This Month on Repeat: My Blood by Twenty One Pilots
Untitled | Kylie Akia
Raise your hand if you’re one of those people who listen to one song on repeat over and over again until you find a new song to become obsessed with.
Twenty One Pilots’ newest album, Trench, dropped on October 5th. It’s a pretty decent album; one of the pros being how cohesive it is. Each song blends beautifully into the next, and there is no tone whiplash. The concept behind the album is also really rad - as with all their albums - since it is unapologetic and unafraid to delve into sensitive topics such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. This album seems to focus on recovery, and those moments when you slip backwards, but keep forcing yourself to move forward.
“This single song takes you on a journey: one that is full of love, longing, and even pain.”
Some of the cons? It’s hard not to compare it to the energy of their last two albums, Blurryface and Vessel, both of which have higher energy. If it came down to it, I’d play the former two albums. With those, there is a push-and-pull, moments of softness and contemplation but also struggle and high-stakes. Don’t get me wrong-- I love the sound of Trench, and I am all for artists growing and changing. But when it comes to a full-length album, having the full range of emotions is essential.
“You don’t need to run… Stay with me, stay with me… I’ll go with you.”
That is the reason why My Blood has been on repeat since October 5th. This single song takes you on a journey: one that is full of love, longing, and even pain. Most interpretations of this song believe it is about sibling love, hence “my blood,” and I feel that. I sent the song to my older brother because it made me think of him. However, the song also makes me think of my not-blood-related loved ones who have helped me through tough times.
Because that’s what this song is about. It’s about relationships and being there for people you love. “You don’t need to run… Stay with me, stay with me… I’ll go with you.” As the music grows and as the chorus repeats, this message feels more and more urgent with Joseph’s singing and Dunn’s drum playing and the layers of sound that are continuously added, until finally there is a resolution of sound, when all we hear is the beat of the drum. This resolution is so important. The drum beats incredibly poignant as it gives a sense of closure, a sense that you are not alone, that someone will stay with you and walk beside you in the dark.
If you haven’t listened yet, check it out on Spotify, or better yet, watch the music video. The video is also extremely powerful and emotional and has many different interpretations, so if you’re looking to lose about, oh, two hours of your life spiraling into the Twenty One Pilots fandom, that’s the place to start. You’re welcome.
Links:
https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8478509/twenty-one-pilots-trench-decoding-meaning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mn-FFjIbo8