Olivia Rodrigo has released a new song called "serena joy", and the first thing that strikes me is the bass. It has this dark, almost new-wave quality to it that I absolutely love. It kind of reminds me of something you might hear from New Order, but filtered through Olivia's pop-rock world. The bassline almost feels too gloomy for how catchy the song actually is, and I mean that in the best way possible.

The song takes its name from Serena Joy, a character from The Handmaid's Tale, and the lyrics deal with people remaining comfortable or silent while terrible things happen around them. It is obviously a much more political song than a lot of Olivia's music, but I actually think the production keeps it from becoming too heavy-handed. The instrumental still feels playful and catchy, which creates this strange contrast between what the song sounds like and what it is actually talking about.

One thing I did notice is that Olivia's vocals sit quite low inside the mix. I saw a few people discussing this online, with some listeners saying they struggled to hear certain words. I completely understand where they are coming from. Her voice almost becomes another texture within the instrumental instead of constantly sitting right at the front. Personally, I think it works for most of the track, although I would have liked the vocals to come forward a little more during the bigger moments.

The bass really is the star for me though. There is something about a melodic bassline carrying a pop song that I am always a sucker for. Instead of simply following the root notes underneath everything, it feels like an actual musical character. Combined with the relatively straightforward drums and darker production, the whole track develops this slightly nervous energy.

Doing some research into the song makes the whole thing even more interesting. "serena joy" was initially released on a limited run of CDs before arriving on streaming platforms, and a portion of the proceeds from the track are going towards Olivia's Daisy Chain Fields Fund. It feels like a song she genuinely wanted to put into the world for a reason, rather than something released simply because another single was needed.

I do understand one criticism I saw, which is that the song can feel slightly repetitive. I actually would have loved one final section where everything exploded a little more. The track builds up this tension, and part of me kept waiting for a huge release that never completely arrives. At the same time, maybe that restraint is part of why the song feels so uneasy.

Overall, "serena joy" is another interesting example of Olivia Rodrigo refusing to stay completely inside one musical box. It is dark, catchy, slightly strange and built around one fantastic bassline. I would love to hear her explore this sound even further. Go give it a spin!

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!