While we’re still trying to find a way to get to Tokyo following West’s last release, he’s now blessed us with another single from his latest musical endeavors. The story that unfolds as the listener embarks on this journey with Julz is heart-wrenching and, most likely, all too familiar to some. The thought of completely opening yourself up to someone, telling them all your secrets, letting them in on everything that makes you you, all your insecurities, your strengths, weaknesses, shining a light on and inviting them into the deepest darkest crevices of your very being. And then, in the end, to have them stamp on your heart and break it worse than anyone else ever has after them vowing to “not be like the others” and you trusting their words, entrusting them with your heart, your thoughts, your emotions. That feeling is one that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but it does help one to learn more about themselves and what they want out of relationships, out of life.
The sound of a piece of paper being torn is the first sound the listener gets. The words begin with Julz admitting to feeling safe enough to trust this person with his secrets. That’s not a privilege that you just lavish on anyone, that status has to be earned. Julz sees this person as someone who can be trusted. The song is told in first person narrative and seems to serve as an open love letter to this person, reliving their relationship and telling his side of things. “I swore that I’d be open, vulnerable to the moment.” There’s that v word, vulnerable. This mental decision to open yourself up, despite past betrayals and heartbreaks is, again, not something you would just lavish on anyone. This person has shown you, in one way or another, that they won’t break your heart, that it could be different this time around. Although this is a sensitive subject to sing on, let alone speak on, the gentle quality of Julz’ voice just drives the point home even further and you really feel yourself being put in his shoes and sharing this experience. Perhaps the most gut-wrenching line in my humble opinion, and the one that I, unfortunately, relate to most is “Somehow, I still don’t hate ya.” This line completely destroys me because there’s no blurred lines here, this person has obliterated his heart, even after saying that they wouldn’t, but, West still can’t seem to hate them, they still hold a piece of his heart. It’s not like we’re angels on Earth, it’s just that when you really, truly love someone, that love doesn’t just dissipate due to transgressions, if you will, on their part. It’s also a rather confusing predicament to be in, loving someone who has wronged you so much, and trying to process and deal with being hurt by the person you love and not really understanding why the hate you “should” feel is nowhere to be found, there’s only love, still. West manages to craft a song that is sing-songy, melodic, as well as engaging and just overall, chill. It seems to suggest that West has made peace with the situation at hand but won’t soon forget that feeling of his heart being ripped apart and torn like paper by someone who he loved and trusted. Through this song, the listener gets a deep sense of the hurt West must be feeling from this person, even as the song ends. West sings of this person teaching him a love he never knew but then this same person turning around and breaking the heart, the bond that they’d built, as if it were nothing. Having the heart be symbolized by paper certainly helps to convey the absolute heartbreak of the situation as we all know that paper isn’t hard to tear, at all, and that, even after you put it back together (if that’s even possible), it will never be the same as it was when it was a whole piece of paper.
Julz West is a London-born singer/songwriter. With his beginnings being noted on YouTube, Julz has an ever-growing fan base. With his online following having already garnered hundreds of thousands of followers, it is expected that the numbers will continue to grow. West is credited with writing and producing for other artists as well as providing background vocals, namely for artists such as Ed Sheeran. West’s musical style is described as contemporary R & B, West is said to blend his Caribbean heritage into his music as well. West returns to our ears after a 5-year hiatus from music and has been cooking up some incredible songs. “paper.” is the latest release from West following a challenge for himself earlier this year that saw him writing a song a day for about two months, with it being apparent that it won’t be the last. If you’d like to hear more where “paper.” came from, follow West on all socials below!
Written By Keiunna Thompson
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