Review: "Mean Something" - Filiah

Emitting the feeling that it knows you as well as you know yourself, “Mean Something” from artist Filiah feels like a missing puzzle piece of emotion that you’ve finally found after endless searching. “Mean Something” depicts the story of a split, once-was relationship that still clings to Filiah, showcasing the struggle of having remaining romantic feelings toward an ex-partner as well as the fight with oneself to determine the current meaning of this connection. While Filiah battles with herself to understand the situation and where they stand now, the emotion behind “Mean Something” explodes in sound. While “Mean Something” carries an indie, alternative, relaxed vibe in its scaled-back, casual guitar and slow drumbeat, Filiah adds emphasis in her voice and the backing track when it appears as though she is speaking directly to her ex-partner. The line, “I always feel what you feel”, seems almost as if it’s an entirely different message than the lines above, showcasing her intense feelings toward this person rather than reflecting on the impact of the breakup on her. The earlier lines above transition from discussion of Filiah feeling like a “daydream”, a “failure”, or a “ghost”, to ultimate questions of what this situation now truly means for them. Still left with questions about their relationship and why she was left for someone else, Filiah lets her emotions play out throughout the track as she examines what to do for both of them moving forward, as they continue to struggle to understand how to let one another go.

“Mean Something” takes descriptive, intricate details and uses them to bring a song to the table that feels as though you’re reading a novel or watching a film. The track begins with Filiah detailing that time has passed since this connection was split, but that time hasn’t washed away the pain left behind. “I guess I haven’t forgiven, just forgot” showcases just how deep and confusing this hurt is, as Filiah explores how to now navigate this situation with no help but her own. By the chorus, “Mean Something” has taken on a whole new meaning with a message that is pointed both in the way it sounds and is written. Lines such as, “I knew you better than you did” and “I knew you’d let it happen” pack punches that you feel in your chest, and properly show the depth of this relationship without needing to give more insight. While they may say one thing, upon examination lines like these tell the audience that there’s much more that meets the eye (or, in this case, ear), and that this relationship is deep and impactful. Reminding me of the sound and emotion within songs such as “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac and “Pushing It Down and Praying” by Lizzy McAlpine, “Mean Something” is a force of well-crafted songwriting and a combination of pop & indie excellence that takes a negative situation and turns it into another world for listeners to explore.

Filiah is an Austrian indie-folk artist. Weaving intimate storytelling and delicate arrangements together, Filiah describes her music as “indie folk with a glittery sparkle of pop”. Raised by a single mother immersed in and loving of music, Filiah started her music journey from her mother’s car where they would partake in daily “carpool karaoke” sessions. During challenging times, she found a safe & sacred space with her mother through these rides where they would dive into Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Diana Krall, etc. From an early age, Filiah began diving into the world of music and found her voice, putting on shows for her mother who encouraged and helped her. By the time she became a teenager, Filiah was laying groundwork for her eclectic musical journey through an obsession with Paramore to now being inspired by artists like Phoebe Bridgers, boygenius, and St. Vincent. Now, Filiah aims with her music to create songs where it feels as though you’re in a “little home where you’re understood and cared for”.

Written By Madison Spies

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