The 1975 unveiled the new song “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)” from their forthcoming record, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, which arrives November 30th. The song is a shimmering burst of Brit-pop packed with sparkling synths, jangly guitars and chorus of voices backing singer Matt Healey.
Despite the song’s optimistic aura, the lyrics are a heart-wrenching account of not just unrequited love but substance abuse as a coping mechanism. “I can’t stop sweating or control my feet,” Healy sings. “I’ve got a twenty-stone monkey that I just can’t beat/ I can stage a situation but I just can’t eat/ There’s a feeling you’re replacing embrace/ And it’s true that all I do is sit and think about you.”
In an interview with Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1, Healy called “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)” “the 1975-iest 1975 song since the 1975 debut record.” He added, “This has got a lot of ouridenitty in it. It kind of takes me back a little bit, but it’s still quite forward thinking.”
“It’s Not Living” follows previously-released Brief Inquiry tracks “Love It If We Made It,” “Give Yourself a Try” and “TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME.” A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships follows the 1975’s 2016 LP, I Like it When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It. The 1975 also plan to release another new album in 2019.
