Then comes Runner Up, whose debut single, “I Wanna Be Late,” is an indie-pop explosion, with a heart on a denim-sleeved jacket, and a track for every overthinker. A high-energy fling with a clean, melodic sound, “I Wanna Be Late” is the type of song you’ll feel like you’ve heard your entire life before. It nails that liminal phase post-breakup when your head is ready to set boundaries, but your heart hasn’t given up on showing up unannounced. Runner Up doesn’t move around the mess we make of our lives.
The lyrics alternately shift between emotional distance and optimistic glimpses of reconciliation, highlighting the mental war that characterizes so many relationships today. It’s a song about waiting for closure that may not come, and showing up anyway, emotionally hungover but dressed for the possibility of healing. The genius of the track is how effortlessly it bundles emotional tension into toe-tapping brightness. The instrumentation is crisp and lively, a pop-forward cushion for some surprisingly raw feelings. The contrast is intentional and effective.
There is an authenticity that peeks through the noise vocally. This blend of authenticity and polish is a strong hint that we might get more than a one-hit wonder. “I Wanna Be Late” is about the awkward, in-between emotional purgatory we all hate to admit we’ve taken up residence in. And in the process, Runner Up is entering the conversation and driving it with a smirk, a side-eye, and a beat that you won’t be able to help but hit repeat on.