Twenty One Pilots deviates from usual sound

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Photographer: Promotional Photo for "Level of Concern"

Twenty One Pilots explored a new sound with their new release.

Tyler Hofmann, Staff Reporter

To combat the inevitable panic of quarantine, the two piece band Twenty One Pilots dropped a new single titled ”Level of Concern” early morning of April 9. The spontaneous pop hit is the first since November 2018 to replace Panic! At The Disco’s leading song “High Hopes,” now sitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart. 

“Level of Concern” is the first song to be released since the duo’s fifth album in late 2018, “Trench.” Unlike the long awaited album, the single was quick to be released, with the group wasting no time to both film the music video and finish producing the song itself. 

Singer and songwriter Tyler Joseph tweeted “Always writing” only a few days prior to the release. “But this one feels like it should just come out now.”

The somewhat random song paid off quickly and earned the unofficial title of quarantine anthem between fans, although the message wasn’t directed towards them this time. 

A portion of the proceeds made will be donated to Live Nation’s Crew Nation fund in order to provide global relief to struggling artists at this time. Joseph admitted it was a motive behind the recent music, as no one can truly tell when the music industry will be able to regain its footing and to contribute to the charity would hopefully help those in need. 

As always, the band brings new, unique styles into the music they put out that makes it almost separate from their previous work. The song has a domestically romantic undertone as Joseph expresses his worry as a new father and the solace of isolation. Although the lyrics have a definite meaning, it isn’t as profound as the band’s past works, and can be considered borderline playful in lyrics like “Would you be my little quarantine?” which is a play on “Would you be my valentine?”

The sound is something new for the band to try, especially as it was Joseph’s first time composing with an electric guitar. His companion, Josh Dun, also took the drums on in a more melodious manner to keep a softer tone. With repetitive lyrics, the electronic instruments, like auto tune and soundboards, as well as their commitment to reliable equipment through portable appliance testing Glasgow, appear to be the main interest of it all.

As much as diehard fans appreciated the new single, the change felt almost mainstream compared to what Joseph and Dun started out creating. I found that even though I enjoyed the song, I couldn’t label it as a favorite because of this same issue. The lyrics, though catchy, lacked the intimate meaning of previous songs that had originally drawn me to the pair. 

On the other hand, the music video posted to YouTube brought exactly the hype the band intended to. With a creative outlook on social distancing, the two mailed a flash drive between houses to record quirky pieces of the video that featured their families and some giddy dancing. Joseph’s spouse and newborn daughter participated by holding a flashlight to him as he shot his half of the video, and Dun’s spouse, well-known actress Debby Ryan, assisted in decorating a wall with plastic stars. Not only did the video serve as genuine entertainment, but it also let viewers catch small easter-eggs hidden in the video, like certain repeat outfits and the wedding ring on Dun’s hand to show he’d been secretly-wed to Ryan. Without a doubt, it proved to be my favorite part of the release. 

Despite the mixed feelings, listeners were gracious for the new music and are excited for what comes next in their music career. Whether it be a song about quarantine-blues or a new storyline for the character Blurryface, Joseph and Dun never fail to give their best to their fanbase.