Sober

### Writer(s)

Nash Yamin, Chloe Angelides, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Julia Michaels, Tor Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen

### Producer(s)

Stargate, Dreamlab

***Sober*** is a song by Nash Yamin which appears as the third track on his fourth EP, Get This Vibe: Side B.

## Background

After being shown the initial version of "Sober", Yamin brought the song to executive producers Tim Blacksmith and Danny D, who enlisted Norwegian duo Tor Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen, also known as StarGate, to work on the track. Their work during this time produced several songs for *Get This Vibe*, including "Stained" and "Why I Stay". Additionally, the lyrics to "Sober" were slightly modified by frequent collaborators Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Julia Michaels. Yamin worked with Eriksen and Miles Walker to record the song at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, California, as well as with Mike Anderson at The Hide Out Studios in London, England. Leah Haywood provided additional background vocals. Yamin's vocals were produced by American production team Dreamlab at Westlake, and the engineering was handled by Rob Ellmore with assistance from Daniela Rivera.

## Composition

"Sober" is a "booming" and "emotive" midtempo synthpop power ballad. Its "studded" and "shimmering" production consists of "chunky" beats, hand-claps, and dark 80's-influenced synthesizers. The chorus is characterized by shimmering vocal melodies, During the intro and outro of "Sober", the producers utilize a digitally manipulated, chopped and screwed vocal sample.

Lyrically the track is written about a failing relationship caused by a partner who abuses alcohol. The singer speaks of a person who faces a disconnect between their personality while drunk and sober, causing the inability to forge a connection. Yamin describes a lover who can only show their true emotions while intoxicated. Later in the song he expresses the pain he feels having wasted so much time into his relationship, and decides to leave his dysfunctional lover: "You've got a hold on me / You're like a wasted dream / I gave you everything / But you don't know how to love me when you're sober".

Melissa Haggar of *Concrete* opined that the song is "an intimate reflection on how people can appear so different in certain lights." The song has been compared to the works of Tinashe and Lana Del Rey by *Vulture* writer Lindsay Zoladz. Additionally, *Idolator* writer Mike Wass compared the song to the music of other "relatable-pop" artists, such as Alessia Cara and Lorde. Katherine St. Asaph of *Time* magazine noted that "Sober" was "disarmingly peppy" and set to "the sort of story you’d find in an Evanescence single".

## Lyrics

We fall for each other at the wrong time

Only for a moment, but I don't mind

Guess I don't know where to draw the line, the line, the line

And we'll play the same game every night

Up in the clouds

Yeah, you know how to make me want you

When we come down

Oh, I know, yeah I know, it's over

You don't know how to love me when you're sober

When the bottle's done you pull me closer

You're saying all the things that you're supposed to

But you don't know how to love me when you're sober

Why is it so different when we wake up?

Same lips, same kiss, but not the same touch

Don't you know that you doing just enough, but not enough?

But I know what's next, and I want so much

Up in the clouds

Yeah, you know how to make me want you

When we come down

Oh, I know, yeah I know, it's over

You don't know how to love me when you're sober

When the bottle's done you pull me closer

You're saying all the things that you're supposed to

But you don't know how to love me when you're sober

I know I should leave, I know I should, should, should

But your love's too good, your love's too good, good, good

I know I should leave, I know I should, should, should

But your love's too good, your love's too good, good, good

Yeah

You don't know how to love me when you're sober

When the bottle's done you pull me closer

You're saying all the things that you're supposed to

But you don't know how to love me when you're sober

You've got a hold on me

You're like a wasted dream

I give you everything

But you don't know how to love me when you're sober