Nashville indie Americana-rock trio Jon Worthy & The Bends released “Takin’ My Time,” an appealing, vulnerable track full of folky melodies, on Friday, May 17. There is still more to come, however; the song is the second single from the band’s upcoming third full-length record, Something’s Gotta Give, which will be released on June 28.
On the surface, “Takin’ My Time” seems like a straightforward folk-rock song with effortless vocals and sweet violins. However, its lyrical content goes a little deeper; the track captures the emotional swells that resulted when lead singer Jon Worthy went through a breakup, and its honest lyrics are universal to those going through the same heartbreak (“I’ve been takin’ my time/Trying to level my mind”).
“‘Takin’ My Time’ came about during a brutal part in my life. A 5-year relationship ended and I was struggling to come to terms with where I would go from there. Everything I had known and expected to happen in the future was gone,” said Worthy in an email. “This song is all about finding yourself again and coming up with a new identity.”
That post-relationship angst is palpable; it makes for an emotionally resonant song. The desperation builds throughout the track with increasingly intense violins and folky guitar, and the track finally ends with a clean stop, though Worthy yelps, “It’s killing me,” through to the bitter end.
The band’s upcoming album, Something’s Gotta Give, will be released on June 28, but in the meantime, check out “Takin’ My Time” via YouTube below and find Jon Worthy & The Bends on all streaming platforms now.
Abby Jeffers 