LISTEN: Paper Jackets Revel In Their Seasonal Depression With New Track “i’m depressed.”
LISTEN: Paper Jackets Revel In Their Seasonal Depression With New Track “i’m depressed.”
In contrast to the emotional lyrics, the pop driven sound brings feelings of hope and solidarity
Words by: Amanda Marano
Paper Jackets are back with their latest single “i’m depressed.,” and they’re reveling in the winter blues right there with you. “i’m depressed.” was written about the mental toll the downfall of 2020 has taken on all of us this year, paired with an upbeat pop sound. Produced and co-written by the LA-based songwriting/production duo HEAVY [The Unlikely Candidates, lovelytheband] — “i’m depressed.” becomes an anthem for the ages, as the track touches on themes of depression and anxiety in the age of a social media ruled world and through the stress of the pandemic. In contrast to the emotional lyrics, the pop-driven sound brings feelings of hope and solidarity.
Speaking on writing the “i’m depressed.,” Paper Jackets vocalist Aimee Proal shares, “The 2020 experience heavily influenced this track. After months of limited human interaction, I found myself out of content to write about. I told James I was too depressed to write anything. Oddly that’s exactly what became the song in the most sincere form while keeping a sense of humor in the lyric at the same time. From there, we teamed up with HEAVY and ‘i’m depressed.’ took on a life of its own.”
“‘i’m depressed.’ is an angsty anthem and a beautiful tantrum. As adults there’s no way for ‘normal people’ to scream, so we’re doing it for you. The thing people tend to forget these days is that life has always been hard and this is just the new version. We like to stay apart of the journey,” vocalist James Mason adds.
Paper Jackets’ “i’m depressed.” follows their recent single “Drugs & Honey,” the first look at the band’s upcoming collection of songs, Souvenirs Volume Two, due out in 2021. Back in July 2020, the band dropped their latest album, Souvenirs Volume One, the first part of the collection. The compilations question and challenge the genre norms of alternative rock while following a nostalgic theme. They touch on shared creative experiences and struggles of addiction and its many forms.
Paper Jackets was formed in 2016 after meeting at Sunset Strip jam nights. After some random meetings and sessions, they formed the four-piece group consisting of James Mason [vocals], Emily Dickinson [keyboard, live backing vocals], Jonny Vesely [guitar], and Aimee Proal [vocals]. After releasing their EP Don’t Lose Your Head in 2018, the gang grabbed opening slots for Bishop Briggs and the X Ambassadors.
The road to creating the collections of Souvenirs has been long and not without its bumps, but all their hard work has made them even more excited for whatever their next steps may be. “There’s a sense of urgency,” says Mason, speaking to the collection as a whole. “There’s this mentality of, we have to do this now, we have to make these songs now…There’s this artistic force that pushes me in that way.”
