“Pressure to Party” — Julia Jacklin
In this digital age where social media is more prevalent than ever, in-person interactions and gatherings can be increasingly intimidating. Australian indie singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin tackles the idea of being pressured into partying after a breakup, and sings about awkwardness, attempting to make small talk, and trying to open up to those around her all while passionately shredding on her electric guitar. The ultimate result is “Pressure to Party,” the third song off her second full-length LP, Crushing, released in February of this year. She sings about societal expectations she feels while partying post-breakup in the second verse. “Pressure to act the right way around him / We’re both in the crowd / With people surrounding us / What do I do? / Don’t know how it works,” she sings while jangly guitar chords back her soulful voice. Its music video depicts Jacklin trying to assimilate into a party-like situation, complete with others dancing around her as she plays the drums. She looks at the camera head-on while balancing an urge to get over a relationship ending and a desire to return to it. She notably sums this up in the song’s relatable first verse, “Pressure to feel fine after the fact / Out on the dance floor with my body back / Meeting a stranger, touching his face / I don’t want anyone to ever take your place.”
