Joji's single “PIXELATED KISSES” Review
The end of 2025 saw the release of a new single from artist Joji, “PIXELATED KISSES,” for the first time since his record SMITHEREENS in 2022.
Deeply atmospheric, the track immediately pulls you in with a beat that is completely crushed. Reminiscent of a signal that has gone awry, not unlike the distant love interest being reflected in his lyrics.
This single effortlessly blends Joji's old sound with a renewed sense of longing and the vocal clarity he has gained over the course of his career.
Within the short run time of the song, coming in at under 2 minutes, the artist is able to pull you back into a similar landscape that he was able to lay out during the release of his record BALLADS 1, while remaining fresh.
Joji digs into a new level of vulnerability as he captures not only longing but also the seeking of validation from someone that he no longer feels secure about.
As discussed by Genius, the song centers around a phone call and only being disconnected from each other, at least through the phone line, when the power is down.
For many, this can be evocative of a deep—sometimes anxious—attachment to a person that you care about romantically. The distortion that sonically pairs with these lyrics expresses that emotional state.
In a culture so wrapped up in digital connections, it can become easier than ever to become deeply attached to the people we are seeking connection with; ultimately, in ways that become unstable for both people emotionally and energetically. However, this scenario is increasingly common, especially across Gen Z, and the song speaks to the growing anxiety behind modern dating. Now more than ever before, people are available at the touch of a button, so what happens if that instant connection begins to falter?
Having delved into heartbreak and moving on in his previous records, it's interesting to see how the artist is beginning to navigate talking about relationships through a new lens. With topics ranging from not being able to move on to someone else to pining after someone who has their eyes on another person, this digital element is yet another strand of the emotional throughline in Joji’s discography.
The track is an undeniable earworm that's been on repeat and an exciting new entry from Joji. Many fans of his original work will feel nostalgic elements in the sound he is exploring for his next project, while still attracting a new audience and reinventing his techniques for the existing fan base.
For fans of the original who want to hear something a bit different, he has also released a remix that embraces some of the glitchy sounds made in collaboration with the artist Yeat. Leaning even more so into the off-kilter feeling that the original track presents.
The release of this remix comes on the heels of the announcement of his fourth studio album via Palace Creek, releasing February 6th, entitled Piss In The Wind. If the single is any indication of what is to come, it's clear that people can get excited whether they have followed his musical journey from the beginning or are just joining along.