Qulture Magazine

Words: Song Gao

90s alt-rock–inspired singer Melanie Baker blends Weezer-style guitar riffs with Blink-182-like pop-punk energy on her latest single Bored — a track that feels both playful and emotionally conflicted. The Newcastle based artist describes the song as “silly and un-serious”, a sharp contrast to her usual “sad, angst-y doom and gloom” songwriting. And she’s absolutely right: from the very first listen, the song’s light-hearted surface immediately clashes with its emotional depth — and that tension is exactly what makes Bored so engaging.

Lyrically, Bored tells a heartbreak story filled with mixed emotions. The track jumps straight into the verse without any prelude, opening with “I’m sick of getting it all wrong”, followed by the repeated line “I don’t wanna talk to you!” — a burst of frustration and disappointment that sets the tone. When the chorus hits, Baker sings “I’m bored” — but the line is loaded with double meaning. It can be read as “I’m boring, I want to be loved”, or “I’m bored of you, I’m done.” In this ambiguity, she captures a painfully familiar feeling: wanting to walk away while still secretly longing for the person you’re trying to leave behind.

Musically, the song mirrors this emotional conflict perfectly. The arrangement is simple and direct, driven by a “silly and unserious” guitar riff that contrasts with the heaviness of the lyrics. You can clearly hear the pop-punk influence of Blink-182 in the chord strumming and drum patterns, while the playful, slightly silly guitar tone recalls early Weezer. Even the pause on “I’m bored!” feels intentional — like a sarcastic sigh mid-argument.

Beyond the main structure, the details make the track shine. Small sound effects and subtle variations — like the short, dramatic guitar accent after “Just beating your own drum?” in the first verse, and the slightly altered phrasing in the second — add layers of personality. These tiny changes reward close listening and make the song feel alive rather than repetitive.

Bored shows a new, fun side of Melanie Baker — messy, loud, and painfully relatable. It’s a promising glimpse into what’s coming next.

Her debut LP Somebody Help Me, I’m Being Spontaneous! will be released on April 10th.