Laundry Day’s “We Switched Bodies” Embodies the Mess of Emotions in Life Beyond High School
By Charlize Tungol
Laundry Day released their third studio album We Switched Bodies on Feb. 11, 2022. Since their last album release in March 2019, the band has created this collection as an ode to post-high school life and all of the transformation and revelation that comes with it.
Continuing their sound that incorporates notes of alternative rock, indie rock, and pop, We Switched Bodies includes tracks like “Did You Sleep Last Night?” and “Blübe” that were co-produced by BROCKHAMPTON’s Kevin Abstract and Romil Hemnani. The most streamed track on the album, “Did You Sleep Last Night?” presents itself as the album’s standout lead-off single, released on Jan. 14, 2022. The single was appreciated as a notable opener because “everyone who hears it thinks it’s about something different,” vocalist Sawyer Nunes said in an exclusive interview with Consequence Sound.
The album lays out the different stages of teenage angst, ranging from feeling lost, self-doubt, and the reflection upon one’s younger self. “Worry Bout Yourself”, a single that was released early December 2021, captures the panic and intense anxiety one might experience once being thrown into adulthood. “You told me when you start to feel it / Remember you can breathe,” sings Jude Lipkin. “Don’t Blow Yourself Up” follows the same concepts, with the subject of the song showing signs of self-destructiveness, hinting at the larger consequences of their actions that they face as an adult.
“The Knots” describes the feeling in your stomach associated with feelings of doubt. The lyrics read, “It all comes back around / 20 years from now / I hope you learned about how / The knots will tie you down,” implying that if you don’t get over the uncertainty you have, you’ll regret it down the road. “And Either Way It Goes” mimics the emotions one has during something reflecting an existential crisis. The “either way” spectrum hints at the juxtaposing places in life, exemplified by, “I feel like a child / But I feel like I’m 25 / And I’m so scared of dyin' / It makes me feel like I’m alive / All we have to fear is fear itself”. The gradual increase of presence of electric guitar and drums in this song parallels the feel of a coming-of-age type of euphoria, similar to some sort of a breakthrough in one’s life.
In contrast, the tracks titled “Little Bird” and “Blübe” share this metaphor of a bird, usually symbolizing freedom or relief. “Little Bird” talks about open communication and honesty, which would feel like a weight lifting off one’s chest, almost like they can now fly. “Blübe” exhibits a more upbeat, feel-good sound. The acknowledgment of a “blueberry wave” parallels the feeling of being high after smoking weed, resembling the deconstructed nature of the song that also mentions things like ocean phoenixes. Coincidentally, these two tracks are some of the more upbeat, faster-paced songs on the album with the punk rock sound of “Little Bird” and the indie rock melodies of “Blübe”.
My personal favorite, “Connect 5” was released as a single on Oct. 13, 2021. The track falls under the category of songs with a cheerful melody and sorrowful lyrics. The pity is shown in the lyrics, “But it's out of your hands, tell all of your friends / You don't even know what you're doin' / I guess you lost your confidence somewhere back there / Before you got on the train, went insane”. The song continues to show this figure of comfort, singing, “I wanna put my head right on your shoulders and cry for you / I will be honest and tell you the times that I lied to you,” indicating the character of one uplifting a friendship, who can similarly go through the same feelings of angst and unsureness.
And what’s adulthood without looking back at your childhood, thinking: Hmm, what could I have done differently? Though it was originally written as a lullaby, “Listen To Me When I Say” mirrors the hypothetical conversation that one would have with their younger self. Jude Lipkin sings, “Listen to me when I say / It’s not a game / It’s not the same as you dreamed of” hinting at the haunting realities of growing up. In a way, it serves as reassurance, especially with the lyric, “All you are / Is everything I need from this world,” romanticizing the hope and dreams we had as children. Lastly, the final track “We Switched Bodies”, almost literally seems like an out-of-body experience. The dreamy pop sound of the song paired with reflective lyrics like, “We switched bodies / I was you and you were me” recognizes the change and transformation one experiences succeeding high school, understanding life better as well and one’s self.
As a college student myself, I’ve had my fair share of doubt and second-guessing, so the message that this album attempted to convey resonated heavily with me. And as my comfort band, Laundry Day brought me solace by recognizing feelings I’ve been having trouble defining lately. Forwarding the idea of new beginnings, the quintet is headlining their fast-selling Spring 2022 tour across North America to celebrate the release of their album.