The Mancunian singer-songwriter Lusaint captures that emotional push and pull with raw elegance on her new single, “Joking.” This familiar anthem explores the soft pain of holding onto love after it’s ceased to feel right. “Joking” glides into the ear from its first beat like a whispered confession. Honey-sweet vocals that are equally soothing and haunting glide easily across crisp drum rhythms and polished guitar work. It’s a song that shows its exposure and never disowns its cool.
What gives “Joking” such quietly explosive power is its familiarity. Lusaint leans into a moment we all know, the quiet understanding that love no longer holds the currency, but staying behind is easier than confronting reality. That hushed skepticism settles into the once-luminous expanse of a connection, the unexpressed collegiate exhaustion of not being adequately witnessed by the one who once understood you best.
“Joking” is for the unspoken words, the moments of doubt. It’s about holding onto something because it feels familiar, even when you’re not seen the way you want. That intent imbues every line and melody, making this one of her most emotionally resonant releases. On its surface, “Joking” dabbles in more pop-leaning territory for Lusaint but retains the soulful DNA you have grown accustomed to. The production is sleek, but everything feels there for a reason, from the subtle grooves of the percussion to the shimmer of the guitar lines, which ring out like unanswered questions.
This song reminds us of Lusaint’s flexibility as a singer with a distinctive vocal color and as a storyteller willing to delve into the muddy middle of human connection. She doesn’t offer us neat tidings or fairy-tale endings. Instead, she presents us with the truth in music’s clothes. “Joking” is the type of song you’ll hit repeat on when you’re stuck trying to understand your silence. And that, in many ways, is Lusaint’s greatest strength, finding clarity in the grey areas and couching them in songs.
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