Words By: Bre Offenberger

Alternative rock favorite The Maine have released the lyric video for “Sticky,” the first single from their forthcoming eighth album, XOXO: From Love And Anxiety In Real Time. The track is an exuberant look into how it feels to finally find your person after several failed attempts.

Frontman John O’Callaghan doesn’t waste a second on “Sticky,” opening the track immediately and even overtaking the power of the sizzling guitar. A tambourine and intricate drums add a layer of excitement to the chorus, where his contentment overflows. O’Callaghan reveals that no matter what he’s doing or where he is, thoughts of his partner find their way into his brain, but he doesn’t mind. It’s guaranteed that you’ll hear O’Callaghan gleefully saying “over and over again” playing in your head for the next few days. He goes on to admit he’s made plenty of mistakes — as everyone does — but he knows without a doubt his partner was the best decision he’s ever made.

The official music video is set to come out soon, but the lyric video still leaves an impactful message. The video shows a rotating stage of all the band’s instruments with none of the bandmates in sight, a nod to adhering to social distancing guidelines. A yellow light is beaming down, creating a flower, and the lyrics appear in yellow as well as the bottom of the screen. Even with no one around, the stage still radiates fun — and a hope to safely returning to in-person concerts soon.

Of the single, O’Callaghan shares: “I hope this song moves into a room in your head. Sonically, you can take the song however you will, but the lyrics hold a special place in my heart. ‘Sticky’ is about that person or feeling you just can’t shake. I certainly hope it stays with you.”

On March 20 at 9 p.m. ET, The Maine is set to perform a live-streamed concert via their YouTube channel. The band is also about to launch an app where fans from their home state of Arizona can request a live performance of “Sticky” outside their homes, and more details on that are forthcoming. The band was set to perform at Sad Summer Festival last year with the likes of Movements, All Time Low and The Story So Far, among others, but that has been postponed until this July. Even after seven albums (and another one soon!), the band has yet to show signs of slowing down — and “Sticky” is a testament to that.