On May 2, producer Flume and artist JPEGMAFIA released an EP titled, “We Live In A Society.” The title of the EP, assumingly named in reference to the popular Joker meme, is not the only unique part of the release. It is a four-track EP full of unexpectedly catchy sounds.
Flume is known for his iconic collaboration that birthed the 2016 banger, “Never Be Like You (feat. Kai).” JPEGMAFIA is recognized for his distinct sound and flow, enjoyed by music enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. The two first collaborated on a track together in 2019 on a song titled, “How To Build A Relationship.”
The introduction to the EP, “Track 1,” shows listeners what it’s like to collaborate on a song. It’s accompanied by a fun, animated video on YouTube. The first four minutes of it consists of Flume and JPEGMAFIA messing around in the studio, exchanging playful banter during a jam session. Flume shows JPEGMAFIA different experimental beats he’s been working on, all of which the rapper doesn’t like very much, before they both agree on one beat, which takes up the rest of the song.
On the topic of this song, JPEGMAFIA informed his audience, “This track is one of many that Flume and I created back in early 2023. While our musical paths have since diverged, and this track doesn’t reflect where I am creatively in 2025 and beyond, I’m always proud of the music Flume and I make together. Maybe one day soon, we’ll release the rest of it. Who knows — we live in a society.”
The purpose of this song being included on this EP is very clear — no matter how much artificial intelligence (AI) can try, it can never recreate real human collaboration. AI can never replicate what it’s like to write a song together, choreograph a dance together, direct a movie together, or, in this case, create an EP together.
The duo joking back and forth about a “good” beat emphasizes how something that is “good” is completely subjective and based on the human perspective. AI does not know what is truly “good” art, so it spits out slop that it thinks humans enjoy — such as the Studio Ghibli “art” trend that’s running rampant on TikTok and X.
Within the “actual” song, after the banter, a person says over the beat, “How it’s supposed to feel.” Again, connecting this line to the story that this EP is trying to tell, Flume seems to be implying that this is how real music is supposed to sound — and this is how real art is supposed to impact its listeners, by inducing feelings that AI is unable to.
It’s the only “lyric” of the song, which some fans are disappointed about, hoping that JPEGMAFIA would rap over it. Others feel that highlighting Flume’s production skills was a valid choice. Still, many are disappointed as the video was released before the actual EP, so fans assumed the video was a promotional teaser, and the “full” version of the song would be released as part of the EP. However, that was not the case. Many await for Flume to release the full version without the talking, so listeners don’t have to skip four minutes of the song just to get to the “good” part.
The second track, “Is It Real (feat. Ravyn Lenae),” is the best one on the EP. Out of the four songs, this one is especially catchy. This is credited mainly to the smooth voice of the featured vocalist, Ravyn Lenae. Listeners may not recognize Lenae’s name right away. However, by looking at her artist profile, they can see that she is the singer of the catchy and cutesy number “Love Me Not,” which is currently trending on TikTok, with users worldwide bringing attention to it.
The track begins with a record scratch before JPEGMAFIA says the song’s title, his voice heavily autotuned and echoing: “Tell me how it feels / Now tell me, is it real?” This is likely a reference to the previous track’s lyrics. The beat drops before the piano backs Ravyn Lenae, who sings the only verse. A lyric in this verse is “I play to win.” This is a play on words of the phrase “pay to win,” which is used to refer to paying for overpowered (OP) abilities or items in a video game in order to win in that game. This can be compared to people paying for things like premium ChatGPT to cheat on school assignments, for example. Renae implies that trying one’s best is much more valuable than just paying to win.
If listeners were not convinced to stay and listen after the first track, they will definitely have to stay to listen to Lenae’s dulcet voice. Her soft tone contrasts nicely with the heavy electronic sound of the chorus. Her singing style is beautiful, and it sticks in the listener’s head without fail. Her voice is autotuned in the pre-chorus, but it doesn’t take away from its loveliness in the slightest. The lyrics are feel-good, encouraging listeners to jam along with confidence, feeling themselves and being proud of what makes them human.
