Beautiful fingerpicked guitar immediately draws you in, but it’s the chord changes that really make ‘Better At This’ soar. Jonie’s delicate indie-folk vocal carries shades of Adrianne Lenker and Julia Jacklin, surrounded by an intimate arrangement that remains wonderfully spacious despite its subtle layers. Close harmonies add further warmth, allowing the song to feel comforting even as Jonie explores one of life’s darker seasons.

Recorded in the California desert, ‘Better At This’ somehow sounds like its surroundings. It conjures wide, dusty expanses at dusk on a perfectly still evening, when everything has gone quiet and there’s nothing demanding your attention. A quietly breathtaking introduction to Jonie’s solo work, and easily one of the year’s standout debuts.

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