The Linda Lindas Find Their Perfect Match on “Closer”

Pop-punk isn’t dead: The Linda Lindas and Hayley Williams’ “Closer” collaboration is passionate and moody

The Linda Lindas and Hayley Williams have built genuine careers around turning vulnerability into something beautifully loud. Their new collaborative single “Closer” is the second single from the Linda Lindas’ upcoming third album, Gotta Get Out. From the opening seconds, it is revealed just how unapologetically emo the song is. The track blends pop-punk guitars and lyrics that feel ripped straight from the golden age of 2000s emo. The pounding drums barely let the track slow down, reflecting the emotional aspect of the lyrics. Yet, even when the melody does decide to soften, there's an underlying tension that never disappears, as if the song is racing against time.

“Closer” dives into deep fears of growing older and realizing that change is inevitable. The repeated chorus “Each day getting closer” almost feels ominous and terrifying. It reminds listeners how uncomfortable it is to have your life gradually change without notice. But the song is less about physical closeness and more about trying to cling to the life you have now instead of allowing the future to come in and change all that you know.

It’s a feeling that's difficult to put into words, a gradual series of moments that feel like childhood is slipping away while adulthood still feels completely out of reach. 

The lyrics are dramatic, emotional, and messy, exactly how those feelings tend to be. The line “Oh, the seconds go fast, how much time do we have?” perfectly captures the sense of anxiety that runs throughout the entire song. A simple lyric, but surely one that everyone can relate to. When paired with the song's relentless drumming and guitars, the line weighs the heart down further into a state of dread. 

Hayley Williams’ vocals naturally flow with the Linda Lindas’, adding that signature rasp Williams brings to every song. The bridge, which she assisted in writing, briefly lets the song catch its breath before exploding into that final energetic chorus. With this, the song feels like a genuine collaboration rather than just two artists taking turns singing. “Closer” completely commits to its emotions, and there's no pretending to be too cool to care, embracing the emo vibe. Yet, the Linda Lindas were able to modernize these 2000s emo influences and make the song incomparable to any other. 

As the second single from Gotta Get Out, “Closer” sets high expectations for the rest of the album, releasing on Aug. 28. Beneath the song's infectious hooks is a song of pure vulnerability and passion. Whether listeners grew up during the peak of the emo era or are discovering the genre for the first time, “Closer” captures what made so many people fall in love with pop-punk in the first place. This song could easily become the soundtrack to every dramatic, emotional walk home.