B-Side Guys

William Hinson sidesteps the typical indie-pop trap of either wallowing in or dismissing relationship tension, instead choosing the more difficult path of simply witnessing it. “You’re Upset” operates from a place of recognition rather than resolution, understanding that sometimes the most helpful response to someone else’s emotional state is accurate observation rather than immediate solution-seeking.

The Winston-Salem songwriter’s vocal approach carries the conversational quality that made artists like COIN and Dayglow playlist staples, but Hinson’s delivery suggests genuine interest in dialogue rather than performance. His voice moves through the melody like someone actually trying to communicate rather than demonstrate vocal technique, maintaining intimacy even when the arrangement builds around him.

Those shimmering guitar lines create sonic space that mirrors the emotional distance the song explores. Rather than overwhelming the mix with effects, the production uses reverb and delay strategically, letting notes hang in the air long enough to suggest the kind of silence that follows difficult conversations. The rhythm section provides steady momentum without urgency, understanding that this song exists in the pause between conflict and reconciliation.

Hinson’s Beatles and John Mayer influences surface most clearly in his melodic sensibilities—hooks that feel inevitable rather than calculated, chord progressions that support rather than showcase. The 1975’s impact shows in the track’s willingness to let pop structures carry heavier emotional content without sacrificing accessibility.

The song’s strength lies in its refusal to pathologize either party’s emotional state. Rather than diagnosing why someone might be upset or prescribing how they should feel, Hinson creates space for messy human emotions to exist without immediate categorization. This represents emotional intelligence translated into musical form.

“You’re Upset” succeeds because it treats emotional disconnect as temporary weather rather than permanent climate. Sometimes acknowledgment without immediate action provides more comfort than rushed attempts at repair.