New Song of the Week – THE FRONTIER: “It’s You”

I had knee replacement surgery at the beginning of the week, so have felt out of sorts as I contend with the residual pain, swelling and stiffness. That, combined with the continuous stream of bad news on seemingly all fronts, has put me in a bit of a funk. So it was a real joy – a blessing, really – to hear the wonderful new single “It’s You” by pop-rock band The Frontier. It was love at first listen, and I’m pleased to make it my New Song of the Week.

The Frontier is an unsigned indie-pop/alt rock band from Fairfax County, Virginia (west of Washington D.C.). Formed in 2016 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Jake Mimikos, a very kind, talented and funny guy who first released an EP Chaos to Clarity as a solo artist in 2015, The Frontier has released numerous singles and two EPs, most recently Luminescence in June 2019. One of the singles that appears on that EP is “Dark Places” a gorgeous song I loved so much that it went to #1 on my Weekly Top 30 and ended up at #15 on my Top 100 Songs of 2019 list.

Like many bands, they’ve undergone some changes in line-up over time, and now consist of Jake on vocals & guitar, Eric Boggess on lead guitar, Eric Dolinger on bass and Eduardo Santana on drums. I’ve followed both Jake and The Frontier since 2016, and have enjoyed all of their music. “It’s You” is a catchy and upbeat song of love and devotion sung to someone who’s made his life more worthwhile and complete. I love the exuberant and beautiful melody, and the plucky guitars, swirling synths, galloping bass and crisp percussion are perfection from start to finish. Jake’s vibrant vocals sound better than ever, and I think it’s one of their best songs yet.

The song was released around the time of Jake’s 38th birthday. In conjunction with the single release, Jake made a video featuring contributions of footage sent to him by fans. He explained: “As I get older, and my circle gets smaller, I feel deeply grateful for the people who have always supported me and continue to do so. I doubt this song will change the world, but maybe it will brighten up somebody’s day or mood just a bit. I especially appreciate everyone who participated in the music video. This was perhaps the most fun I’ve ever had putting one together. Thank you for your contributions. This song is dedicated to…you guessed it..YOU! This will be the last song I release under The Frontier for a little while. I’m gonna take a break and focus on myself and maybe do some solo shows here and there.”

Well, the song and video certainly brightened my mood! Thank you Jake and The Frontier.

So many nights I wondered
Wondering how long this could take
How much time I wasted
Thinking about how many more mistakes I could make

Oh oh oh
And it’s you I finally found the light
Oh oh oh
And it’s you because it feels so right
Oh oh oh
And it’s you until you change your mind
Til we’re out of time

So many lies I told myself
All of the loneliness I felt
It disappears with I’m with you
And I know that you feel it too

Oh oh oh
And it’s you I finally found the light
Oh oh oh
And it’s you because it feels so right
Oh oh oh
And it’s you until you change your mind
Til we’re out of time

Ooh, the time I wasted, chasing, waiting
Ooh, the time I’ve wasted, chasing, waiting

And it’s you I finally found the light
Oh oh oh
And it’s you because it feels so right
Oh oh oh
And it’s you until you change your mind
Til we’re out of time