Young Friend Faces the World As a ‘scaredy cat’
Devin Dunlap
Singer-songwriter Drew Tarves, known professionally as young friend, released his newest EP this month. The new project, scaredy cat, is the artist at his most raw as he describes heartbreak, self-image, and growing up online. The five songs are dripping with creativity and individuality — from start to finish.
Photo by Zachary Vague
It was no accident that “met this girl on the internet” was the lead single for scaredy cat. Compared to his previous indie-pop style work, this song proves a new side of Tarves. The track is one of his most stripped-back and simple songs, with acoustic guitar and soft vocals. Indie-folk inspirations such as Phoebe Bridgers and Bon Iver shine through on the song and set the tone for the rest of the EP sonically. Ultimately, it sets the theme for the project lyrically, offering a simple thesis: growing up in the modern world.
“17” is a short and sweet track that reflects on the singer’s adolescence — including his relationship with his mom and the early days of making it in the music industry. The song feels as though it was ripped out of Tarve’s diary as he sings “all I ever wanted from you was for you to see me do what I said I’d do.” The beautifully light guitar riff and vocals complement the delicate nature of the lyrics. Specifically, Tarves reflects on his childhood, wasting time online, and his adolescent decisions such as his tattoos or moving out at the age of seventeen.
While this whole EP is a turning point for young friend, “feral canadian scaredy cat” is the most lyrically vulnerable he’s ever released. The alt-rock tune begins with a simple piano melody and slowly builds to an explosive drum part and screaming vocals. The intensifying sound mirrors the increasingly sad and emotional tone of the lyrics. Tarves confesses, “I’m scared of all the things I’ve been hiding.” Ultimately, the tune is an expression of Tarves’ feelings and fears of isolation.
The closing track is paired with an intense music video reminiscent of arthouse-style films that culminate in an explosion of flashing sequences. The singer-songwriter worked with Zachary Vague and Sterling Larose to create the stunning video. The heavy emotional tone of the lyrics is further punctuated by the black-and-white filter. The visual and emotional phases of Tarves match the overall theme of the track, “using more surrealist imagery and theatrical set pieces we tried to create a world that feels ever more dangerous and on the edge of destruction,” said Vague. Fundamentally, the video aims to reflect the fears of both Tarves and his whole generation.
The dynamic release of the five-song EP scaredy cat by Drew Tarves brings the alt-pop artist’s vision of music to life. With simpler tracks like “met this girl on the internet” and heavier alt-rock tunes like “white noise,” the EP is a fresh take on Tarves’ previous guitar-pop sound. Young friend takes you on a sonic journey accompanied by an honest and relatable story with this project.
