by Salem Ross

How does one navigate a breakup? First, there is the impact: one side (or both)  making the decision that two people are together no more. Then, the crash: the first couple days of not speaking, denial that the choice even happened to begin with. Finally, the aftermath: It comes when all is said and done, settling in the new found world without another half. Djo’s second single off his junior album, The Crux, sets the listener in that aftermath. “Delete Ya” singles out that broken piece, calling out to anyone who has uttered the sentence: “I wish we never met.”

As the fifth track on the upcoming album, it acts as a foil for the fifth track on Djo’s first album, Twenty Twenty, “Chateau (Feel Alright).” The latter song being a fond memory, a recollection of new beginnings. “Chateau (Feel Alright)” being:

“I could feel the pain /

Of my head, seeing stars /

You said “Come to ours” /

So I did /

It’s a decision that I’m glad that I made /

I’m still not certain that it happened at all /

I just can’t recall.”

This memory is something of the past in “Delete Ya.” As this ordeal is recalled, it’s apparent that the relationship has gone south. 

“And now I’m back on your couch, frozen peas to my head /

Driving up to your folks, cramming into your bed /

You picked me up every time, drove me back to our home /

It doesn’t leave you alone.”

We always find ourselves reminiscing on the past when going through a breakup. Things that could have been done differently, words that could have been said to salvage any connection left (if there was any). Djo grapples with his own emotions, while simultaneously trying to understand the other person. It’s a familiar struggle, wanting to break into someone’s mind and just know the pure why. After a certain amount of time you just need to let it go. Accepting that someone who was once connected to you can soon become a stranger, even if It wasn’t your choice. Entering the bridge, he uses toned down vocals to offer the insite of being on the un decided half: 

“I wanna know (Just two weeks, how’d you cut it like that?) /

Maybe you show me how (I’m built different, I don’t work like that, huh) /

I got to repeat, chew up, spit out /

The blame complex in me, me, me.”

These decisions can be one sided, it only takes one for the effects to take place. It’s always a difficult conversation, there’s never a good time for it. The first line of this bridge pulls between  inner monologue and outward questions. The ‘why?’ of it all turns into more of a statement than a question. Looking at someone from afar, trying to comprehend if they are over the battle or just recovering from the wound. 

The premise of “deleting” someone is all too familiar. If only you never made that left turn, went to that party, or were on time to that class then just maybe they wouldn’t have burrowed themselves into your life. But the past is the past, these things can’t be changed. With the lyric, “A heart excretes only one of us, only one” protruding through The Cars-esc melody reminds the listener that two peoples emotions are separated, and healing is an individual process.