Single Review: Take a Sip of Djo's Love "Potion"

Djo, the musical project of actor, producer, and songwriter Joe Keery, just released "Potion" - the third single from his highly anticipated new album The Crux, out April 4 via AWAL. Perhaps his dreamiest single yet, "Potion" explores what it feels like to be truly loved and cared about. The blend of acoustic guitar riffs and Djo's smooth falsetto vocals are a departure from his previous electronic style and perhaps reflect the genres he will explore on his new album out this Friday.

The track opens with a sparkling bell sound that scratches the brain just right. It's as if he is opening a door to a café, ordering a love potion, and sitting down to tell his story. The on-beat drumline in the verses propels the story forward and infuses the instrumental with energy. The Mellotron melody before the chorus breaks up the drums and is reminiscent of an 8-bit cozy video game. These elements add to the intimate and personal nature of the track, mimicking the ebb and flow of natural conversation. Lyrics like "I'll try for all of my life just to find someone who leaves on the light for me" and "Glitz and glamour doesn't age like wine does" paint the picture that meaningful relationships are formed in the tender moments like waiting for someone to arrive home at night, and not the flashy ones. These concepts contrast the themes of heartbreak tackled in the previous single, "Delete Ya." In the first verse of "Potion," he sings, "It's looking like a little rain cloud loves me," which evokes a sense of playful and cartoonish optimism.

"'Potion' is like your favorite pair of blue jeans," Djo shared in a press release. "I'd been working on Travis picking when I wrote this song, so it's kind of like if Harry Nilsson and Lindsey Buckingham had a baby."

Djo harnesses his inner John Lennon on the song's final chorus, singing the hopeful lyrics with a raspy, gritty, and emotionally resonant quality. A ding sound ends the track like the iris out at the end of an old television show or movie. It is evident that Djo has a clear vision for the album, with acoustic and 60s attributes influencing his sound. The two previous singles, "Basic Being Basic" and "Delete Ya," guide the listener from the electronic sound of his previous album, Decide. The mellow and serenading elements of "Potion" make it the perfect gateway single to the rest of the album. Stay tuned for The Crux, out this Friday, April 4, and Following Boston's review of the album out the same day.  

Djo's sold-out Back On You World Tour kicks off in Oregon on Thursday. The star will stop at Roadrunner Boston on May 2. Tune into Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 14th for his next television appearance.

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