“Backseat” is the focus track of Liang Lawrence’s latest EP “What’s Dead And Gone”. I last reviewed her 2024 single “Use Me”, which is now part of this EP, and I am so glad to say that I am excited to be back to listen to “Backseat”. Painting a picture of childhood, this track gently combines indie, neo-folk, and alt pop as the personal details of a coming-of-age story are spelled by its elegant songwriting. Growing up is always tough, but a particularly rough part is when we begin to realize that we need to shed the ideals that we had for the people around us. The dawning knowledge that everyone is human, and that even the people we’ve looked up to are just regular folks, might make us freeze and feel like we’ve been left behind. But, it’s simply a part of life, being in that vulnerable place; “Backseat” is a dedication to moving past this and reflecting on it.
“Backseat” is a gorgeous mixture of all the best parts of indie, folk, and alt pop; you’ve got these soft acoustic strings, light synth, and temperate percussion to match. Everything about the song’s soundscape is just so gentle, like a comforting gesture. It’s a hug, a hand held, or a smile– the instrumental’s kindness is highlighted throughout the runtime as it swells during the chorus, but eventually makes room for Liang’s vocals to spotlight them. An especially lovely moment between the instrumentals and vocals was around 2:45 when the soundscape plays with the negative space of sound. The emptiness of it, with only guitar strings to fill it, along with Liang’s vocals, underscores the songwriting and the meaning behind its words. Liang’s songwriting is always superb, and of course “Backseat” is no exception. The narrator tells the story of a person they once looked up to, someone who helped tie their shoes, ride a bike, and scared away the monsters beneath their bed. We’re not told exactly what this person did, except that the narrator has lost faith in them. The rose-tinted glasses are gone, and the narrator asks, “If you loved me / why’d you leave me / in the backseat?” I adored the metaphor that came with this imagery: the narrator saying, “roll the windows down / so I know.” If the closed windows represent the narrator’s belief in this person, then the act of opening them is the realization and the understanding that they were not who they thought they were. It’s a really beautiful piece of writing. “Backseat” is both technically and poetically fantastic, its composition in all facets being an excellent illustration of what it means to come to terms with how your childhood may not have been everything you thought it was. And that's okay.
Liang Lawrence is a singer-songwriter whose music has a comforting quality to it that allows for everyone to find themselves in it. Due to her having grown up in eight different countries before eighteen, Liang’s ability to find home no matter where she is draws people toward her musical stylings, which are filled with stories that represent the messiness of everyday life. She debuted in 2020 with her single “Santa Cruz”, and has gone on to release many more singles, as well as two EPs. Her most recent EP released in 2024, entitled “What’s Dead and Gone”, of which “Backseat” is the third track. The track’s singles “Eulogy”, “Use Me”, and “If Only” have seen much support from BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing, Radio X, and many more. On September 12th, she will celebrate the album with her debut headline show at London’s O’Meara where she will perform the EP’s tracks and more with her full live band. You should absolutely drop Liang a follow if you enjoyed the track, and definitely give the rest of the album a listen!
Written By Alexa Leung
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