Joshua Bassett released a 3-song EP which included the songs “Crisis,” “Secret,” and “Set Me Free.” In the songs, he responds to drama that has been going on for almost an entire year and tells his side of the story.
How it All Started
As you probably already know, Olivia Rodrigo became an overnight sensation after the release of her single “drivers license” on January 8, 2021. Not long after, she continued being the talk of the world by releasing “deja vu” and “good 4 u.” All of these songs, as others included in her debut album SOUR, released in May, reportedly are about Joshua, with whom she had a relationship in the past. The lyrics on these songs told Olivia’s side of the story in the relationship; which pretty much blamed Joshua for what happened between them and expressed how much he hurt her. But now, almost a year later, Joshua is finally telling his side of the story.
Joshua has explained that this entire year has been hard for him; mostly because of the hate he got from Olivia’s fans, and even getting death threats. “If you get to tell your truth then so do I,” Bassett sings over an acoustic guitar on “Crisis,” before setting the record straight: “Half the sh*t you’re saying is only half true, messing with my life as a career move.” He hopes his story will help others get through their lowest moments, and 100% of the single’s earnings will be donated to mental health organizations.
Regretting Decisions on “Secret”
Continuing the storyline, on “Secret” he expressed regret for the decisions he made. “My friends all warned me I should run for the hills, but I defended you still,” he laments. The trio of tracks ends with the powerful “Set Me Free,” a beautiful ballad about moving on. “Releasing these vulnerable snippets of my life is equally terrifying and beautifully liberating,” Bassett says.
Joshua Moves on With “Set Me Free”
“As stated in ‘Set Me Free,’ ‘it’s been a f*cking year,'” Joshua says. “While it’s been one of the most challenging periods in my lifetime by far; it has ultimately led to immense growth.” This is reflected in his new music. “I’ve been up, down, and everywhere in between. Each of these songs pinpoint a different moment in time, in my processing.”
If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out Joshua’s trilogy of songs. They each share a different part of the whole story and are meant to inspire others.
