AtanariaLindsey Jordan, the brilliant mind behind Snail Mail, is nothing short of a virtuoso in translating the anxieties, heartaches, and fleeting joys of youth into sound. Snail Mail’s music isn’t just a reflection of the Gen Z zeitgeist; it is a mirror reflecting the raw emotional landscapes that so many traverse in their formative years. The power of Jordan’s work lies in its simplicity—a combination of jangly guitar chords, achingly honest lyrics, and a voice that is equal parts fragile and fierce. But to truly appreciate the significance of Snail Mail, one must delve into the depths of their discography, tracing the evolution of Jordan’s sound and the emotional resonance it strikes within the listener.
The Beginning: Habit (2016)
Snail Mail’s debut EP, Habit, is a window into the embryonic stages of Lindsey Jordan’s artistry. Released when she was just 16, Habit is imbued with a sense of youthful earnestness that is as compelling as it is heartbreaking. The six tracks are a study in minimalism—each song structured around Jordan’s crystalline guitar work and lyrics that are disarmingly candid. It’s as if Jordan has taken the listener into her bedroom, where every strum of her guitar echoes the confessions of a teenage diary.
The standout track, “Thinning,” encapsulates the EP’s essence. The repetitive, almost hypnotic guitar riff serves as the backbone for lyrics that speak to the crushing weight of anxiety and the existential dread that often accompanies adolescence. The beauty of Habit lies in its ability to convey complex emotions through deceptively simple arrangements. Jordan’s voice, still unpolished, carries the rawness of youth—untrained yet emotionally potent. It’s a sound that captures the fragility of being on the cusp of adulthood, where every feeling is both fleeting and overwhelming.
The Coming of Age: Lush (2018)
If Habit was an introduction, Lush is the manifesto. Released in 2018, Lush is an album that doesn’t just speak to growing up—it embodies it. The album marks a significant leap in Jordan’s songwriting, both in terms of lyrical depth and musical sophistication. Lush is aptly named; it is a lush landscape of sound, where each track feels like a different shade on a vast emotional spectrum.
“Lush” is drenched in the kind of bittersweet nostalgia that is often reserved for memories of first loves and lost innocence. The album’s opening track, “Pristine,” is a perfect example. The song’s jangly guitars and upbeat tempo belie the melancholy of the lyrics, which lament the unattainable ideal of perfect love. “I won’t love anyone else,” Jordan sings, capturing the melodrama of youth with such authenticity that it becomes universal.
Another highlight, “Heat Wave,” showcases Jordan’s ability to meld vulnerability with strength. The track begins with a slow, deliberate guitar riff, almost as if Jordan is hesitant to dive into the pain she’s about to reveal. But when the chorus hits, it’s a tidal wave of emotion—Jordan’s voice rises, strained yet resolute, as she sings of love that’s just out of reach. It’s a song that perfectly encapsulates the push-and-pull of desire and disappointment, the hallmark of young love.
Lush is an album that is as much about self-discovery as it is about heartbreak. It’s a coming-of-age story told through music, where each chord progression and lyrical turn reflects the process of growing into one’s own skin. And it’s this universal theme—of growth, of love, of loss—that makes Lush resonate so deeply with its audience. Jordan isn’t just singing about her own experiences; she’s tapping into a collective consciousness that recognizes the beauty and pain of youth.
The Artistic Maturity: Valentine (2021)
Three years after Lush, Snail Mail returned with Valentine, an album that marks a dramatic evolution in Jordan’s sound and artistic vision. If Lush was about the messy, chaotic emotions of youth, Valentine is about the complexities of growing up—how those same emotions evolve, deepen, and sometimes harden with age.
The title track, “Valentine,” sets the tone for the album with its lush orchestration and cinematic scope. The song begins with a haunting piano line, soon joined by a swelling string section that gives the track a sense of grandeur. But beneath this sophisticated arrangement lies a story of betrayal and heartbreak. “So why’d you wanna erase me, darling valentine?” Jordan sings, her voice dripping with bitterness and longing. It’s a far cry from the youthful innocence of Lush—here, Jordan is wrestling with the harsh realities of adult relationships, where love is often intertwined with pain.
Valentine is also notable for its experimentation with genre and sound. Tracks like “Ben Franklin” and “Forever (Sailing)” showcase Jordan’s willingness to push the boundaries of indie rock, incorporating elements of electronic music and R&B into her sound. The result is an album that feels more expansive, more textured, and more daring than anything Snail Mail has done before. Yet, despite this sonic evolution, the emotional core of Valentine remains unmistakably Snail Mail. Jordan’s lyrics are still as brutally honest as ever, grappling with themes of love, loss, and self-identity in a way that feels both personal and universal.
Latest Release : “Tonight, Tonight”, a Smashing Pumpkins Cover With A Twist(ed Mind)
Snail Mail has unveiled a surprise cover of The Smashing Pumpkins’ iconic 1996 track, “Tonight, Tonight.”
Lindsey Jordan, the artist behind Snail Mail, offers an uplifting rendition of Billy Corgan’s original, bringing her unique indie sensibility to the classic tune. This cover was recorded specifically for the A24 indie film I Saw The TV Glow, which officially hits theaters in Australia on August 29. In addition to contributing musically, Jordan also makes her acting debut in the movie, sharing the screen with fellow musicians Fred Durst and Phoebe Bridgers.
Though the cover was initially intended to be part of the film’s soundtrack, it ultimately didn’t make the final cut, which is why it’s absent from the digital version of the soundtrack. However, fans need not worry—Jordan has generously shared the track online, and it will also be available as a bonus track on the vinyl edition of the soundtrack, which you can pre-order.
Reflecting on the song, Jordan explained, “This all came together really serendipitously. We had been working on this cover to play on the Valentine tour, before I got the part. It came up early on because I have a tattoo on my right arm of the man in the moon to commemorate the first ever science fiction film, A Trip To The Moon, and the Smashing Pumpkins video for ‘Tonight, Tonight’.”
Jordan also noted the connection between her tattoo and the film’s storyline: “While reading the script, I discovered the arch nemesis of the Pink Opaque is inspired by the same imagery. I told Jane we were doing this cover in NYC, they came and saw it live, and the rest was herstory.”
You can listen to Snail Mail’s cover of “Tonight, Tonight” below and pre-order the vinyl edition of the I Saw The TV Glow soundtrack.
Why Snail Mail Matters: The Heartbeat of a Generation
Snail Mail is more than just a band—it’s a voice for a generation that often feels voiceless. Lindsey Jordan’s music captures the intricacies of growing up in a way that is both deeply personal and widely relatable. Her songs are love letters to the disenchanted, the heartbroken, and the hopeful—a reminder that even in our most vulnerable moments, we are never truly alone.
In a world where music is increasingly produced, polished, and packaged for mass consumption, Snail Mail offers something refreshingly authentic. Jordan’s work is a testament to the power of vulnerability in art, a reminder that the most resonant music often comes from the most honest place. Whether she’s singing about the anguish of unrequited love, the confusion of self-discovery, or the bittersweetness of nostalgia, Jordan’s music strikes a chord that lingers long after the last note fades.
Snail Mail matters because Lindsey Jordan dares to wear her heart on her sleeve in an era where such openness is often met with cynicism. She captures the fleeting, ephemeral nature of youth with such precision that her music becomes timeless, transcending the boundaries of age and experience. In Snail Mail’s world, every emotion is valid, every heartbreak is monumental, and every listener is invited to find a piece of themselves in the music. It’s this universality, combined with Jordan’s unmistakable voice and vision, that makes Snail Mail not just relevant, but essential.
