Joyer - On the Other End of the Line... (2025) [Hi-Res]

The new LP by Joyer, the indie rock duo of brothers Nick and Shane Sullivan, titled On the Other End of the Line…, explores themes of distance, anxiety, and the need for connection, stemming from their recent relocations to different cities and a hectic touring schedule following the release of Night Songs (2024). Distance, both physical and emotional, served as a catalyst for introspection and a renewal of their creative ambitions. The brothers relocated: Nick from Brooklyn to Philadelphia, and Shane from Boston to Brooklyn, with Shane battling loneliness after tours, which prompted his move. Despite the difficulties, touring brought the band closer and inspired new material.

Aiming to pivot from the shoegaze sound of Night Songs in favor of more ambitious arrangements and folk elements while retaining pop melodicism, Joyer recorded the album in eight days in Chicago with producer Henry Stoehr. Nick focused on creating more interesting, atypical drum parts, and the brothers enriched the guitar sound by layering acoustic textures. They drew inspiration from noisy guitar pop groups like Velocity Girl and Helvetia. Bassist Jake Miller and vocalists Sabrina Nichols and Morgan Powers were also brought in to contribute to the record.

The album delves into personal experiences through tracks like “I Know Your Secret” about strange dreams in an old home, and “Cure,” which lends the album its name and is a poetic plea for connection, even a fleeting one. Other songs, such as “Something to Prove” and “Tell Me,” reflect the struggles of an artist's life, wrestling with the compulsive urge to create and the contradictory desire for a change of scenery. On the Other End of the Line… presents Joyer at their most vulnerable, leaning less on abstractions. The album's core message is an appeal for connection and recognition, concluding that despite the burden of vulnerability, putting yourself out there and being known is worthwhile.



Tracklist:
1. Joyer - I Know Your Secret
2. Joyer - Cure
3. Joyer - Creases
4. Joyer - Glare of the Beer Can
5. Joyer - Spell
6. Joyer - Something to Prove
7. Joyer - Favorite
8. Joyer - At The Movies
9. Joyer - Test
10. Joyer - Tell Me