by Jorge Velez (@funnylinkedin)
In a world that is in constant panic from a looming end, the sitcom allows us to reflect on our existential dread via community and laughter. In watching shows like The Office or Parks and Recreation, we feel better about our loneliness because we’re empathizing with people like ourselves. Philadelphia-based musician Jake Lazovick claims he has been in an existential crisis since the fourth grade, and under the very moniker of Sitcom, he aims to empowers himself with the radical self-love and optimism needed to tackle the monotony of everyday living. Thus, his latest record’s title, Be The One You Love, makes a lot of sense as a mission statement, as he turns his life into the warm afternoon television series we can all find comfort in as to simultaneously reflect on and better understand our lives.
On feel-good opener “Orange Slice”, Lazovick explores keeping love close through nostalgic lenses; memories of friends getting into college and first kisses shape new love as a way into the fountain of youth. Over dreamy guitars and groovy beats akin to Homeshake, Lazovick sings with himself on a pitch-shifted hook beckoning his love to stay, “Haven’t felt like this for a while now / But when you come around I calm down / And I want you”. This powerful use of the law of attraction, grouped with an impeccable work ethic, is a deadly combination towards enlightenment. With infectious confidence, he is like Kero Kero Bonito as he delivers his step-by-step process on productivity, “Keep your mind on your work / Keep your work to yourself / You don’t need to talk about / This ain’t show and tell / Just show your work when your work is done / If you aren’t working on your work, well what your work become?”. In spite of insidious thoughts, Lazovick stresses that no matter what anyone else says, the best way to silence critics is in dedicating oneself to the laborious work goals prescribe.
It’s easy to label Lazovick’s brand of optimism as childish or not grounded in reality. However, it’s his deep self-awareness that serves much like the sitcom, shifting cynicism into a platform for motivation. On “Wake Up Jacob ft. Orion Sun”, he samples Brockhampton’s Meryln Wood shouting, “Don’t call me stupid!” to create something exciting from rejecting elicited criticisms. He realizes life is grim but doesn’t want that to be the larger takeaway of his work, rather he searches to find redeeming factors in life and to share them proudly so we may find gems in our own day-to-day existence.
However, this doesn’t mean Lazovick avoids sadness. On “Forget Yourself”, Lazovick somberly sings like Frank Ocean or George Michael, dedicating an intimate moment to really sit in his feelings. The melancholic hook of “I’m staying only for tonight” showcases the regretful vulnerability of love with a clear time limit. In this way, Lazovick aims to sculpt a spectrum of moods, something more real to the array of human experience. There’s clear highs and lows, but ultimately a need to continue on, with Lazovick musing to the listener the best piece of advice one could offer: the best way to move forward in life is remembering to be the one you should love most.