Sometimes you’re struck by a song that is just what pop is meant for; Angel Abaya’s new single “I Don’t Need a Boyfriend” will give you all the sonically soothing production and clean catchy vocals you could ask for. The writing is engaging without feeling like its whole purpose is to keep you up at night with an earworm of a chorus. The production will wash over you with modern flare in the bass tone and plucky rhythm guitar, but drawn back into 80s and 90s by the synth layering and mix that’s just a little muddy at its highest points. Stick around for the nearly dissonant, but wonderfully composed guitar solo towards the end.
“September 23, 2020. My 24th birthday. The clock strikes midnight and I’m sitting around the fire at Lauren Edson & Andrew Stensaas’ house on the Bench in Boise, Idaho. Our dear friend Ryan Peck is with us, and I end up heading to his house on the Bench to write this song. Believe it or not, I didn’t write the lyrics to the chorus – Ryan did. Drunkenly, late in the night, he sang into his phone as I played the chords on his Juno-60. Later on, I cleaned up the lyrics a little bit and added a verse and called it good,” describes Abaya about the tune.
