Review: "Even If It's a Lie" - JOA

Dynamic, energizing, and a beautiful mix of reality & fantasy, artist JOA brings an interesting love story to feast your ears upon in her single “Even If It’s a Lie”. Opening with a focus on strong vocals, JOA lays the story out without hesitation. The opening line, “Do you hate that I started talking about last night and our options?” immediately indicates that although love is still there, this relationship has been damaged and is at a crossroads. JOA intricately incorporates voice fluctuations to provide emphasis in certain areas, showcasing her emotion and stance in the relationship through talent and relatability. Though the love between these two may be manufactured by her partner, the pull toward them is so strong that JOA is willing to go along with the lie. This can be heard in the tone of “Even If It’s a Lie” as a whole, with the track instigating dance as well as overall having an upbeat nature. While its lyrics beg dire questions of her partner that would help identify where the relationship is truly at, the sound of “Even If It’s a Lie” has a lighthearted, playful energy & sound that makes you feel as though you’re returning to something comforting & familiar.

JOA’s ability to show the dynamics of a complex relationship through detailed songwriting and sound displays her ability to blend personal experience with musical outreach. While people don’t necessarily want to be dependent on someone, “Even If It’s a Lie” fully shows, with no reservations, what it feels like to be in love and feel lost without them. Love songs often ride the line between love & loss, showcasing mainly these sides alone, yet JOA is bringing a song to the table that shows a situation that is hanging in the balance between love & loss. This not only shows her talent to write songs that are authentic and unique, but additionally sets her apart from other pop artists. “Even If It’s a Lie” is a song that is honest and believable, all while feeling like a world apart from your own. JOA has an ability in this song to transport you to a story that isn’t your own, yet it feels familiar and as though it’s there to help you. As you continue to immerse yourself in her craft of “Even If It’s a Lie”, you will find yourself returning time & time again to hear her dynamic music abilities.

JOA is an Oslo-born Norwegian artist who has been honing her music abilities since her early teenage years. She blends a theatrical background with a talent that crafts relatable, heartfelt songs. Her debut single, “I Don’t Want Nobody But Your Body”, released in September 2024, offers a genuine connection for people across all age groups through a deeply personal reflection on heartbreak. Her debut EP, “Previous Problems”, released at the beginning of 2025, brought a narrative-rich exploration of growing up with an appeal aimed toward fans of artists such as Phoebe Bridgers and Julia Michaels. This debut showcases a rich command of songwriting, with lyrical orientation and an organic nature. JOA described the tracks off the EP as a result of deeply personal songwriting, displaying concepts that are all-too familiar and that others can relate to – including early romantic relationships, needing positive self-talk, and not knowing what you have until you no longer have it. With where she is now, this EP beautifully wrapped up her teenage years and has set her on a course to continue to explore her life and musical journey.

Written By Madison Spies

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