The last few years have brought legions of well-warranted success to alternative pop artists, Jean Dawson and SZA. They each have released albums that have been successful both critically and commercially. One thing I didn’t expect to see, however, was these two artists converging so directly. One of my favorite surprises of this week’s catalog of music was a stunning collaboration between the two visionary artists. The song is titled, “NO SZNS” and it is genuinely astonishing, artful, creative, and innovative. 

The track opens up with a harmonic soundscape of woodwinds that sound like they were naturally carved. This tranquility is fleeting, however, as it transitions into some somber guitar chords and a verse from Jean Dawson that is agonizing in its writing and delivery. In the verse, Jean describes the relationships he has with the varying seasons of the year. From there, Jean introduces the first hook. The delivery, mixing, and overall shape of the melodies offer an anthemic atmosphere. Jean’s hooks have a tendency to do this, offering sonic moments that paint a vivid image of a stadium screaming alongside him. At the end of the hook, SZA joins the track with a passionate verse about a person of interest, and how they’re related to each season. Her timbre is captivating as always and her complex melodies are forever unpredictable and cathartic. Following her verse, the song enters its final hook as both SZA and Jean deliver it. If the hook didn’t feel anthemic before, the addition of SZA’s powerful vocals will make it so. Assisted by some of the most gorgeous production you will ever hear, this final hook is spine-chilling and will leave you preserved in the moment you hear it. Following this moment, the outro commences with some more woodwinds, which are among my favorite instrumentation of the song. They are so sweet, lush, full of life, and offer a stellar contrast to the content of the artists’ songwriting. 

A music video was released on Jean Dawson’s YouTube channel alongside this single’s release. It is cinematic, which shouldn’t be so surprising when you learn Jean Dawson went to school to study film (before he dropped out to pursue music). Aside from its stunning visuals, it offers further insight and varying perspectives into this otherwise enigmatic song. That’s one of my favorite things about Jean Dawson’s music. He tends to leave a lot open to interpretation, in the nature of a true artist. However, it’s not done in the lazy, “I’m not sure what this means either” way that some artists tend to do. He leaves plenty of breadcrumbs and his songwriting style seems to encourage different readings. I will gladly offer my interpretation of the song by its own merits, and then with the context of the music video. 

I read this song as an exploration of identifying and overcoming change. Change is, of course, characterized through the metaphor of seasons. Seasons occur naturally, they are out of our control, and with each, different circumstances take place. We have to adapt. We dress heavy to combat the cold in the winter, and dress light to stay cool in the summer. We sneeze in springtime and we drink warm drinks in the fall. The implications of each season change our daily lives and, therefore, our moods and emotions. Change is something that we all have to wrestle with. We run from it, but sometimes we chase it. Change can be a good or a bad thing. It can be scary, comforting, or impossible. In this song, the speakers’ relationship with change is less important than their lack thereof. The song’s title, as well as the mention of living in California where there doesn’t seem to be any major shifts in the season, invites the image of monotony. The speakers acknowledge that there is no change around them. Though each season makes them feel different and forces them to adapt to each, for better or for worse, they now realize that they are spinning their wheels, stuck in limbo. There is no change. There are no seasons. 

Being that this is a song review, I will keep my analysis of the music video brief, but I do think it’s an important aspect of understanding the song. In the video, we follow two children as they sit at a table and illustrate their lives with paper and crayons. Behind them, we see each of these experiences personified in a manner that reminds me of a stage play. It’s visually compelling, and lends itself to creative and inventive storytelling. There are disturbing images, including a jumpscare and graphic drawings. To me, the music video adds a coming-of-age perspective to the song. The children in the video seem to be attempting to make sense of the disturbing experiences that come with growing up. These things are even puzzling to adults, yet the kids are forced to live through them. The chaos and confusion of youth could be a juxtaposition to the monotony of adulthood as explored in the song. The music video is a welcome addition to the song, but one of its greatest strengths is that it can stand on its own two legs as a work of art that invites dissection and interpretation. 

“NO SZNS” was a major surprise for me. I’m already a fan of both artists, each having released classic albums in the last year. But their collaboration was something I hadn’t expected, nor realized how much I needed. This song and music video was crafted with immense passion and inventive creativity. I hope Jean and SZA will make more music together, but if this is the first and final installment of their direct collaboration, they definitely did their thing. In regards to “NO SZNS”, I have nothing but intense praise. If this was a one-time collab, I can confidently say, its execution was flawless and I can only gush about it. So, as we step into fall, give this song a listen and live in its world. It's beautiful and breathtaking. However, whilst listening, do your best to avoid falling into its morbid descriptions of the season. Good luck!

Author: Jordan

Jordan Wisniewski is a passionate writer and Hip-Hop artist from North Carolina, US.