Bestfriend Announce Sophomore EP, “places i’ve left”

Canadian alt-pop duo Bestfriend has announced the release of their sophomore EP, places i’ve left, via Nettwerk on April 21st, 2023.

The places i’ve left EP features six tracks mixed by Grammy-nominated Travis Ference (Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande) and mastered by Brock McFarlane (Luna Li, Mother Mother) & Elisa Pangsaeng (GRAE, Yukon Blonde). The EP explores the themes of nostalgia, growing up, and the constant battle of getting your life together. The EP is a sonically fuzzy, indie daydream boosted by whip-smart lyricism that channels emotional confessions of life’s uncertainties and bittersweet observations of quarter-life disillusions. According to Bestfriend, places i’ve left is a set of love letters to a past life that asks, “What now? What do I do with everything that happened? How do we move forward from here?”

The EP opens with “PLACES,” which bridges the gap between Bestfriend’s debut EP and this new EP. While places i’ve lived reflected on in-the-moment agony and angst, the places i’ve left EP provides a comforting second act to that narrative. “LEMON LIME,” the first single off the EP, features Stacy’s alluring yet commanding vocals floating on top of Kaelan’s mastery of swirling, magnetic synths. The song’s lyrics, “I wanna die but only for a year / At least until the smoke clears” are brimming with relevance amongst a generation of young folks trying to find their way in a seemingly lost world.

Watch Bestfriend’s “LEMON LIME” lyric video below

“Anxious People,” an immediately danceable track, is a meticulously crafted slice of heavenly dream-pop, navigated by lo-fi, fuzzy instrumentation alongside Stacy’s despondent yet expressive vocals. The “Anxious People” music video features both eccentric and sci-fi visuals chronicling daily life’s mundane activities in an infinite loop.

Watch Bestfriend’s “Anxious People” video below

The killing-you-softly lament “Matador” is about navigating the breakdown of a toxic relationship while navigating mental health struggles and addiction, and the people in your life who deal with you on your worst days. “Tuesday Waltz,” a chilled-out antidote, is a song filled with hope for tomorrow. It’s written from the perspective of someone who has been going through a really hard time but decided that, for tonight, no one has to worry about them.

The EP closes with “Love Always Came So Easy For You,” a song about someone who will always have one foot out the door. Although not written about anyone specific, the song alludes to those people who never seem to be able to make up their minds about how they feel or where they want to be.

The band will celebrate the EP with a release party tonight (April 20th, 2023) at The Garrison in Toronto, which also marks their first-ever live show together. Tickets for the show are available here.

Pre-order or pre-save places i’ve left by selecting the link here.