Tessa Violet is an internet-born indie pop star who has been scoring millions of fans on YouTube and TikTok, releasing numerous collaborations and her hit 2019 album. Tessa has now joined forces with lovelytheband (drummer Sam Price, guitarist Jordan Greenwald and lead vocalist Mitchy Collins), an indie rock band known for their smash hits like “broken.” Tessa and lovelytheband have teamed up to remix her song “Games.”
The collaboration was born from the “Tessa x lovelytheband’s 2020 Tour,” which was cancelled because of the pandemic. Tessa shared, “Soooooo excited about having lovelytheband on Games!!! Honestly I feel like Mitchy’s voice on this song really pushes it over the edge!”
The beginning of the track slowly opens with a plodding beat, gentle vocals from Tessa and light static mixed with breathy sounds. The chorus introduces a shift. Guitar and heavier percussion begin, with the retraction of the introductory beat. Tessa and Mitchy sing together, “But you keep on playing games with me, games/And you always gotta play with me, play/And I hate the way you break and you take and you tear me down…” Tessa’s light voice works well with the playful slight rasp of Mitchy’s vocals.
Mitchy sings (instead of Tessa), “…I know that there’s somethin’ up/I just hate thе place that that path would lead me down/And I long to take you at your word, but then/All along you’re hiding even when you’re by my side.” He references having a gut feeling that something is wrong but fearing losing the game of the relationship. It’s largely about staring someone straight in the face, but still knowing they’re a complete stranger to you — lost in their own world of calculation and competition.
“Being cheated on is crazy making. You’re suspicious but then your suspicion is dismissed and you start to question your own sense of reality. Games for me is about the tension of suspecting something is up but being paralyzed because it doesn’t feel good to call someone a liar,” Tessa explained. She takes more vocal liberties on this track, possibly demonstrating a fiercer reaction to the cheating with this remix. There is also a bolder instrumental soundscape as well.
The original version of the track, featured on Tessa’s album, already included supporting vocals throughout numerous points in the song. The use of Mitchy instead of the chorus, and along with the chorus in some spots, creates a more fun and personal sound. It’s like an actual game — the voices are vollying back and forth, like two opponents in a match. This fits well with their playfully “Twilight” inspired music video. “Games” is someone deciding that if they’re being wronged, it’s time to learn the rules and play to win.
You can stream “Games” everywhere now!
Feature image via Tessa Violet & lovelytheband – Games (Official Music Video)
