Joji has gone from raunchy YouTuber and comedic filmmaker to artistic and masterful musician in what seems like no time, and although I was unsure about the transition, to begin with, due to his already massive presence online, I now can’t believe that I even questioned these tactics. Last week, he dropped off his sophomore album Nectar, and although I’ve only listened to it once all the way through, it’s clear his decision was the correct one.
Although almost every song stands out in my head when it comes to the uniqueness and passion that goes into each and every track, “Upgrade” is undoubtedly a hit. To get things started, a Jazzy piano riff is played with minimalistic percussion in the background, setting the tone and creating a thumping tempo that is perfect for Joji to share some of his Indie-influenced vocals. His voice is full of melancholy vibes, providing a mixture of hopelessness and pain with other slight feelings of optimism and assurance. Although these feelings might sound as if they should oppose one another, they actually clash in such a way that brings out specific emotions for not only Joji but the listeners themselves.
His enthusiasm is kept at bay while singing, but the way he changes the inflections within his delivery brings these emotions to the forefront unlike anyone else in the music industry. During certain moments, there almost seems to be a couple of vocal layers singing in unison, and although the overall song isn’t extremely busy or cluttered, certain lines are elevated through the utilization of more passionate ad-libs reemphasizing the words he is speaking. Towards the end, he eventually leads us out of the song with some serene, peaceful hums that leave listeners with a sense of peace and sunniness.
When it comes to the brand-new video, the camera opens on a commercial flight that is soaring off into the sunset, boasting a granular, almost ‘90s-inspired filter to give it a retro look. This effect is used continuously throughout the entire video as we enter the cabin of the plane. As the stewardesses and steward close the overhead compartments and the camera pans out, it appears as if Joji is the only one on this flight. When he begins to sing, he is shown delivering his words with a blank expression on his face, showing off the very real possibility that he just has so much on his mind. Eventually, the stewardess brings a glazed doughnut on a cart down the aisle, giving it to Joji and putting a smile on his previously expressionless face. Following his first bite, he is shown falling asleep before eventually floating in the air along with the doughnut gravity-less, as he extends his arms hoping to reach the pastry. Other scenes show the flight attendants performing a choreographed dance up and down the aisle before hitting some turbulence and eventually sending the entire occupancy of the plane floating around in the absence of gravity, similar to the previous shot of the artist, leading us out of the music video.
If you’re familiar with Joji’s previous offerings, you know that they can be somewhat abstract and ambiguous, and the same goes for both this song and video. His vocals are incredibly powerful even though he never truly belts out his notes to their full potential, but this calmness almost plays a more important role in the emotions that are floating around in his head than any other delivery truly could. While Joji’s previous album was included on Billboard’s R&B and Hip-Hop charts when it first came out, I believe that it’s impossible to include Nectar on these specific lists because it just simply doesn’t fit into either of these categories. It’s clear that this album is going to debut high up on the charts once again, but I’m curious to see what charts it’s eventually going to be included in. While you continue to run up the numbers on Joji’s sophomore album, make sure you take a moment and check out his brand-new visual for “Upgrade” as well.