Even when it makes sense logically to call it quits on a relationship, the body and mind can be up to some weird shit. Spatial memories of where one’s toothbrush was or how their body nestled into the crevices of a couch plague the mind while attempting to move on—it’s a funny time where you want your brain to not be so good at its job. This internal conflict is at the core of South Carolina trio Quality Time‘s latest single “Let Go” from their sophomore album Staring at the Ceiling From a Cold Bed. It’s all about the process of, well, letting go. And it’s catchy as hell.
Pounding drums, distorted fuzz, and melodic guitars paint a riotous background of heartache while lyrics reconcile loss even when the coffee tastes different. Pearson Parham sings about a freshly brewed pot made from an ex’s gifted French press: “But it tasted different than the cup you used to make me,” he quickly adds. That person’s specific touch is noticeably missing—but even amidst loss’s haunting nagging, Quality Time know it’s time to move forward.
“‘Let Go’ is about the period directly after a long-term relationship ends and all the emotions that follow,” Parham says about the track. “When you know being apart is for the best, but you haven’t fully weaned off the person yet.” Lead guitarist Kyle Grant adds: “As soon as Pearson showed Jonathan and I the framework of ‘Let Go,’ I immediately thought of Turnover’s 2013 LP Magnolia, which acted as an influence for my lead parts. The song’s pushing tempo is a juxtaposition to its melancholy lyrics; however, the pace provides some room for relief.”
Writing a song about heartbreak is ostensibly easy—the same goes for making a visual about heartbreak. “We spent a lot of time brainstorming concepts for our first music video and concluded that we were overthinking it,” says drummer Jonathan Vandersloot. Instead of capturing a long-term relationship, the video, made by the Animist, throws us into a missing cat narrative. It’s a charming visual leaving us with the notion that sometimes the answer is hiding in plain sight.
Watch “Let Go” below.
