Boyband never knows best Out Now Via Dirty Hit, Reveals Newest Focus Track please don’t waste my time (ft. No Rome)
“[boyband] suggests the third wave of the emo-rap revival is here” – New York Times
“a vision of the future of alternative” – AFROPUNK
“boyband’s music is meant to be cathartic – both for himself and his listeners” – Hollywood Life
“boyband mixes Midwestern emo and contemporary rap in his genre-defying release” – Alternative Press
“the perfect fusion of nostalgia and hip-hop’s growing penchant for late-stage emo” – Ones To Watch
Grammy nominated producer/creator boyband has released never knows best, his sophomore project which zooms in on the complicated feelings associated with growing up. Accompanying the project’s release is please don’t waste my time (ft. No Rome), the newest focus track for boyband.
“please don’t waste my time” joins “birth by sleep” and “by myself,” – both previously released from never knows best – to form a trilogy tucked within boyband’s emotionally-charged project that magnifies how quickly dependency can send a blossoming relationship into a toxic and destructive spiral. “birth by sleep” and “by myself” create a captivating one-two punch of pop and punk, highlighting boyband’s dynamic ability to entangle the intricacies of hip hop, power-pop, and indie. Balancing a melancholy message – the struggle to overcome hopelessness borne from the fear of rejection – with mischievously catchy summer-pop songwriting, “birth by sleep” is juxtaposed by the frenzied and frantic atmosphere of second chapter, “by myself,” which parallels the apprehension, anxiety, and fear of being alone that the narrator experiences following an unexpected breakup. Meanwhile, “please don’t waste my time” makes it clear that hope is not lost.
Elsewhere on never knows best is “fooly cooly,” which navigates the personality, mentality, and psyche of troubled FLCL character Mamimi Samejima. The philosophical title of the project was inspired by Mamimi who scribbles the words never knows best on her cigarette. Throughout the project’s 10 tracks, boyband uses his lyrics to speak candidly about depression and the intense experiences of indifference, despondency, and social fatigue often felt by young adults in an effort to normalize these conversations. never knows best has garnered support from the likes of Hollywood Life, All Things Go, AFROPUNK, and Alternative Press who included boyband in their 40 New Artists You Need To Know feature.
The exploration of Mamimi’s character arc isn’t the first time that anime has stirred boyband to create. “death note” (feat. Billy Martin of Good Charlotte) – which appeared on his emotionally charged, 10-track project, alone in a boyband – was influenced by the 37-episode anime series and manga series of the same name.
Like the art that inspired them, “fooly cooly” and “death note” use deeply profound storytelling to expand and normalize the conversation surrounding the trouble spots in society experienced by teens today. The intimate and unique connections between boyband and his fans has allowed him to create a community-like platform through his songs, like “by myself,” “birth by sleep,” “tattoo,” “realtree” and “big face” (ft. Mike Kinsella), where fans can bond as they transition from teenagers into independent adults.
never knows best Track Listing
stitches
irl
close
fooly cooly
how 2 say ur in love
by myself
birth by sleep
please don’t waste my time ft. No Rome
hold me over
Jordan year
