ioakim is really making sure we aren’t starved for bangers. The South Coast bedroom pop producer and singer-songwriter has been introducing himself with a string of singles that are punchy, infectious, and born for the summertime. Following the release of ‘swimming pools’, he’s welcoming you into the soundscape of ‘mona lisa’ for a high energy pop-rock singalong.
Captured within the introspective state of a relationship ending, he reflects on the anxious feeling of watching everything fall apart. Trying to make sense of what is happening, he acknowledges that he needs to take a moment to process everything and appreciate the time they had together and the impact they had on him. “I’ll take, i’ll take a little time to let my head figure out what is right, though” he sings. But it’s the lyric “feels like i’m just spinning out of control, but really i’m just standing still” which provides a perfect example of what it actually feels like within that moment. There’s such a chaos to break up’s that makes everything feel like it’s moving so quickly, but in reality you’re just at a standstill because you’re left trying to process the intensity of what is actually happening.
In saying that, there is a sentiment of hope within the lyrics as he acknowledges it was for the best and that things will get better, as it’s just about taking a moment to acknowledge everything that happening. The production compliments that sentiment with a joyous, sun-soaked pop-rock production reminiscent of Grouplove, The Wombats, and Urban Cone.
ioakim knows how to deliver a catchy chorus, and ‘mona lisa’ certainly has that, and he manages to make a breakup sound sort of joyous and captures the light of new beginnings.