Joejas Single Review: ‘Left Hearted Bandit’

Left Hearted, rightfully loud: Joejas’ adventurous new single explores Love Outside the Lines

Jojas slams on the breaks for his second single release of the year, Left Hearted Bandit, as he raps to a slower backbeat paired with his signature funk hip-hop sound. The imaginative, off-centre UK rapper explores romantic relationships through the lens of someone who doesn’t conform to traditional expressions of affection.

Not heartless, just misunderstood. In this 3-minute-long slow jam, our narrator dives into feelings of confusion and being the outsider in a world full of insiders. Lyrically, Left Hearted Bandit gives every impression of being both unpretentious and vulnerable. Joejas lays it all on the table announcing, “Most times affection makes me nauseous, I thought that would leave when the twenties start to crawl in,” highlighting that the rapper believed he would grow out of those feelings. 

As the sole producer, director and star of the accompanying visuals, Joejas infuses every aspect of the music video with his unique artistry, using cartoon-style shots to paint his story. Shockingly bright colours, unorthodox storytelling and abuse of the saturation filter, Joejas isn’t one to shy away from loud graphics. 

The song’s production is both striking and intimate, with a beat that shifts seamlessly between mellow and urgent, mirroring the inner conflict expressed in the lyrics. His sweet delivery alternates between unapologetic rap and melodic hooks, capturing a sense of emotional duality. His self-reflecting lyrics resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of sync with societal norms, a recurring theme in Joejas’s past projects such as his last single WTF.

Joejas proves yet again that he’s a fearless artist with a distinctive voice that’s certainly worth paying attention to!