Janelane - “Goodbye To Heartache”
After a relatively quiet few years, Janelane came roaring back in 2020 with the release of a killer, emotionally-charged tune called “14 Days.” Sophie Negrini, the Los Angeles based songwriter behind the project, has been on a bit of a tear since then, releasing two great follow-ups: a gentle, lovesick ballad called “Flowers From Athens,” and “Celebrity Crush,” an up-tempo, sugary ode to unrequited celebrity puppy love. Both tracks appear on Janelane’s first-ever 7-inch vinyl, which I highly encourage you to grab via Kingfisher Bluez, as they sound incredible on wax!
Today, Negrini is back with her second single of 2021, “Goodbye To Heartache,” which we’re excited to premiere here on Look At My Records! Up until this point, Janelane’s recent output has focused on the pain of heartache and unrequited love. Here, Negrini definitely dissects those emotions again, as she recounts sleepless nights “left lying awake, counting my mistakes” and the pain of knowing that your strong feelings for someone else just aren’t quite mutual. However, on “Goodbye To Heartache,” the focus shifts a bit towards mustering the will to plot a new course forward, with lyrics that capture how challenging, but necessary, that next step can be: “Try my best to say goodbye to heartache. Telling myself I’m okay with dancing alone.”
Musically, the song is about as catchy as anything I’ve heard all year, and in that way, it establishes a lively countering force to the lyrics. Some bouncy analog-sounding synths start things off, leading into a faint, jangly guitar riff that kicks in just before the chorus, which is where the hooks reside. Right as Negrini sings, “Try my best to say..” the instrumentation swells. The snare drum starts to stomp, the harmonies blossom and add an air of sweetness, that aforementioned lead guitar sneaks in a little more jangle, and the synths are a bit elastic, moving from springy and full to a more dramatic line that segues into the verses that follow. The verses are where Negrini’s voice takes control, and it’s also where her words are the most scenic setting, allowing listeners to really visualize and relate to the specific experiences she describes: “Mirror pep talks leave me laughing / From the way, I seem to choke / On my false assurance of myself / ‘Cause to, you I’m a joke.” All told, Negrini continues to display her mastery in crafting clean-sounding guitar pop on “Goodbye To Heartache” in a way that’s reminiscent of power pop powerhouses like Marshall Crenshaw, Matthew Sweet, and Juliana Hatfield. Turn it up and sing along!
Stream the track below! The song is also available to purchase on Bandcamp. You can also stream the track on your platform of choice, including Spotify. Keep up with Janelane by liking them on Facebook and following them on Instagram.
Catch Janelane performing at The Echo in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 31st with Egg Drop Soup and Poppy Jean Crawford. Get your tickets here!
Photo by Natasha Ribeiro-Austrich
