B-Side Guys

Neomi Speelman’s two years of therapy have yielded unexpected creative dividends, transforming how she processes emotional difficulty without abandoning the intimate folk-pop that established her voice. “Sit Back Baby” emerges from this period of profound personal change as whispered rallying cry rather than triumphant declaration, understanding that some encouragement requires acknowledging ongoing struggle rather than pretending it’s resolved.

The track’s central paradox—convincing yourself things will be fine while knowing they won’t—represents psychological sophistication rarely found in indie folk’s typical emotional vocabulary. Rather than offering false comfort or wallowing in despair, néomí creates space for both honesty and hope to coexist. Her admission that “nothing is fine, and it will never be fine—but that’s what makes it fine” demonstrates the kind of acceptance-based thinking that often emerges from therapeutic work.

Her Zwijndrecht upbringing informs the song’s stillness and simplicity, where quiet observations carry more weight than dramatic gestures. The production choices support this aesthetic through gentle arrangements that prioritize Speelman’s vocal delivery and lyrical content over ornamental flourishes. Her Bon Iver and Phoebe Bridgers influences show through emotional directness rather than sonic mimicry.

Speelman’s recent Zilveren Notenkraker nomination indicates growing recognition within Dutch music circles, yet “Sit Back Baby” feels removed from career calculations. Instead, it operates as genuine processing tool—music written for survival rather than success, though capable of achieving both simultaneously.

Her signing with Nettwerk positions néomí for wider European reach while the track itself suggests an artist more concerned with emotional truth than commercial appeal. The upcoming ‘Another Year Will Pass’ EP promises similar territory where transformation occurs through acceptance rather than dramatic change.

“Sit Back Baby” succeeds by treating surrender as active choice rather than passive defeat. néomí demonstrates that sometimes the bravest artistic gesture is admitting everything won’t be fine while encouraging forward movement anyway.