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Pejah Carr

Review: "bad sign" (feat. Almost July) - OAKLND




OAKLND's 'bad sign' is the perfect summer breakup song to replay over and over until we simply have no tears left to cry. Featuring indie-pop artist Almost July, this single works to ease our throbbing heartaches and fresh wounds even though we often tell ourselves "I'm fine". As we put on our headphones, close our eyes, and stare at our ceilings with a variety of emotions, 'bad sign' gives us the urge to sullenly nod our heads up and down to its catchy beat. As soon as the listener begins to feel themselves sink into the sound and lose track of time, the bass kicks in, interrupting our sulking session and snapping us back to reality. Grieving the loss of a relationship, OAKLND and Almost July produce a summer anthem with a catchy, yet melancholic melody of a heart stuck in the past. Despite knowing that the lingering thoughts in our heads are a “bad sign”, our hearts can’t help but get swept up in the sentimental sound of one of summer’s most vulnerably honest breakup songs.





From the comforting rhythm to the painfully genuine lyrics, it can be said that 'bad sign' is not your average breakup song. From the very first moment you hit play, the smooth, slow-tempo pace is able to transport the the listener into a state of saddened tranquility. The distant synth paired with the steady bass creates a heavy, lasting vibe that allows the listener's mind to wander and face their unresolved feelings. Throughout the song, OAKLND sings woefully, and when Almost July joins in, the two work together to produce a somber echo with their voices. The raw vocals simulate the voices in our heads that are constantly reminding us that even if something isn't good for us, one can't help but spiral into that emotional distress. Just when we've gotten acclimated to the broken-hearted mood, OAKLND strikes us with a strong bass and impactful energy shift when the song nears its end, hitting close to home. While the lyrics capture the inner turmoil of the lovesick romantic, the instrumental gives us a distraction from the pain of knowing that sometimes things don't work out no matter how much love and time we invest in our partners. OAKLND's 'bad sign' directly confronts our tender feelings but still proves that there is peace to be found in our solitude.



OAKLND is a UK-based singer-songwriter that has gradually accumulated fans from all over the world! Coming onto the alt-pop scene just a couple of years ago, the upcoming artist has gained over 5k monthly listeners on Spotify, with one of his most popular singles 'guess ur doing fine' reaching over 135k streams! In other words, we look forward to hearing more "dreamy west coast sad pop" songs from OAKLND in the future. The NYC band, Almost July, has also began to make recent waves in the indie-pop scene with their 2022 single 'not ur type' surpassing 200k streams on Spotify alone! As both artists work to expand their discography, 'bad sign' gives us a sneak peek into their upcoming EP titled 'older'. OAKLND and Almost July steadily boost our anticipation with this recent release, and their growing audiences can't wait to see more collaborations from them in the future! In the meantime, you can listen to their new single, 'older', and keep tabs on both artists by checking out the socials below!


Written By Pejah Carr



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