Nightly’s “lover/loner” Reminds Us That It’s Okay to Experience Uncertainty
Written by Jayne Pilch
Graphic by Rebekah Witt
Nashville-based alt-pop band Nightly presents a relatable dilemma in their latest single “lover/loner” that has all of us feeling as though our thoughts have been taken right out of our heads. Jonathan Capeci, Joey Beretta, and Nicholas Sainato have successfully created a captivating song that is sure to be a great addition to your summer playlist. The trio recently took a trip to Florida with the intention of writing new music and surprised fans with a teaser of the song on TikTok prior to its release. “lover/loner” is the band’s first single following the release of their debut album, night, love you, back in October. Electronic elements and heartfelt lyrics reiterate Nightly’s signature sound, creating an unforgettable listening experience.
By describing the fatigue and skepticism that accompanies being happy one day and feeling low the next, “lover/loner” has created a necessary outlet for describing the feelings some may be reluctant to share. The upbeat vibe of the song seeks to normalize these feelings, reminding fans that it is okay to have ‘bad days.’ The song begins with a resonance that provides a hopeful spark, yet also accompanied by lyrics that describe the difficulty of feeling restless and constantly stuck in one’s head. As the song progresses into a dreamy, mellow tone, lead singer Capeci sings “Part of me wishes I was someone else, while the other part is always narcissistic as hell / The angel’s always trying to fight the devil on my shoulder, one day I’m in love and the other I’m a loner.” The song follows a pattern of mellowing out and speeding up, which highlights the frequent change and confusion affiliated with the ‘lover’ versus ‘loner’ mentalities. With this comes a heavy emphasis on the constant uncertainty that goes along with societal pressures to ‘find yourself’ while feeling utterly alone. This song can be seen as a parallel to the band’s evocative ballad “older,” which highlights the “emotional rollercoaster” that is experiencing the highs and lows of life. Following “older” with this fast-paced song has allowed Nightly to provide a glimmer of hope to anyone who may be unsure about how they are handling their current outlook on life.
“lover/loner” is Nightly’s most danceable song yet. I am looking forward to scream-singing the lyrics while driving with the windows down on a warm summer night or dancing alone in my bedroom without a care in the world with this song as my soundtrack. The gentle yet frank tone, combined with the seamless progression of the song’s vulnerable lyrics, makes me feel happy to be a music fan in the year 2021 and eager to see what else Nightly may have in store within the next few months.