SINGLE REVIEW / ROWE - “say what you mean”

ROWE released their latest single “say what you mean” on November 22, 2024, and it holds up as an anthemic pop-punk bop with infectious melody.

“say what you mean” works with an uptempo rush of sound and bright anthemic vocals. Instrumentally, there are drum hits that provide a rhythmic bounce with quick and dynamic guitar sounds. Also, the bassline holds the energy together while rounding things out with its darker tones. The production and mix then hold everything together in clarity while allowing the sonics to resonate beautifully.

The intro to the track does well at serving as a hook, the drums punching in first with immediate power, and then the guitar comes in with tons of force. This sets the stage for the first verse to play off of the energy introduced from the get-go. The intro starts to race as more instrumental elements are introduced, and then it pulls back for a moment. The drums become softer and play back and forth with the guitar before the vocals cut in and the full sounds are introduced. Overall, there are a lot of elements to focus on; however, the mix ROWE created allows this to happen without things being overwhelming.

The chorus is where the anthemic nature of this track really stands out. Firstly, the guitars hit a lot of the same notes as the vocals, which makes it more punchy. Secondly, line to line, it seems like a bit of a call-and-response. Every other line also has more vocal layers that give a chant-like effect. As the call and effect happens, the melody is extremely catchy which begs listeners to chant along with it.

Lyrically, “say what you mean” stands out as a pre-breakup track. It’s less about what happens after a break-up and moreso explores the feelings and realizations that come before one.

“You’re driving me insane / I wanna run away,” the intro lines jab in the first verse. Later, this verse explores the feeling of listening to another when the voice of the track goes without being listened to.

Then the chorus cuts in, which expresses elements of being stuck in a routine of disagreement, bad moods, and not wanting to act like things will last. Then, the second verse cuts in with the poetic couple of lines, “Empty promises / My sarcophagus.” These lines do well at capturing the feeling of being caught in a relationship where promises go without follow-through. This verse then delves into the annoyance of not being heard yet again, being unsure of what to do about that, and looking for a change in mindset. After this, the chorus repeats twice, which drives the message and feelings behind the track home. This song knows the story that it's trying to tell, and it tells it well.

ROWE'S 2024 release: “say what you mean” is a pop-punk track that rests more along the lines of pop with its melody and catchiness with a punky punch in its energy and power. It’s an exciting listen that holds its full sound together well with stellar production and mixing. Lyrically, it introspectively gets into the emotion of what it’s like approaching a breakup as a relationship sours. The verses both capture similar feelings while being unique from each other, and the repetition of the chorus drives everything home. This track, instrumentally and lyrically, is as cohesive as it is energetic.

Review Written by Sage Plapp