On June 20th, 2023, the Fifth Wave Pittsburgh-based band Short Fictions released a new single, titled Wasting, as their first release since June 2022. It seems that, with a year to refine what the five members envision for the future of the band, Short Fictions is departing from their well-known, Midwest Emo sound. Instead, Wasting feels like a song that one could scream their heart out to, driving home along a highway riddled by strokes of fading sunset.
Wasting features a much simpler instrumentation than many of Short Fictions’ past releases; in comparison to the rest of the band’s discography, the tracking is simple and straightforward. Releases like Every Moment of Every Day feature songs that emphasize not only the technicality of “regular” band instruments, with Chloe June on guitar and Alex Barkley on bass, but they also place a large emphasis on instrumentation from less commonly featured instruments, as seen with Nick Bursick on trombone. The band’s newest release, however, leans more into a hard, overdriven rock sound, which simplified the mixing as a result.
The single opens with an emphasis on melodic vocals. In the background, a strong (though slightly distorted) guitar does nothing but keep the song on track with a set chord progression. Just moments later, though, as the song shifts out of the opening lyrics, the sound explodes with a strong entrance from percussion and an immediate nod to the band’s original sound with technical guitar weaving in and out of the beat and the melody.
It is evident that the musical movement in Wasting is intentional, and the band’s history in technical instrumentation helps it to be successful. I particularly enjoyed that, in the beginning of the single, the guitar is the driving force behind the vocals. When the drums come in afterwards, there’s some audio feedback that runs the music straight into a switch; in this moment, the drums come forward to carry the beat and back the vocals, which allows for greater liberty in the guitar’s sound. Immediately, there are more flourishes and stylistic choices being made, which seems to be reminiscent of Short Fictions’ past releases. Even the drums, whose power and volume haven’t always been present in Short Fictions’ music in the past, is a nod to their Midwest Emo roots: it leans into the new, driving rock that defines the sound of Wasting, but the variation on a rock beat is yet another testament to the band’s ability.
One notable aspect of Short Fictions’ music that didn’t change in Wasting is their focus on quality over quantity when it comes to lyrics. This single features only three lines of lyrics, written by the band’s guitarist and vocalist Sem Treber:
and if the world is really ending / could you please call when you get home
and if our friends are really dying / you’d think that you’d pick up your phone
i don’t really mind that i’m wasting / i don’t mind wasting my time on you
The lyrics here are deceptively simple, and, according to the band, retain a focus on Treber’s “patience upon noticing a slowly decaying world.” Instrumentally alone, the major chord progression and the strength of the drums could allude to music with hopeful intent, but it’s evident from adding Treber’s lyrics to the mix that Wasting instead tells a story that is a mixture between finding a place amongst others and finding a place in a world that, in some ways, is falling apart. It takes skill to establish meaning in so few words, but Treber seems to do it with ease.
Ultimately, Wasting is set to be yet another success from long standing band, Short Fictions. Listen to the release on Tuesday, June 20th, here, and stay up to date with the band here. Short Fictions will be on tour supporting Their / They’re / There next week – see the tour dates and get tickets here!
Credits
Performance by Short Fictions: Sam Treber (guitar, vocals), Chloe June (guitar), Alex Barkley (bass), Ryan Veith (drums), Nick Bursick (trombone).
Written by Sam Treber.
