“Are You Gonna Care When I Die?,” the latest single by Nashville-based pop singer Love You Later, is the kind of song you go to a concert for even when you don’t know any other songs on the setlist. It is “Get Into My Car” by Echosmith and “Here’s To Never Growing Up” by Avril Lavigne level catchy, led by a hook so simple yet so euphoric. An undeniable obsessed-on-the-first-listen kind of situation. The track is the follow-up to “Girl With Headphones,” the lead single off LYL’s upcoming EP, From The Window Seat, out on May 5th.
Love You Later is no stranger to strong pop hooks. Singles like “Harder On Myself,” “Keepintouch,” and “Brooklyn” highlight her gorgeous mezzo range and, on a technical level, her ability to create savory pop melodies reminiscent of one of her inspirations, Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff. She is also incredibly skilled as a visual artist, crafting meaningful photo and video concepts to accompany her music.
“Are You Gonna Care When I Die” was derived from a feeling of not being taken seriously as an artist, despite, at least to the perception of an outsider, her growing list of accomplishments and connections within the industry. She challenges those who choose to ignore her abilities and what she brings to the table, asking if they will act like they knew her and cared for her all along once she is no longer around; “Will I be worth the mention once I make it in the credits? / Will you finally pay attention when you hear I’m on my death bed?”
“I realized that the attention from these people was not worth my time or energy, and ultimately did not define me,” she said. “The song is a constant reminder to myself to regain my voice and power to tell my own story.” She channeled her frustrations into her music, and the result is this shimmering guitar and synth-led opus of a track that is almost designed to close out a show with the entire audience waving their arms back and forth in unison. In a rare moment of pure musical bliss near the end of the track, she delivers the title line once more, shifting the melody up ever so slightly as every musical element around her melts together perfectly; “I know you wouldn’t dare while I’m alive / But are you gonna care about me when I die?”
You can stream “Are You Gonna Care When I Die?” on Spotify:
Catch Love You Later on tour this spring:
May 5 – Nashville, TN @ The EndMay 22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All RightJune 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge