Jules Paymer’s recently released pop-punk EP Girls Will Be Boys brings you on a journey back to the headbanging days of New Found Glory, the emotional lyrics of growing pains, and the relatable experiences of living queer. Starting off with the title track, “Girls Will Be Boys” is filled with steady versus and a strong chorus. A three-clap count before the chorus begins and you’re off to the races. Aggressive guitar chords accompanied with runaround lyrics that somehow perfectly convey the mood and message they’re putting out.The constant feel of annoyance trying to explain of simply being one’s self. A seemingly “perfect” societal norm of a female's portrayal isn’t realistic and “you can call her the devil and say she’s different, just cause she’s loud and has an opinion." However, it won’t change who one is with stating “sorry the world you built got destroyed” and just simply put “Girls Will Be Boys."

Second track, “Mommy Issues," is a sort of garage rock track that brings a sense of self-awareness and healing while in a relationship with a significant other. A story of a push and pull of finally feeling okay with being vulnerable with someone who also just wanted to be heard and cared for as much as one would with lyrics  of “my baggage never felt this light”  and “I know we both know it’s just an excuse. You’re helping me cope, I’m helping you too."

Third track, “Naked," acts as a sort of follow up from “Mommy Issues” with the analogy of  physical intimacy and emotional intimacy and truly being naked with another. The reassuring validation to open up about one’s past with “..what I want more is behind your lips.That’s the kind of love we could be makin’. So for real this time, can we get naked?” 

 Fourth track, “25," is a meaningful chronicle starting with the observation of others and their yearning views of the future, as opposed to one who never exactly planned for the future. It’s a realization of gratefulness of making it so far and finally finding one's true self, while being unsure with the idea of not knowing what to do next, “I don’t know how to live, now that I want to be alive. ‘Cause I never saw me living past 25.” Fifth track, “The Mother That My Daughter Wanted” (featuring Miki Rastula) starts with a piano arrangement similar to a childhood nursery rhyme and a tale of growing older while being haunted by the perfect child that one used to be. “I’m so sorry she doesn’t exist. She’s not real, but damn it, she feels like she is.” Last track, “Lost Cause” is a proclamation to the universe of simply just wanting answers to life. While making mistakes and “wreaking havoc at the womb” seems like the only way to get answers, the idea of making mistakes also appears to result in its own consequences. “Nobody’s got the answers to my questions, maybe he’s just teaching me a lesson because he doesn’t want me kickin’ it in heaven.” 

With lyrics that keep you listening from beginning to end with a vivid image and purposeful flow, Jules Paymer is a growing artist to keep your ear out for. 

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