Junior Varsity's new single, "New York," is one scream away from feeling in love, and that feeling is one of the things that you're afraid of in a city where things never stop. On their new single, "New York," LA-based trio Junior Varsity cocreates the nerve-wracking thrill of courtship in a town that rewards fleeting, alchemical stakes. Filled out by the trio of Greg Aram, Zach Michel, and Brooke Danaher, the band swaps its customary high-flying bluster for a more meditative approach, facing the up-and-down cycle of two people caught in the eye of an emotional storm.
"New York" is a tense back-and-forth where the feelings simmer beneath the surface. Futuristic garage sonics, pulsating rhythms, and spiraling guitar lines give the lyrics a hint of fear and hesitation: "You say you don't want it" also has the ring of a plea laced with denial. It's that emotional push-and-pull of giving yourself over to love but keeping yourself in check for fear of getting hurt, something anyone who has ever gotten in over their head can relate to.
Along with the single is a stunning Dillon Cohen-directed video that embraces chaos. It begins with two kids spinning Beyblades on a casino floor, then dives into the whirring toy itself, where Junior Varsity and others are flung about against the walls, helpless to the momentum. It's a startling metaphor. Love is like life in that it can be dizzying, unpredictable, and a little dangerous, yet it's the ride of a lifetime.