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Cheyenne Johnson

Review: "I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" - Only The Poets




Preceding the release of their summer EP, One More Night, Only The Poets have delivered another sneak peek with their latest single, "I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend." The track is one of 7 new songs coming out June 7th, accompanied by singles "One More Night" and "Gone By Now." "I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" was co-written and produced by the band themselves, spinning a narrative that seems to revolve around some unrequited love. The lyrics suggest two individuals wanting different things with the lead singer saying, "I know how you feel/And I just wanted something real/So could, you please just let me be." It seems that the other person wants to be friends after what happened between them, leading the singer to repeat the titular line, "I Don't Wanna Be Friends," throughout the track.





Moody yet catchy, Only The Poets have created a captivating dark synth-pop soundscape to accompany the brooding lyrics in "I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend." The song combines infectious beats with unforgettable melodies, making the track one to play on repeat. Describing the inspiration for the song's sound, frontman Tommy Longhurst states, "We’ve taken a lot of our influences from current pop intertwined with Brit-pop and experimented with vocal layers and harmonies. At the back of our minds, we’re constantly thinking about how these songs will sound live. We really wanted to go for that big, expansive stadium filler sound."


Rising alt-pop four-piece Only The Poets have been making waves in the music industry, quickly establishing themselves as one of the UK's biggest emerging live acts. The band is comprised of members Tommy Longhurst (lead vocals), Andy "Roo" Burge (bassist), Clem Cherry (guitarist), and Marcus Yates (drums), creating music together since their EP debut in 2021. Unsigned until the beginning of 2023, Only The Poets prided themselves on their DIY abilities, building their career from the ground up. They evolved from playing pub circuits, student house parties, and small gigs to selling out 1,600 capacity venues in the UK and across Europe last year. 2024 has seen Only The Poets take on a massive run of 22 European shows, spanning venues across the continent including ones in Milan, Krakow, Berlin, Prague, Oslo and Krakow. Coinciding with the release of their new EP, Only The Poets will embark on a UK tour in June. Shaping up to be quite the year for the band, Only The Poets have given much for their fans to look forward to in 2024!


Written By Cheyenne Johnson



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