THEY JUST MET

Sometimes, the universe just knows when two people need each other. Sometimes, the universe understands that art is hidden and takes a stranger to fill in the missing piece. At least, that's how it was and still is for 24-year-old Sam Swinnerton and 23-year-old Ellie Kashinn of the duo We Just Met. 

Although their band name may sound like a fleeting moment, it carried more weight as it became their pact. The two have officially released their heart-wrenching and nostalgic debut single, "Big Black Hole"— a song Ellie left untouched before Sam. It wasn't until Sam came across Ellie on TikTok that he was compelled to reach out. From the beginning, he knew this song was the start of something special. The two wanted to lock down on this masterpiece and get to the end of the finish line, and the rest was history.  

For Ellie, the song was just a feel-good song based on a healthy, loving relationship. "When Sam asked me what it meant, I remember saying, isn't it obvious?" Ellie stated boldly in an interview I had with the pair.  However, Sam heard the complete opposite. "There's a line that says you're throwing me pennies, and I'm holding a cup and a cardboard sign, and I just remember feeling this unexpected pain." Sam, an aluminist of Syracuse, stated. He hoped to pursue his dream of acting, but music has been in his bones since he was a little boy growing up in Washington, DC. For Ellie, music was her passion. Her father, a gigging musician in Wisconsin, guided Ellie in ways that made her go after what she truly loved. While discussing goals, dreams, and aspirations, Ellie stated that she loved performing at her local open mics and putting herself out there to show what she had created. "Big Black Hole" was just one of the many. 

Like Sam, I discovered We Just Met while scrolling endlessly on TikTok. Buried in my algorithm, I was immediately captivated by the beauty of the composition, especially the lyrics. I constantly recall developing chills while watching their NPR Tiny Desk contest submission, in which they have now been selected to participate. It wasn't anything crazy, but that is what pulled me in. The rawness. Shot in a living room with ambient lighting, folk instruments, and a group of friends, I knew I was in a safe place. Hearing this song was the first time in ages that a piece of my heart longed for the sense of nostalgia and memory I received. The classics such as Loggins and Messina, Fleetwood Mac, and Dan Fogelburg shaped my childhood and became the soundtrack for significant pivotal moments. The melody of this song alone took me to a place I thought I had forgotten. While discussing the production with We Just Met, I mentioned how the song had hints of modern inspirations. Pheobe Bridgers' popular song "Scott Street" and how the end of that song explicitly targets the heart with that melody as well. I remained immensely impressed. The two did a fantastic job showing the distinctive talent that was We Just Met. 

When the two started chatting, Ellie was still living in Wisconsin, surrounded by her friends and family, and casually hopping on a Facetime call with Sam between her job and gigs. However, as the pair continued to dive deeper into their art, they realized that the digital distance started showing its flaws. They understood that to pursue this magic, they needed to be in the same room and enviorment. They had hit their first roadblock, but that didn't stop them. Ellie decided to move to New York, and in a cosmic twist of fate, her friend just happened to need a roommate. As I said, the universe knows when two people need each other. 

By the time the interview was finished, we had gathered our emotions and bittersweet moments. The two have an amazing journey ahead of them. As I hung up the call, I felt a sense of honor and pride, knowing that the world would be blessed with this work of art just a week after our interview. I'm still listening to the Tiny Desk submission, guys. You truly are beautiful souls.