It’s inevitable that some friends will eventually move away. Whether it’s for their career, a partner, or simply because they’ve outgrown their hometown, it’s hard to say goodbye to someone who you’ve spent so much time with kindling a bond. Jess Ball’s latest single “That Way” underscores the cocktail of emotions you might have when a good friend moves elsewhere, and how those feelings manifest in a long-distance friendship. It’s difficult balancing those emotions towards a friend that’s supposedly “moved on” with their life, both physically and mentally. On one hand, you’re so proud that they’re pursuing what they want in life, but on the other, you’re desperately jealous of the new friendships they’re forming without you around. Although you haven’t been excised from their life, it nonetheless feels like a goodbye. A delicate discussion on what it means to be proud yet envious of your friend’s new life, “That Way” is filled with evocative lyrics and smooth instrumentals, sweeping you into its soundscape as you sing along to its relatable songwriting.
For those of you who like that subtle, chiller pop sound, “That Way” is going to be your dream track. As for me, I’m a sucker for a killer bassline, and this track has it in spades. Just as the song starts, you’re greeted by this slick bassline that slowly makes way for Jess’ silky vocals, combining to create a soundscape that has tints of melancholy and rumination. When the chorus eventually comes along, the percussion and synth are ramped as the narrator poses a question to their friend while simultaneously answering it for themselves, asking, “Is it better over that way?”. The instrumentals and songwriting create the perfect blending for the song’s message, and I love the one-sided conversational feel that the track gives. The narrator wonders what their friend is getting up to in their new life, the new friends they’ve made and the paths they’ve carved, and tells the listeners of the seemingly selfish jealousy they feel at their absence; at the same time, they’re so proud of their friend and know that they should just be happy for them. But, above all else, the narrator misses them, and there is now a void where they previously lived. I really liked how the song concludes that although these complex and overlapping feelings are valid, it is still “better over that way”. “That Way” is a track that is having numerous conversations with itself, and I’m sure many listeners can relate to how the narrator is attempting to navigate the struggles of a long-distance friendship, all backgrounded by fantastic instrumentation that creates a reflective atmosphere.
Jess Ball is a Melbourne-based Australian singer-songwriter whose forays into music began in 2009 at eleven years old. Influenced and inspired by artists such as Cigarettes After Sex, Olivia Dean, and Massive Attack, Jess’ soundscapes are known for their blending of pop, indie rock, and hip-hop, altogether creating a unique indie pop sound. Jess’ made waves with her 2020 single “I Found You (Neptune)” in collaboration EDX, which reached number 1 on the Future House Beatport charts, as well as number 38 on SiriusXM’s Electro top songs of the year. 2022 saw the release of her debut album “Ripe” and was followed two years later in 2024 with her debut EP “Carnal Emotion”. Her next EP “Where You Go” is slated for release in early 2025, and “That Way” is kicking off this thrilling new chapter in her musical journey as she has recently signed with London-based project Melody Music. I encourage everyone to give Jess’ fantastic discography a good listen while we wait for 2025 to come around with the release of her next EP!
Written By Alexa Leung
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