joan Releases New Album, ‘superglue’
joan, the acclaimed alternative pop duo, has finally released their much-awaited debut album superglue, after working on it for over three years. The album is accompanied by visuals for the title track and follows their popular EPs – portra, cloudy, hi, and bye. superglue takes the listener on an existential journey, inspired by the duo’s recent transition into fatherhood.
With their album superglue, the duo have shared their most personal music to date. Life shaped the subject mater like never before and joan have crafted an undeniably cathartic, candid and expansive indie pop album. “We naturally felt comfortable in the world of love songs,” says Steven. “This time, we were like, ‘Let’s get more personal’. We both had babies in the past year. We’ve grown more than we have in a long time. It’s so cool watching your baby crawl for the first time and see the world. It organically informed the writing. The whole body of work is so personal—like we’re giving a piece of ourselves to listeners. It’s by far the most special thing we’ve done.”
The album’s standout tracks include the emotive and nostalgic single “flowers,” which explores the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of personal growth and change. The song’s wistful acoustic guitar riffs and heartfelt melodies are complemented by cinematic synths, making it a poignant and significant musical release. Another notable track is “loner,” which captures the feeling of being an outsider and the internal struggle of imposter syndrome from an autobiographical standpoint. The song features a hypnotic hook and fervent pop-rock soundscapes, making it an irresistible listen.
Their single, “nervous,” evokes a sense of nostalgia as it transports listeners back to their schoolyard memories of experiencing their first crush. This kind of infatuation can trigger a range of intense emotions, and “nervous” brilliantly captures the thrilling yet unsettling feeling of intoxication that comes with it. The honey-dipped vocals, unique kaleidoscope of sounds, including beatboxing, clapping, and lush acoustics, make this single all the more enticing.
The title track, “superglue,” features one of the most powerful, poignant, and poetic moments on the record, as it speaks to Joan’s fatherly bond. According to Alan, as new dads, they wanted to write a song for their girls, conveying that they are like superglue – the people that their daughters can run to when they are sad or want to share happy moments. While the song is specifically about their relationship with their children, it can resonate with anyone who deeply cares about someone. “superglue” is a heartwarming tribute to the special bond between a parent and child.
In the end, joan elicit a reaction through simply being joan. “I’d love for our name to be synonymous with our sound,” Alan leaves off. “We hope you hear this album and go, ‘That’s the best first joan record they could’ve possibly mustered up’. At the same time, I hope it encourages you to ask questions and know it’s okay not have an answer to everything. The human experience is very nuanced. It’s not all black-and-white; it’s okay to live in the gray. We’ve found joy and peace in there. Maybe our music gives you a little bit of joy in the middle of chaos.”
What did you think of the new album? Check out the full album below! Stay tuned to MusicOnTheRox.com for all your music news and reviews.