Lenae’s bridge is more about living it up while you can, something that many college students relate to. She almost sounds like she’s whispering on the bridge, which is even more pronounced when the pre-chorus and bridge are layered together. As for the backing track during the bridge, the well-known “clap” sound only keeps the beat, which further highlights Lenae’s sweet voice. This was an incredibly smart choice, because it would have less impact if there was the noisy beat to back it up, but it would also be quite strange if it were completely a cappella.
After the bridge, the track builds up before JPEGMAFIA comes back with the chorus before the song ends, some quirky sound effects added in, making the song sound even more electronic. This can be in reference to real art being lost to and taken over by AI. Overall, this is a solid number to add to that pregame playlist.
The second-to-last song, “AI Girlfriend,” is interesting, falling under the genre of industrial hip-hop. The title likely throws listeners off from the get-go, and the lyrics don’t encourage critics to take this track too seriously either. However, it can be listened to as a commentary about the reliance and love for AI in our society as well as simply being a bop in general. Despite AI killing real art in some ways, the concept of AI inspires real art for others, such as this number.
The verses include an intriguing stylistic choice, having the last syllable of some lines repeat and fade into the background or be replaced entirely with exhales. This happens every few lines or so. It’s a highly unique element of the song, and it pays off quite well, cultivating an almost futuristic sound.
The chorus has a distinct drop that is well-loved by ravers. However, lyric-wise, it is simply JPEGMAFIA repeating the title of the number, feeling as if it lacks creativity. Though perhaps, some can argue this is the song’s point, referencing how all AI can do is copy over and over again, rather than create something new. This also connects to the last syllable of some of the lyrics being missing and replaced with soft breaths, showing that AI’s attempts at creating art would likely be half-baked and missing essential elements of what makes art really art.
After the first time the chorus plays, a robotic female voice is seemingly talking to JPEGMAFIA, excited about meeting him. Albeit a bit strange, listeners are led to believe this is the song’s intention — society should feel unsettled by AI.
The autotune over JPEGMAFIA’s voice is a stylistic choice that is enjoyable as well as intentional. Listeners can infer that he wanted his voice to sound more robotic to emphasize what this number is about. Perhaps this is symbolic of society using and giving power to AI to the point that society is consumed by it, eventually becoming one with it.
An AI video of two people shaking hands was used for the Spotify banners of three out of the four songs of this project. Some fans are disappointed by this, but it was intentional to show that AI could never replicate the joy of human collaboration (like in this EP) without it being strange. However, it missed the mark with a lot of listeners.
The track’s outro described his “AI Girlfriend” as “bad luck.” However, despite this, he still wants and admires her. Although AI has many cons in our current day and age, both a layperson and a machine learning enthusiast cannot help but be curious about the new technology that arises, preferring progress over principles.
The EP’s outro number, “The Ocean is Fake,” begins with a floaty sound before a candid clip plays and JPEGMAFIA raps a verse. It’s sampled from Headache and Vegyn’s single “Miss Understood.”
Again, this unusual title makes for some hesitation amongst listeners. However, again, this can be seen as false ideas and narratives (such as the Earth being flat) being spread in society like a plague. Many people fall victim to being lost in an “ocean” of similar viewpoints, which is hard to escape from online, as algorithms often show users what they want to see. However, this fosters misinformation and eventual disillusionment.
In the introduction, JPEGMAFIA sings, “I don’t even know what’s the season.” This can be a reference to climate change — while people opt for sensationalized stories, they ignore scientific truths.
JPEGMAFIA truly shines in the one verse of this song. He raps, “She come around, but we don’t share the same space.” This connects to this digital day and age makes it difficult to foster real relationships with others. His words flow out of his mouth so smoothly, and it’s evident of what kind of lyricist he is through his plays on words. His laughs as a bit of a candid ad-lib at the end are fun, making the song feel casual and effortlessly cool.
Verdict: Although not well-known by the wider mainstream audience, Flume and JPEGMAFIA’s “We Live In A Society,” is an EP that listeners will enjoy if they are looking for lyrics about the realness of the human experience backed by unique, electronic sounds.
