger self that reframes her thinking into sonic optimism. Soft piano leads listeners into the song as Baker details, “Some random day in 5th grade / When I looked into the mirror / I saw flaws I’d never seen before”. Though the track’s lyrics are steeped in a melancholic luminescence, Baker’s refrain veers into optimism as a device to rewrite her narrative.
The song touches upon the experience of wishing better for one’s younger self, and tells Baker’s own story through both despondent yet hopeful lines such as, “At 12 I needed who I was at 17 / At 17 I needed me at 23 / If I could travel back in time / I’d tell myself that it’s alright”. The piano instrumental begins slowed and sorrowful-sounding, but possesses a bright, almost jumpy quality that accompanies the duality of her lyrics. Her deeply confessional storytelling strikes a chord with often ubiquitous themes of change, forgiveness for oneself and reassurance in the face of uncertainty.
You can listen to “Person That You Need” on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
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