Joji’s third studio album, Nectar, is at its core, an attempt to communicate love and heartache. Through bitter lyrics cloaked in sweet harmonies, George “Joji” Miller offers his listeners a window into his mind and emotions. Nectar became critically acclaimed, peaking at #3 on Billboard’s Top 200 Global Chart and at #1 on Spotify’s US Weekly Top Albums Chart. Although the songs presented here are, in my opinion, the stand-out highlights, every track on Nectar is worth listening to.
“Ew”
The album’s first track, “Ew,” is about feelings of inadequacy. Joji sings about wanting someone who will love him forever, instead of leaving him and breaking his heart.
“Ooh, teach me to love just to let me go / I can’t believe that I’m not enough.”
Joji’s pain comes from his taste of love and his realization of what he had been missing. The song’s title further reinforces the theme of inadequacy. He wasn’t enough for the person whom he thought was his, and so when he looks at himself all he can think is “ew.”
“And so long, no one will be here to save you / And no one will be here to let you know / This is your world.”
As the song concludes, Joji reaches a state of bitter acceptance. He bids farewell to his old lover and warns her that no one will treat her like he did. As the lyrical section comes to a close, the backing track of the song shifts into a discordant chorus that portrays how Joji views love: a strained, chaotic mess of emotions. As the song’s final notes play, they suddenly crescendo and fade away — just as Joji’s relationship rose and fell.
“MODUS”
“MODUS” speaks to feelings of obsession with perfection and the eventual burnout that results. The track’s steady, unchanging beat further reinforces the idea of being a machine.
“I cannot stop, I cannot cry / I will not fret, I will not die / I am machine, I stay alive.”
The first motif of “MODUS” focuses on inhumane, single-minded focus. Joji’s journey for perfection has led to an inability to think, cry, or even die. He is a machine who must stay alive. However, as the track progresses, this idea begins to crumble.
“I don’t feel the way they programmed me to feel today / Some pieces falling from the waist up.”
The “programming” is crumbling, and the facade begins to crack. As this motif is introduced, the metronomic beat suddenly cuts to an orchestral chorus with flowing rhythms. This represents the artist’s human side beginning to show, as he acknowledges his limits. As the song comes to a close, the orchestra and mechanical elements of the backing track combine into a cohesive whole, showcasing Joji’s two halves merged into one.
“Tick Tock”
“Tick Tock” focuses on time, specifically its wastage. The track is about a toxic relationship, in which neither person has enough time for the other.
“You and I, we are one in the same / Loving in pain.”
Neither person has the time to make the other feel loved, so the relationship is painful for both. “Tick Tock” is similar to “MODUS” in that it features a steady, ticking backing track, reminiscent of a clock.
“I wish you were here to hold me down like a real one, real one.”
The relationship itself feels fake; both people are unavailable both emotionally and physically. The last 13 seconds of the song feature no lyrics, only the clocklike beat and a simple melody. The unchanging nature of the beat shows that time ticks on, stopping for no one. All one can do is try not to waste it.
“Daylight”
“Daylight” is about change and embracing the light.
“Wide awake, gettin’ half past zero / It’s gettin’ heated so I leave the windows open.”
Joji begins by describing his party lifestyle and his lack of concern for his well-being. He emphasizes that “laying here alone is heaven,” and that he sees no reason to change. However, he soon switches tracks.
“I don’t care if you moved on / I’m not layin’ in bed with a [messed] up head.”
His “daylight” is like being in his old relationship, and he wants to abandon the partying. Joji believes that the only way to be happy is to be back with his old lover and embrace the light. As the track comes to a close, it echoes this sentiment, repeating that Joji doesn’t want to lay in bed anymore.
“Gimme Love”
“Gimme Love” is all about desperation. The track begins with Joji constantly repeating “Gimme Love,” and this continues for almost a minute.
“You leavin’ me here with ashes and fire.”
Joji’s old lover left him to burn, and he has nothing left. This motif continues for some time until the song takes a dramatic turn. The backing track changes to a somber, almost angelic melody, and the tone of the vocals becomes even more desperate. The song then explores themes of loss, and Joji asks if he can still be given love anymore at all.
“Everyone’s looking for someone to hold / But I can’t let you go.”
Joji’s unrequited love is confessed, and he seems to give up on ever seeing love at all. He can’t escape his feelings about his old relationship, and the song comes to its climax at this realization. As the lyrical section ends, the elements of the backing track fall away until only a melancholy guitar loop is left. This repeats for nearly 20 seconds and symbolizes Joji’s torn-apart and broken-down state.
“Run”
“Run” tells the story of indifference. The relationship begins well, as Joji “fell for [her] magic.” However, this honeymoon phase soon comes to an end.
“I know you’re not in love, like you used to think / Guess I’m not the one, like you used to think.”
The relationship becomes one-sided, as Joji realizes his partner’s true feelings. However, Joji can’t confront her feelings, so “[he’ll] just run.” Symbolically, Joji executes a drawn-out vocal run as he belts out the very same word. These themes continue throughout the song, as the lyrics take an even more bitter turn.
“Your love was a mystery / Yeah, my love is a fool.”
Joji could not even understand his partner’s feelings, and he sees his own as foolish. To complete this idea, the words fade away, and a high-energy electric guitar solo is introduced. The solo finishes the song and is the perfect vessel to convey Joji’s heartbreak.
“Like You Do”
“Like You Do” is perhaps the most heartbreaking song of the album, along with being the longest. The relationship it speaks of had no flaws and no complications. It is simply two people drifting apart, and this track explores the pain of watching a loved one drift away.
“Lately, I can’t help but think / That our roads might take us down different phases.”
Joji introduces his thoughts and the dread that accompanies them. He realizes that there is nothing he can do as they are both simply following life’s inevitable road. He then speaks to his partner, telling her how much she means to him.
“If you ever go, all the songs that we liked / Will sound like bittersweet lullabies.”
Nothing will be the same if she leaves. The songs that brought Joji joy will now only bring him painful memories of her.
“Lost in the blue / They don’t love me like you do.”
Joji now too feels as if he is drifting and lost. No one can replace her, and no one can truly love him the way she did.
“And everyone else / They don’t matter now / You’re the one I can’t lose.”
The entire world ceases to exist, and this symbolizes the magnitude of Joji’s pain. These lyrics convey how dependent Joji is on his partner, willing to lose anyone but her. This relationship is the only one explored on Nectar that is without imperfections, which makes “Like You Do” all the more tragic.
In its entirety, Nectar is an incredible album and a spectacular achievement. Joji’s ability to communicate through music is unparalleled, and it is clear that others feel the same. The album’s powerful themes and messages about heartbreak showcase Joji’s talent as an artist and a writer, and they prove that Nectar is well worth a listen.
