Wallows is made up of Dylan Minnette (lead vocalist), a well-loved actor who you might know as Clay Jensen from 13 Reasons Why, Braeden Lemasters (guitarist, vocalist), and Cole Preston (drummer, vocalist). Wallows has been one of my favorite bands since their first single, “Pleaser,” was released in 2017. “Pleaser” remains one of my favorite songs by them to this day, but I’ve loved watching them grow and change into new shifts in trends and musical dynamism. I have listened to every song they’ve put out since religiously (including scouring YouTube for their rare, unreleased, leaked songs).
However, any Wallows fan knows that it’s been not one, but two years since the band has released anything. Not a snippet of a song has been shared on W3 (their, as of yet untitled, third studio album), and we haven’t heard a single thing from them musically since their 2022 second album, Tell Me That It’s Over, was released. So imagine my shock, joy, and excitement when they posted on Instagram about the upcoming release of their new song, “Your Apartment.”
Wallows has gone through many changes but they’ve theoretically kept the same underlying sound throughout their many years as a band. Their first singles don’t sound too different from the songs on their 2019 first studio album, Nothing Happens.
The only time I’ve noticed a real shift in their overall sound was during the COVID era when they released their Remote EP. Personally, I really liked this EP. To my surprise, the consensus shared on social media presented opposing reactions. Personally, I really liked this EP when I first heard it but after checking social media, the consensus was decidedly the opposite of my opinion. Everyone complained about how it sounded like a completely different band, too electronic and autotuned. They were forced to record and release this album entirely remotely, hence the title. Of course it’s not going to sound as professional. However, haters will be haters and I can’t deny that there is a clear difference in sound between this EP and their previous and later albums, singles, and other EPs.
However, Tell Me That It’s Over put out some of their absolute best songs and every Wallows fan breathed a sigh of relief that it still sounded like the old them. I saw them in concert in 2022 and had the time of my life, standing at the barricade after an hours-long wait to see Dylan Minnette’s face in 4K.
“Your Apartment” has been one of my most anticipated songs, and I played it the second it came out. First of all, let me clarify that I absolutely love it. They’ve never failed me, and I don’t think they ever will. However, if the rest of the third album matches this single, I feel we have an entirely new era incoming for Wallows.
The lyricism in this song, written by all three band members and Nate Mercereau is beautiful and haunting, very different and much more mature, than some of their previous albums. The chorus lines instantly struck me with their vague but passionate syntax.
For those who don’t know, Dylan Minnette went through a heartbreaking (for me) breakup with his long-time (ex) girlfriend, Lydia Night, about a year ago. While this devastated me, especially since I was at one of the last shows where they ever performed together, I was ready for the new era of music we would get out of this event. Everyone knew that a breakup era was coming, despite the fact that he is very happy with his new partner now. Even if it took a bit longer than expected, this song definitely speaks to that breakup vibe, with the chorus emphasizing the inability to get past your ex, even if it ended mutually.
Even the music video was very different from the past videos they’ve put out. There is a darker, somber tone to it with very navy blue colors, dim yellowish lights, and excessive shadows overlaying the entire thing. There isn’t a trace of a smile on anyone’s face as they sing out these dark lyrics and the entire thing is very haunting.
I’m personally excited for this new era of Wallows. I’m anxiously waiting for the album date to drop, the tour to be posted, and the loss of money in my wallet to be sent to the Wallows management team. I feel as they matured, so have I, and it’s so beautiful and bittersweet to grow up with a favorite band or artist that you’ve always listened to.
If you’ve never listened to their music before, please open up Spotify (or whatever you use) and queue up the Nothing Happens album right here, right now. There’s a good chance you have heard their hit song, “Are You Bored Yet (feat. Clairo),” but there’s so much more to them and their music.