JOBIE Strikes a Chord with “Supermodel”

By Karenna Umscheid

Emerson’s own JOBIE (she/they) released another single today, which you may have heard pre-release at a WECB or other on-campus show. “Supermodel,”produced by WECB’s own Aidan O’Flaherty, known under his artist name Sean Waters, is another solid brick in her gorgeous, honest trail thus-far. She channels Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift in her latest ballad, with resonant lyrics about the contradiction between her fear of growing up and the desire to leave painful pasts behind, carrying delightfully similar energy to the Red (Taylor’s Version) vault track “Nothing New.” Their lyricism proves especially relatable for lovers of the ‘sad girl’ genre, though anyone with a taste for emotional lyrics layered on top of their trademark acoustic guitar will enjoy their tracks. 

In “Supermodel,” she paraphrases ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” adding a tinge of her wrecked nostalgia to the timeless lyrical descriptor of youth; what once was “young and sweet, and seventeen” will grow up nonetheless. They lament on the side effects of examining our more youthful wounds while the world suffers further, when they sing “and the world gets warmer, I get fucking colder” with a hint of their anger that burns as well. JOBIE’s music is so raw and so real, it’s as if she’s pulled the heart of her younger self and dragged it across the lyrics of “Supermodel.” 

JOBIE’s music is lovely in its familiarity, as their gorgeous voice is already a classic in the Boston student scene, from zine launch parties, to WECB shows and house shows in Allston. No matter how many times I hear her play live, I’m still stunned by the power in her voice, how she goes from a soft first verse to a hearty chorus with an unwavering tone, and by her poignant and beautiful lyricism, consistently honest and powerful.

“Supermodel” is available on all streaming platforms starting today.