Brooklyn indie-pop favorites Eighty Ninety are back after a brief hiatus with "Heart On The Line," a cinematic and sentimental ballad about the pivotal and heart-wrenching crossroads in relationships. Fusing intimate storytelling, infectious melodies, and minimalist pop production, brothers Abner (vocals, production) and Harper (guitar, production) James have been creating one indie pop gem after another since the release of their 2016 debut single, "Three Thirty," and follow-up EP, Elizabeth. Eighty Ninety crafts their music with a less-is-more production mindset built on acoustic instruments and electronic sounds in a style they call "808's and telecasters." "Heart On The Line" continues in this same captivating, creative musical vein.
Lyrically, "Heart On The Line" speaks to the make-or-break moment in a relationship where one is confronted with the choice to continue fighting for the love and partnership that's been built or let it slip away. The duo comments, "It's a song about those moments when you have to really fight for what matters, and we recommend pairing it with a sweater and mug of something warm."
"Now I’m all choked up
And now I can’t sleep
Are we falling in love
Or apart at the seams?
Maybe we can’t know
Maybe love is the same as belief"
Elaborating on the creative process behind the song, Eighty Ninety writes: "When we produced 'Heart on the Line' we wanted it to feel personal - almost like it was recorded late at night after one of the midnight phone calls we're writing about in the song. But we also wanted the choruses to feel cinematic because even though feelings around these moments are personal, they can feel so huge. To show that contrast, we used minimal verses and lonely, distant counter melodies with sweeping, harmony-stacked choruses."
Interest in Eighty Ninety's music has been steadily climbing over the past few years, with the duo racking up over 26 million streams and press support from music blogs and major publications, including Billboard, Alternative Press and Ones To Watch. Check out the rest of the Eighty Ninety music catalog if you've haven't already done so!
For more information about Eighty Ninety, visit their official website, follow on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) and find their music on Bandcamp, SoundCloud, Spotify and Apple Music.