jnr. sings of a relationship on the brink on new single ‘Cruel’
Released on 4 April 2023, ‘Cruel’ is the stunning cinematic and mournful synth-pop offering from producer and songwriter Ben Siva’s electro-soaked pop solo project jnr.
The Sydney-based artist – who has worked with some of the best up-and-comers Corrj, JËVA and ANGE to name a few – first introduced his solo endeavour just last year, dropping his debut single ‘Remember’ in March 2022 and has since been carving out a vast universe of vivid sound and colour that could be his and his alone.
Entirely self-produced and tapping into his own personal life every time, jnr.’s music can be appreciated as a visceral and vulnerable expression of Siva’s deepest depths, all while creating and maintaining a freshness that the music scene so greatly deserves.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The follow-up to his single ‘I Didn’t Know Myself (Before I Met You)’, released in February this year, ‘Cruel’ is a breathtaking best foot forward for the artist, offering up a softer side to his music. From the radiant instrumental work and arresting vocals, to the sheer tightness and welcoming warmth of the single’s production, ‘Cruel’ is lively, immediate and beautifully intense as jnr. transports listeners to a beguiling, hypnotic realm.
Raw and relatable, the glitchy and delicate track is the break-up before the break-up; when you both know that something is wrong in the relationship, but you can’t leave out of fear, selfishness, or a lack of self-confidence.
jnr. sings, ‘Is it better to stay here, when I know what you’re worth, sick of sitting in silence, but if we talk it will hurt.’
‘Am I so cruel, what if it doesn’t get better than you’.
Synths shimmer, glimmer and pop as the artist dwells in a turbulent space. Featuring a heavy ambient bed and gently strummed acoustic guitars that progressively build and explode into a house-influenced drum break for the finale, ‘Cruel’ is all about pausing and reflecting on a relationship that has all but ended.
Enlisting the talents of Sydney-based musician and burgeoning pop star JËVA (Jeffrey Liu), listeners are further captivated JËVA as provides a tender addition to the second verse, adding his own story of cutting ties and uncertainty in his mournful croon.
Mixed and mastered by Julian Hoeninger, as we’re continuously rewarded with new textures throughout the near-three-minute track, it becomes clear the music and lyrics are telling the same story. The dreamy keys, swirling synths, velvety vocals and drum beat feel tactile and illusory, evoking the same palpable emotions within its listeners as the songwriting alone.
As with his previous releases, jnr. has the ability to envelop our ears and hearts in catch, charming pop wonder, though this time, offering an even more intimate journey. ‘Cruel’ is a glimmering gem in jnr.’s repertoire and shines with its personal narration and impressive technicality.
Bending the boundaries of pop in his own experimental yet digestible fashion, jnr. continues to prove that both his lyrical storytelling and instrumental capability are matchlessly refreshing. If there’s anything jnr. knows best it’s himself – one of the most versatile and capable musicians in the underground pop scene.
Keep up with the latest from jnr. here.
