Review: "Suburbia" - Emily James
- Tessa Maddaloni
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Capturing the haunting feeling a first love leaves you with even years later is no easy feat, and yet Emily James’ latest song “Suburbia” does just this. The first and only released track on James’ upcoming six song project “Summer Nostalgia”, “Suburbia” sets the stage between the two past lovers, recounting the love they used to share when they were young and carefree. She details classic tales of teenage romance, sneaking out into midnights together, and buying cheap alcohol with fake IDs. She wonders if he remembers these things too, and thinks about them as much as she does. The soundscape is simplistic and really lends the listeners to focus on the picture being painted by James’ lyrics. In the intro and outro, there are harmonies layers and soaring vocals, but other than that there is little masking the James’ storyline.
What makes this song so enticing and heartfelt is the real life examples that James litters throughout the lyrics. She sings wistfully about the time they swam in the warm river after drinking the aforementioned cheap alcohol, and milestones in their relationship so deep in their memories. In the second verse, she sings “Did they give away the leather couch? / The red one where we first made out?” It has been so long that her ex’s parents have moved out of the childhood house they spent so much time in, but the memories and landmarks remain in her head. In the chorus, she asks if he thinks about her as much as she does, explaining, “'Cause in my mind it's glorified / You and I, together, ohh / 'Cause in my mind we have more time / To dance with each other”. She feels as if their time was not up, and the end of the song slowly fades out with one last question she can’t help but ask “Does it have a hold on you?”.
Emily James is a singer-songwriter born and raised in New York. She recently moved back there after spending time in Los Angeles and in London. She credits her return home and the nostalgia she endured as the inspiration behind “Summer Nostalgia”, as it highlights the feeling of returning to a place you once knew, and all of the emotions that come with this. The excitement of returning home, the flood back of amazing memories, but the heartbreak of all that has changed in the time you were away. James has a similar musical style to that of Maggie Rogers and Holly Humberstone, a light voice and calming soundscapes tied with heartfelt lyrics. Make sure to follow the social medias below to stay tuned for more music from Emily James.
Written By Tessa Maddaloni
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