L’objectif’s ‘Burbank’ Captures The Desperation Of Identity In The US West Coast Spotlight

A character’s futile search for identity and a place in the world is brought to a desperate grasp at sanity while navigating the West Coast - Leeds-based rock band L’objectif are setting themselves apart from their contemporaries with their newest single, ‘Burbank’. 

Formed in 2017 by Saul Kane and Louis Bullock as a pop duo, the band has since evolved into a four-piece, with the joining of Abe Hussain on guitar and Sam Hudson on bass. Their first EP as a quartet, ‘The Left Side’, marked a turning point in their sound and identity in 2024.

Somehow with ‘Burbank’, L’objectif have managed to capture the melancholy of LA-native musicians like Current Joys and Slow Hollows while also injecting the infectious, driving energy of early 2000s pop-punk. The fuzzy guitars recall a nostalgia of a summer day, while the crashing drums bring to mind the arena-ready energy of The All-American Rejects and Weezer.

The chorus and mantra “Stop thinking that you know my name / It's in the papers, it's not the same“ are the perfect words to succinctly make the point of ‘Burbank’ and the tragic cycle of the entertainment industry.

‘Burbank’ feels like a late-night drive out of the valley and into the city, windows down and screaming at the billboards. As the song’s protagonist grapples with the paradox of fame and self-destruction, the existential tug-of-war becomes all the more apparent with lyrics like: “It’s the west coast / Yeah, it’s the only place I go / Where I hang my head in shame and still win a Golden Globe.”

The commentary on the entertainment industry is sharp and self-aware, reminiscent of The 1975’s satirical lyricism. There’s a sense of irony in the idea that someone can be publicly rewarded while personally unraveling.

The second verse shifts into a desperate plea, structured around escalating repetitions of different “I needs.” Each line builds upon the last, painting a picture of a person clawing for validation, connection, and meaning: “I need to be heard / I need to be loved / I need to up my prescription drugs / I need to be felt / I need to be touched / I need your so-called grace from above.”

The raw vulnerability in these lyrics is where L’objectif truly shines. Rather than romanticizing the struggle, they expose it with an honesty that is both uncomfortable and deeply relatable. 

Molly Spencer

@mollyspencr

Image: 'Burbank’ Official Single Cover

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