Grammy-winning alt duo Twenty One Pilots makes a big comeback with “Jumpsuit” & “Nico and the Niners,”singles from their 3rd major label LP, ‘Trench.’

After a three-year hiatus, Twenty One Pilots are back.  The Grammy-winning duo who accepted Record of the Year sans pants announced their third major-label studio album, Trench.  Ahead of Trench, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun released two singles – “Jumpsuit” and “Nico and the Niners.”   

Like “Jumpsuit” that precedes it, “Nico and the Niners” has a conceptual narrative.  On the hook, he references Dema – an apparent imaginary place – and bishops.  On “Jumpsuit,” thanks to the accompanying music video, we learn that bishops are blind to the color yellow, something that at least carries over in part.  On the hook, he states:

“East is up, I’m fearless when I hear this on the low / East is up, I’m carless when I wear my rebel clothes / East is up, when bishops come together they will know / Dema don’t control us, Dema don’t control / East is up.”

Besides the implying jumpsuits, he also explicitly references them on the chorus.

“I’m heavy, my jumpsuit is on steady / I’m lighter when I’m lower, I’m higher when I’m heavy / I’m so high, my jumpsuit takes me so high / I’m flying from a fire, from Nico and the Niners.”

Final Thoughts

Interesting stuff.  What about some observations about the song beyond the lyrics? “Nico and the Niners” features reggae-infused production, which parallels the likes of Blurryface hits “Stressed Out” and “Ride”.  Throughout the course of the record, the production is excellent, filled with eclectic cues.  The 808s, guitar, and synths stand out in particular. Joseph’s vocals are clear and expressive, particularly on the chorus which features both natural and pitch-shifted vocals.  Also notable, rapping Tyler returns.  All in all, “Nico and the Niners” is another compelling single from Twenty One Pilots, even if the theme and concept are a bit difficult to follow.

Twenty One Pilots • Trench • Fueled by Ramen • Release: 7.11.18

Photo Credit: Fueled by Ramen