Review: "Previous Problems" - JOA
- Sydney Gray
- Mar 12
- 2 min read
"Previous Problems" is the titular track to JOA's debut EP, released on March 7, 2025. This five-track project tells a narrative about teenage life, tackling topics like love, friendship, anxiety, and heartbreak, as written between the ages of 16 to 19. "Previous Problems" stands out as a testament to young love and our desire to avoid conflict in relationships. Fans of artists like Julia Michaels and Phoebe Bridgers, this is the perfect addition to your streaming library, as JOA shows off her strength in crafting a song that is both deeply personal and universally relatable in its simple, tender lyricism about growing up.
At the heart of JOA's first EP is the bittersweet track, "Previous Problems," which was written as a way to process the complicated emotions she was going through. It is about sweeping problems under the rug to preserve a relationship. For those who have felt the push and pull of young love, the lyrics about dancing around the problems and keeping things to yourself because you do not want to break out into a fight will resonate deeply. The dynamic between the couple in this track culminates in the bridge, where JOA sings about the constant back-and-forth between them disagreeing and fighting. This honest, storytelling lyricism is driven with dynamic instrumentation and infectious pop hooks.
JOA is an Oslo-born artist who put out her first single, "I Don't Want Nobody But Your Body" in September 2024. Her debut EP, Previous Problems, recounts her experience as a teenager, closing that chapter of life so that the now 20 year old can propel forward in her music. With authentic lyricism and rich vocals, she definitely stands out as an artist to watch, already amassing over 76,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. If you enjoyed this track, make sure to listen to the rest of the EP. You can also keep up with all the latest information on JOA and her music by following the social media links below.
Written By Sydney Gray
FOLLOW JOA:
