Joey Collins resurfaces with the rousing new single "Is This What We're Living For?", a boldly unfolding heart-on-sleeve journey. Blistering and beautiful in equal measure, this latest release reinforces that Collins is scoring the emotional storms we're all trying to weather.
The song creates palpable tension, an atmospheric mixture of electronic textures and gritty alternative rock that establishes the soundscape of what's to follow. It's strong, yes, but not for nothing. Collins walks the listener through life's ups and downs with panache, providing a song and a lived-in experience. The track doesn't rush. It Synths swirl as if kicked up like dust in the wake of a personal earthquake, guitars crash out and in like waves against the shore. Joey's singing is unpolished, pleading and defiant. You can hear the internal wrestling match questions about meaning, questions about struggle, and whether there's any light waiting for you if you make it through.
Then comes the shift. Touching the line in the song where it seems like it might fold under its emotional weight, the clouds open. The key changes. The progression of a major chord breaks through, and with it, victory. The sound punches through all the noise and emerges on the other side, bruised, perhaps, but unbroken.
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