I am as far from the clubbing life as I could possibly be. I’m asleep by 9 p.m. and awake at 6 a.m.. Especially now, as I begin training for my marathon in November.
However, I am also a dancer, and that’s why this “Beats Per Minute” issue concerns Joey Valence and Brae’s latest release, “HYPERYOUTH.” It’s the end of the summer, but with this new drop, it’s almost as if it’s just begun.
A dancer’s paradise
There’s a reason why I chose this album for my weekend miles. I needed something to keep my heart rate up and my legs moving, so who better to achieve that than Joey Valence and Brae? “HYPERYOUTH” is their third album release, so I’m already familiar with their sound from past listens of “PUNK TACTICS” and “NO HANDS.” Much like “HYPERYOUTH,” both of these have earworms and funky beats, however, this release is more dynamic. The album experiences feelings of growing up in a world that has lost its freedom of expression, so there are more songs with a slower tempo. To make you think, and if there’s any better time to think, it’s on a long run.
As I was running up a never-ending hill toward Wasatch Boulevard, I was caught off guard by the soundscapes these tracks use.
While having its trap and house music elements–because, of course, it is a dance pop album after all– it also had symphonic melodies attached, which tie into the melancholy themes of growing up and moving on. This was specifically noticeable in tracks “PARTY’S OVER” and “HAVE TO CRY.” As my final days of summer were coming to an end, these moments of reflection throughout the album were so timely. It almost made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough to add to the dance and club culture. Because, well, I’m not.
It’s important to add that “HYPERYOUTH” has the essence of a high school drill team. As I grew tired throughout my run, tracks like “SEE U DANCE,” “THE PARTY SONG” and “GO HARD” kept me alive. I even caught myself dancing at stop lights, which I highly recommend; it’s what makes running fun.
Is this love?
“HYPERYOUTH” has a consistent beat above 120BPM. It will get you moving, whether that be running or what the album was made for: dancing. It reignites feelings of being young and acting like delinquents in your high school parking lot. It sounds like driving at 100 miles an hour with only you and the stars in sight. And, most importantly, the album addresses grievances that many young people may also be afraid to admit. This is especially significant in the lyrics of “LIVE RIGHT.”
“I’m kinda scared to admit, I’m afraid of growing up.
No one here wants to dance. Things are changin’”
These lyrics are repeated throughout the album, becoming the theme of “HYPERYOUTH.”
“HYPERYOUTH” puts the style back in hyper-pop, dance-pop, punk and hip-hop. It’s fun, fresh and moving in more ways than one. So, who’s ready to dance?