Excuse Me, Who Are You? – Maybe That Truck Hit Me… And This Is All a Dream | Single Review
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Thumbs Up Records
Excuse Me, Who Are You? (stylized as EMWAY) is an ironic name for a band that everyone will be talking about this year. Their newest single, “Maybe That Truck Hit Me… And This Is All a Dream,” brings a higher level of polish, composition, and maturity to their screamo sound. Before today, rabid fans could listen to live versions of this track on YouTube, but now we can hear this absolute banger in hi-fi on our preferred streaming service.
EMWAY released their debut EP in 2022, which is strange to say because the band sounds like they’ve been around forever. Each song on About That Beer I Owed Ya is an absolute groove of fun riffs and tightly connected instrumentation, filled with expert and cathartic vocalization. A noticeable element of their music is the thorough use of media samples, punctuating, bookending, or otherwise adorning their work, seemingly saying, “We sound pretty upset, but we’re still having fun.”
Their new single amplifies all of these qualities, even sneaking in a tasteful nod to American Football: “Every time I dream of you / I wish I was somebody new / So we could start over again / But you and I were never meant.” That line perfectly opens up to a twinkly respite featuring vocalist Tyler Stodghill of Stars Hollow. I personally blast “Tadpole” about five times a week on my running playlist, and this new single is going right next to it. EMWAY’s rich tracks are not only great for a workout, but they’re also perfect for laying face down in a cozy room, being in the moment, and forgetting the outside world.
From a quick Instagram perusal, you can tell the band has been working at maximum effort since their EP, and it’s paying off. These guys play show after show, go to festival after festival, and entertain in stages, dive bars, and skate parks alike. They just want people to listen, and people sure as hell are.
With a unique sound that is loud, fast-paced, and undeniably angsty (sorry), EMWAY centers their music around the uncomfortable feelings that arise from an ever-changing life. They take their licks in stride, and although they sing about the past, they are looking towards the future. Their lines about overthought and long-finished relationships causing sleepless nights are instantly relatable, and despite how mournful their lyrics might sound, they’re actually a hopeful expression of growth. Their songs are a catalog of feelings that must be dealt with before moving on. In addition to being healthy compositions of real emotional labor, their songs also kick major ass. Their latest single is no exception, closing with the lines “I’m all right on my own again / I’m all right.”
