Free Range is the project of Chicago-based musician Sofia Jensen (they/them), and “Hardly” is the lead single released ahead of their sophomore album, Lost & Found. The alt-folk meets indie-rock 21-year-old artist describes their new album as a deeper dive into the art of heartfelt songwriting; “I have a pretty easy time being honest lyrically and in music, and it feels like such an avenue for me to just express.” However, this approach has its challenges. Lost & Found is filled with musings on how to bring this vulnerability into daily life, which isn’t always easy; “I’m a pretty private person and have a hard time telling people exactly how I feel… [it] is a lot harder than you think.”
The essence of “Hardly” delves into the experience of relying on someone, which can create an imbalanced and somewhat dysfunctional dynamic. Lines such as “I hardly notice when I measure you against me, but I could tell when you were pulling me through” alongside “All I wanted was just someone to look to, you hardly notice when I glance at you,” show what leaning on someone can do to oneself. It could be Jensen’s acceptance of having that support, which can sometimes feel undeserved. At the same time, it can also be them catching themselves when they realize they are asking for more than what is realistic from the other person. Jensen compares this push and pull to their experience with addiction, “The shelves and bottles I was so used to, they broke me, it’s true.” The difference here is that even between two people who care for each other, miscommunication can still happen. This is another relational theme that Jensen addresses throughout the song.
“Hardly” is Free Range’s first single off of their sophomore album Lost & Found, which comes out later this year on March 28th via Mick Music. Pre-save and pre-order the new album here and give “Hardly” a listen below:
Video by Miles Eden (@miles.eden) and Joey Lin (@cookie_cutter_houses)
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