We're Going to Be Friends
featuring boygenius, Dawes, The Chicks, and more!
I have read many profiles of or interviews with boygenius (the supergroup made up of Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers) since they began the recent press cycle in support of their debut album, the record.1 In each piece, it is clear that the reason this group works is because they are truly very good friends.
In short: These three artists were set to co[tri?]-headline a tour in 2018. They decided to record a 7’’ single to sell at these shows. Instead they recorded what became the boygenius EP. In a recent Rolling Stone profile, Phoebe said of that experience, “We set out to make one song, and made six. … It was not like falling in love. It was falling in love.”
the record, which came out this past Friday and is as good as every review says it is, is largely about this love. These songs (including two featured on today’s mix, “Leonard Cohen” and “We’re In Love”) treat friendship with the kind of reverence and intensity often reserved for romantic relationships, and it’s moving.
I’ve always been a sentimental person, especially about friendship. Blame it on eight summers at camp, blame it on moving several times as a kid, blame it on my Pisces sun and moon. Whatever you want to blame it on, just know it’s true. And just know that I wrote my college admissions essay about how different periods of my life were defined by the power of friendship (no, I am not kidding and yes, this was a successful essay), so I don’t think I could ever tire of this topic.
Inspired by boygenius, this week’s mix features some of my favorite songs about friendship. Some are silly, others are earnest and cheesy, and I love them all!
If you enjoy this mix, share with your own friends! Thanks for being here and supporting Made You a Mix.
Some favorites include: Rolling Stone profile; them profile; The Guardian profile; NPR interview