Jolé’s latest single, “All I Need”, is an atmospheric ode to the complex and complicated layers of a growing relationship. Mature in sound and message, Jolé’s voice and instrumental accompaniment delicately drip with bittersweet nostalgia as the song explores the effects of longing.
A soft and warm track, “All I Need” tenderly approaches the realities of a once-perfect relationship. Instead of lamenting for the past, Jolé calls to celebrate and appreciate the lessons unwittingly taught by those who pass through our lives. He acknowledges the healing process of recognizing an imperfect relationship, regardless of it being romantic or platonic, especially when times once seemed to be so flawless. “All I Need” is transformed into an unselfish phrase as Jolé croons lyrics such as “you are all I need” and “I give you all I need.” This idea of a collaborative relationship is born from “[h]oping you can work through it, to give someone all they need as well as you giving them everything that you would need too.” Rather than focusing on a hypothetical impending collapse of a changing relationship during a challenging time, Jolé chooses to focus on attempting to heal, on appreciating the aspects that might sometimes become lost beauty.
The video is beautifully paired to create what feels like a home-movie cinematic masterpiece. Both video and song possess a natural fluidity, Jolé’s soulful voice effortlessly sets the mood for the story of two lovers. Like the song, the video is quietly powerful in how it portrays intimacy, both individually and together. We watch two people fall out of love by peeking into their memories of easier times, the effect reminiscent of a sort of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind twist. It is hard to not sympathize with the female companion, her raw emotion elegantly conveyed through private moments of dance and quiet shots starring her without her partner. However, no matter how much we might desire whatever compromise is necessary for the two to return to their old video snippets, Jolé’s emphasis on development can’t help but reign realistically true.
“All I Need” is nothing short of emotional vulnerability at its creative best. Jolé deserves to be commended for his ability to understand relationships not at their worst or best, but at their most realistic. The result is an incredibly heartfelt and relatable track that will almost definitely have you caught up in the feels.
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