JOA finally releases her stunning and beautiful debut EP ‘Previous Problems’

Oslo-born singer/songwriter JOA first popped on our radar in 2024 with her brand of contemporary bedroom pop anchored on themes of adolescent struggles and growing pains. Her debut EP Previous Problems spans 5 tracks that cover several topics from youthful friendship dynamics, heartbreak, self-doubt and anxiety. JOA holds nothing back and gives audiences a glimpse into her life, pain points and how she traverses these issues.

Each track on Previous Problems tells a story from JOA’s teenage years, written between the ages of 16 and 19. From the yearning vulnerability of "Golden Years," written during the pandemic, to the raw self-reflection of "A Little Kinder," the EP showcases JOA’s gift for turning deep emotions into unforgettable melodies. The lead single "Let It Go" is a raw acoustic piece that sees JOA coming to terms with a past love and the swirling emotions that are left scattered in her head. Armed with her commanding vocal tone, soothing melodic runs, and candid lyrics like "Tell myself it's for the better to let go, I know/And time will show/if I am better off alone/When you're gone are you even gonna miss me? One day I'll look back at you like history." The heartfelt "I don't want nobody but your body" digs into the undeniable yearning for that special someone while dealing with her insecurities and the difficulty of letting go. The title track, "Previous Problems," serves as the heart of the EP—an anthemic, bittersweet ode to avoiding conflict in relationships. “We don’t care about letting go, man / Let’s forget our previous problems,” JOA sings over shimmering synths and a pulsing beat, perfectly capturing the push and pull of young love. “It’s about sweeping things under the rug because facing them feels too overwhelming—but deep down, knowing you can’t avoid them forever.”

JOA explains further “I remember writing the words Previous Problems in my notebook as a reminder to face the difficult emotions I was going through,” JOA shares. “It was my way of taking back control—turning things that felt overwhelming into something tangible. Now, at 20, I’m ready to leave those struggles in the past.”

Listen to Previous Problems on all DSPs here.