brb.’s first single of 2020 (the year started in June, right?) comes out swinging: It’s a potent, groovy track that you will want to get up and dance to – even if it’s in the middle of a furniture store. That’s not a figure of speech because the R&B-pop trio has captured the essence of radio-friendly pop to the point where I’m actually hearing their music out in the wild. “my type” is a subtle evolution of brb.’s sound, moving towards happier themes while maintaining their tried-and-true production formula.
“my type” leans heavily into the familiar tresillo beat pop motif – that ubiquitous rhythmic pattern found in countless chart-toppers. It’s that familiar rhythm of Ed Sheeran and Drake and Sia and… many, many more. This gives the whole track a readymade bounce that syncs up really nicely with its upbeat yet awkwardly flirty lyrics. brb.’s vibe is recognisable the moment the track opens up with its chord stabs. And if summer pop is your thing, you’re wholly on board the moment the kick and snare come in.
brb. knows exactly how not to overstay their welcome. “my type” clocks in at only 2:12 minutes long, and is brb.’s shortest song to date. At this point, it’s a science of what to repeat and what to keep fresh. The tresillo beat chugs along, accompanied by the same riff motifs (the chord hits, the marimba riff, the guitar fills). However, the verse melody picks up another catchy, much simpler rhythm – the ridiculously basic “down-de-de-down-down” sets up a busier prechorus and hook now elevated by call-and-response backing vocals. And that subtle melody shift in the line directly preceding the chorus (“you know we’re never gon’ be like”)? Super tasty.
I find myself really enjoying how Clarence’s vocals are treated on this one – they’re sitting a lot more in the mix compared to previous brb. tracks, letting you pay equal attention to the synth and guitar layers that sit alongside the vocals. And you really do ‘feel the vibe’ as a result. The vocal melodies are also generally faster-paced: the lyricism of “relationshit”-era was more deliberative, with instrumentals often pulled back to allow Clarence to flex his rap flow. In contrast, “my type” is completely locked in, marrying groove and vocals throughout the song. It feels cohesive and ultimately immersive, as if the song doesn’t break stride even as it moves quickly from section to section.
Which brings me to how I feel about the song: every choice brb. has made in crafting “my type” seems to be calculated for success. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic summer jam. But every trick in the book is used here: getting straight to the meat of the song in half a minute, heaps of repetition, and keeping the song real short so that listeners are encouraged to stream it again if they’re not satisfied. Don’t all these elements feel too familiar? From the beat, to the marimba riff, down to the rhythms of the vocal melody, it all feels like something I’ve heard on another massive summer pop hit.
At the end of the day, I just can’t shake the feeling that “my type” is a little too safe. But as with any good radio pop, I’m going to stop thinking about it and enjoy the vibe.
6/10
Listen to “my type” on Spotify, Apple Music.
There’s also a lyric video, if visual vibes are more your thing.
If you enjoyed this article, consider subscribing to the newsletter: every subscription helps us keep the conversation around Singaporean music going.