B-Side Guys

Some breakup songs wallow in misery – Pillowprince’s “Mercurial” throws a party in the wreckage. The Oakland trio’s debut single transforms relationship autopsy into shoegaze celebration, creating what one listener aptly described as “Olivia Rodrigo making a 90’s shoegaze song.”

The track’s architecture reveals careful crafting beneath its wall of sound. Guitarist Olivia Lee’s raw, confessional lyrics (“You wanted my soul / Gave it to you three times over”) float above dense instrumental textures, while Sea Snyder’s propulsive drumming provides both momentum and gravity. The pre-chorus at 0:47 launches into a soaring hook that feels both fresh and oddly familiar, like discovering a memory you didn’t know you had.

Lee’s songwriting explores queer perspectives on romance with striking imagery. Lines like “Dogs that run toward but never touch” and references to crystal balls and card readings suggest both pursuit and divination – trying to find meaning in connections that resist easy interpretation. The production matches this complexity, building layers of “glittering chain link” sonics that mirror the song’s emotional density.

What makes “Mercurial” particularly effective is its refusal to simplify the aftermath of separation. When Lee sings “Sometimes bravery means / Trying again tomorrow,” it’s both admission of defeat and declaration of resilience. The track’s dynamic shifts between “dramatic intimate grandeur and irreverent indie pop” serve this duality perfectly.

As the first taste of their upcoming Spring EP, “Mercurial” suggests Pillowprince has mastered the art of finding comfort in contradiction. It’s a breakup song for people who understand that healing isn’t linear, that sometimes the best way through heartbreak is cranking up the drama and taking that “in-your-feels road trip to boo hoo town” – just make sure you bring good speakers.