Pleasure Trial’s latest electro-pop single release, “He’s Got It” doesn’t exist by itself. Instead, it picks up where “Alone at Night” left off, continuing a personal story moulded by emotions and clarity. While their previous song puts the spotlight on reminiscences and reflections after the end of their first long-term relationship due to the discovery of hidden truths, “He’s Got It” shows their experience through distancing and word-of-mouth truths of friends rather than direct confrontation. The song also hints at a shift towards clarity and self-assurance, capturing the moment of realising what is no longer worth repeating.
“He’s Got It” was born after learning that their ex-partner had been “hooking up with guys” whilst on holiday, with the lyrics written in isolation following a therapy session. Rather than focusing on the breakup itself, the song focuses on the internal conflict, reflected in lines such as “Why would you say one thing then go do the other” and the realisation that the good parts of the relationship could never be.
“I found out through a friend that when he was on holiday, he’d been hooking up with guys,” they explain. “I felt so much internal conflict. Why tell me you’re straight, and then do this?”
“He’s Got It” is built around the historically iconic 909 drumbeats, combined with glitch-pop synthesisers and a driving bass line. Together, these make up a catchy yet upbeat feel to the song within its the electro-pop genre. Lyrically, “He’s Got It” focuses on contradiction and delayed clarity. Rather than the framing around confrontation, the song reflects on the strain caused between words and actions, showcasing the frustration and struggle of realising honesty arrived too late to change the outcome of their relationship.
As a single release, “He’s Got It” works both as a continuation and progression for Pleasure Trail. By simultaneously pairing both emotionally charged writing with an upbeat electro-pop genre, the song displays a vital moment of experience which captures the artist’s reflection of events without being weighed down by it.