In 2020, Barry Can’t Swim—an electronic duo composed of Joshua and Amar—released the track “How It Feels,” marking a defining moment in their career. The song immediately resonated with listeners, quickly gaining traction due to its infectious beat and introspective lyrics. At first listen, “How It Feels” may strike a chord as a well-produced electronic track, but a closer inspection reveals its deeper layers of emotional vulnerability and the complexities of navigating love’s uncertainties. This essay explores how the song’s production, lyrical content, and accompanying visuals contribute to its status as a standout track in Barry Can’t Swim’s evolving discography.
The Allure of Vulnerability in the Lyrics
The lyrical content of “How It Feels” taps into a universal emotional experience—falling in love. However, what sets this track apart from typical love songs is its focus on the uncertainty and vulnerability that love entails. With lines such as “I don’t know how to say this but I’m scared of how I feel” and “I don’t know how to show it, but I want you to know it’s real,” Barry Can’t Swim captures the very essence of the emotional turbulence that accompanies young love. These lines express the speaker’s hesitation, a mix of fear and excitement that arises when feelings grow more intense, but words seem inadequate.
Love songs often depict the highs of affection or the heartbreak of its absence. However, “How It Feels” zooms in on the in-between moments—the indecision and self-doubt that can be overwhelming in early stages of a relationship. The speaker’s uncertainty is not just about how to articulate their feelings but also about whether those feelings are reciprocated, giving the song an undercurrent of tension.
Moreover, the repetition of phrases like “I don’t know” reinforces the internal struggle that the song’s narrator experiences. The ambiguity in these lines leaves the listener with an open-ended question: how does one navigate these emotional waters? By avoiding a clear resolution, Barry Can’t Swim lets the listener sit with the discomfort and uncertainty, a move that feels as raw and honest as the emotions being described.
Layered Production and Sonic Texture
Musically, “How It Feels” is crafted with the same level of emotional depth as its lyrics. Barry Can’t Swim is known for blending elements of house, ambient, and downtempo electronic music, creating lush soundscapes that invite the listener into an immersive experience. In “How It Feels,” the track opens with a mellow, hypnotic beat that gradually builds in intensity, mirroring the rising emotional stakes conveyed in the lyrics.
The use of atmospheric effects, such as reverb-laden synths and echoing vocal samples, gives the track a dreamy, otherworldly feel, which contrasts with the down-to-earth vulnerability expressed in the lyrics. This juxtaposition creates an interesting tension in the song, as the ethereal production elevates the emotional stakes while the grounded lyrics keep the track intimate and personal.
The rhythmic elements of the song are equally important in conveying its emotional weight. The steady pulse of the beat gives the track a sense of forward momentum, echoing the feeling of falling deeper into love, even as fear and uncertainty swirl in the background. Subtle shifts in the percussion and bassline throughout the track ensure that the song never becomes monotonous, keeping the listener engaged and attuned to the emotional nuances present in the production.
One of the standout aspects of the production is how the vocals are treated. Rather than being front and center, the vocals are often slightly buried in the mix, as if they are part of the larger sonic environment. This production choice reinforces the idea that love is not always something that can be easily expressed or understood—sometimes, emotions are murky and difficult to articulate, just as the vocals are sometimes difficult to fully discern.
The Visual Component: Enhancing Emotional Depth
The music video for “How It Feels” complements the song’s themes of vulnerability and emotional uncertainty. The video features Barry Can’t Swim performing in an ethereal, dreamlike landscape, with soft lighting and atmospheric effects enhancing the song’s already rich emotional palette. The visuals, much like the music, evoke a sense of otherworldliness and introspection. The use of muted colors and hazy effects mirrors the internal fog of indecision that comes with falling in love, reinforcing the sense that the emotions at play are simultaneously beautiful and disorienting.
Interestingly, the video doesn’t rely on any overt storytelling. Instead, it uses abstract imagery to convey the feelings that the song evokes. This choice allows the visuals to remain open to interpretation, much like the lyrics themselves. The viewer is invited to project their own experiences of love and uncertainty onto the video, making the song feel even more personal and relatable.
The dreamy landscape in the video also serves as a metaphor for the way that love can transport people to an altered emotional state. The soft lighting and surreal atmosphere create a sense of timelessness and placelessness, suggesting that love, in all its complexity, exists in a space outside of ordinary life. This visual approach not only enhances the emotional impact of the song but also adds to its accessibility, allowing the listener to become fully immersed in the experience of the music.
“How It Feels” as a Standout in Barry Can’t Swim’s Discography
Barry Can’t Swim’s body of work often balances emotive storytelling with intricate electronic production, and “How It Feels” is no exception. However, this track stands out due to its potent blend of lyrical vulnerability and sonic experimentation. The duo’s ability to craft a song that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable is a testament to their skill as songwriters and producers.
Moreover, “How It Feels” speaks to the duo’s versatility. While many electronic acts focus solely on creating tracks for the dancefloor, Barry Can’t Swim has shown that their music is equally suited for more introspective moments. “How It Feels” invites the listener to not only move their body but also reflect on their own emotional experiences. The track’s blend of ambient textures, emotive lyrics, and subtle yet infectious rhythms positions Barry Can’t Swim as artists capable of pushing the boundaries of electronic music while still maintaining a deep emotional connection with their audience.
Impression
In “How It Feels,” Barry Can’t Swim delivers a masterclass in emotional storytelling, using both lyrical and musical elements to explore the complexities of love and vulnerability. The song’s heartfelt lyrics, combined with its lush production and evocative visuals, create an experience that feels deeply personal yet universal in its emotional resonance. By focusing on the uncertainty and vulnerability that often accompany love, “How It Feels” stands out not only as a highlight in Barry Can’t Swim’s discography but also as a poignant exploration of human connection and emotional truth. The song’s ability to resonate with listeners on such a deep level speaks to its lasting impact, marking it as one of the duo’s most powerful and memorable tracks to date.
