Carly Rae Jepsen Crafts Self-Reflective Album The Loneliest Time

Written by Alejandro Mejia, Photography by Meredith Jenks

“The moon is not just for lovers, it is for any lonely soul that longs for something more. The moon contains all of our secrets. It evokes feelings of longing, hopefulness, sadness, and even a little romance. It’s a reminder to us in its constancy, that even when we are having The Loneliest Time, we are never really alone.” -Carly Rae Jepsen

Most well-known for her breakout single “Call Me Maybe” and her legendary status within the LGBTQ+ Community, Carly Rae Jepsen has returned after four years with The Loneliest Time. In this album, Jepsen continues her long-standing musical tradition of poignant, self-reflective lyricism wrapped in intoxicating pop perfection. The Loneliest Time is a keenly mature album whose subject matter covers the pain and freedom that comes with solitude. Written throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jepsen said on Instagram that “[The Loneliest Time] came together in isolation but it came alive on the road. Releasing [this album] has been fun, healing, scary, silly - somehow all at once.” Throughout this album, Jepsen eloquently articulates the ups and downs that come with grief, exploration, identity, solitude, and love. 

With tracks inspired by folk, Western Country, 80s synth, modern pop, and disco, it is incredible how every track of The Loneliest Time flows into one another. In this body of work, every track has a purpose in the narrative. Not a single song is a waste of space. The transitions between songs are genius and the production invites Jepsen’s soft, expressive voice to take control. Production of The Loneliest Time could be considered minimalist compared to Kiss's (2013) saccharine tracks or the explosive E.MO.TION (2015). Every note serves as a nerve ending to The Loneliest Time, and the album’s production focuses on creatively utilizing Jepsen’s voice to successfully lead the narrative. This stylistic evolution enhances the listening experience, as the listener is engaging with the most evolved version of Carly Rae Jepsen.  

Although every track is golden, highlights of The Loneliest Time include “Surrender My Heart,” “Go Find Yourself or Whatever,” “The Loneliest Time,” and “Keep Away.” These mini-reviews are bite-sized works, to fully appreciate each track listen to the album as a body of work. 

Surrender My Heart

“I'm sorry if I push your good away, especially when I'm needing you to stay.”

“Surrender My Heart” opens The Loneliest Time with Jepsen at one of her most lyrically vulnerable moments. She is holding herself accountable for the times she pushed people away hoping to protect herself from loving too hard. “Surrender My Heart” is a stark contrast from the Carly Rae Jepsen that fans have familiarized themselves with. This track paints the picture of someone who has become painfully aware of the role she had in the failure of past relationships. In the first verse, she tells the listener that she paid her therapist to get her to toughen up, not expecting that they would tell her she needs to soften up and “Surrender Her Heart” to whatever comes next. This song is not about wallowing in self-pity. By acknowledging her own failures, Jepsen rejects an anxious-avoidant attachment style so that she may grow in a new relationship. “Surrender My Heart” acts as the perfect prologue to The Loneliest Time because it frames the album as a spiritual work in progress. Jepsen has not left therapy, and by opening up her heart, the work is not over, only begun. 

Go Find Yourself or Whatever

“I wake up hollow, you made me vulnerable. So go find yourself or whatever.”

“Go Find Yourself or Whatever” is the penultimate track to The Loneliest Time and it is the emotional climax to an otherwise airy and upbeat album. The energy shifts from the bright, disco-laced “Shooting Star” to a somber, western-inspired ballad. The beauty of this track lies within its punching openness and understated production. This song is one of the most notable ballads in Jepsen’s career and is a painful and lonely goodbye to someone she has not let go of yet. This song is about Carly telling them that even in the wake of her abandonment and loneliness, she hopes they will find happiness in their freedom. All the while she will wait for that person to come back. 

The Loneliest Time (Feat. Rufus Wainwright)

“And in the morning, sun hits the water. Is this nirvana?”

“The Loneliest Time” is the grand finale of the non-deluxe version of the album, and it acts as the perfect closer to a stellar album. As an up-tempo disco, pop record, Carly Rae Jepsen and Rufus Wainwright triumphantly uplift and whisk listeners to the moon and back. The spatial quality of the audio production produces a dreamy soundscape for listeners to enjoy, all the while Jepsen and Wainwright sound absolutely divine together. Jepsen’s pop tone with Wainwright’s theatrical sound lends itself to the celebratory mood of the track. “The Loneliest Time” was the perfect song to be chosen as the title because it represents the entire journey. From opening up to love, growing spiritually, and accepting her faults, Jepsen feels healthy enough to pursue the love she knows she deserves. “The Loneliest Time” represents the end, rather than the beginning or middle of this time in Jepsen’s life. It’s both the dream and the awakening. 

Keep Away 

“Just one word from you and I'm all out of reasons, close the door, I've been yours for the longest time.”

As the final track to The Loneliest Time (Deluxe), “Keep Away” feels like an alternative ending to the album. Whereas “The Loneliest Time” is a celebration where Jepsen chooses to pursue love “Keep Away” is her pushing that love out of her life. “Keep Away” is lowkey without being blasé or disinterested and is a cautious and pained song that serves as a foil to both “The Loneliest Time” and “Surrender My Heart.” She has done the work and taken the time to heal, but she still runs away from the pain of being abandoned. Jepsen is still available to be loved by them and is willing to go back, but she is fighting that urge at the same time. At the end of the song, listeners are left with the creaking of a door, though whether opening or closing is entirely up to interpretation. Is this lover opening the door for her again, or is she leaving for the final time?

The Loneliest Time is Carly Rae Jepsen at the top of her game, and it conveys her respect for the pop genre and her fans. Jepsen’s greatest strength has been cultivating an artistic identity that allows her to explore her sound and aesthetic, and this album is a testament to that. She has succeeded in attaining longevity in the music industry and successfully carved another entry into the dogma of pop music.