Audio Critique

Matthew Ngo
MUSI 1310.S01

Audio Critique: Why Don’t We, “What Am I”

The band Why Don’t We is a pop band that includes five members. The five members

are: Daniel Seavey, Jonah Marais, Jack Avery, Corbyn Besson, and Zach Herron. They

specialize in popular pop hits from 2016 through present. They have influenced many artists who

are popular today as well. All of the members were unique in the way they were found before

they were formed to Why Don’t We. Daniel Seavey became popular when he first appeared on

the show American Idol in 2015. His audition was remarkable to the judges. He was playing the

piano performing “ Hallelujah” and his voice kept changing into different vocals in a higher or

lower voice or scale during his audition.1 He was fifteen when he auditioned and performed on

the show. Around that time, he performed at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas in the Top Ten.

That day, Daniel recalled “ I was freaking out. It was a dream for sure. It was crazy to actually

play where I’ve seen pictures of. It was awesome.”2

In 2016, Jack Avery released a solo single called “Liar” and became a part of tour group

with Zach Herron, who was involved as well. Zach Herron grew up in Dallas, Texas, where he

sang in the choir in high school. Before Why Don’t We was formed, Zach used to do song covers

on YouTube. His most viral cover was “Stitches” by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes.3 Jonah

Marais grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota. He had a connection on YouNow, which is an

American broadcasting service to publish live videos and content. In 2016, he released his own

album When the Daylight’s Gone. Corbyn Besson, the fifth member of Why Don’t We, was

1
Boyer, Matt. “Daniel Seavey: American Idol 2015 Top 12 Profile.” American Idol Net, May 19, 2019.
https://americanidolnet.com/daniel-seavey-american-idol-2015/.
2
Boyer, Matt. “Daniel Seavey: American Idol 2015 Top 12 Profile.” American Idol Net, May 19, 2019.
https://americanidolnet.com/daniel-seavey-american-idol-2015/.
3
Gomez, Jasmine. “10 Facts About Why Don't We That Will Make You So Obsessed With Them.” Seventeen.
Seventeen, August 29, 2019. https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/music/a28859234/why-dont-we-facts/.
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Matthew Ngo
MUSI 1310.S01

raised in Dallas, Texas, exactly like Zach Herron. He only wrote one single called “The Only

One” and had a following on YouNow similar to band member Jonah Marais.

History of the Song

One of their most recent songs that came out in August was “What Am I,” a single

performed by the band themselves. It was a written ballad by Ed Sheeran, who wrote the song

and gave the band the piece to complete the experience. The director, Andy Hines, who made the

music video, shows the members of the band hanging out with their friends on the beach and

each member is serenading their crush by playing their guitars and showing love by the

campfire.4 The song symbolizes that love can be seen at first sight anywhere, any time. A news

website, The Morning Call, had an interview with all of the members of the band Why Don’t We

about how they developed musically with their development and expansion of their fifty to sixty

songs and up to their single that came out in August. Jonah Marais stated in the interview, “But

when a songwriter such as multiple Grammy-winning superstar Ed Sheeran — who’s penned a

dozen multi-platinum hits for himself as well as hits for Bieber, Taylor Swift and others — offers

you a song, you put yours aside and go with it.”5

Ed Sheeran also wrote another song for the band as well. He wrote “Trust Fund Baby”

back in 2018. Daniel Seavey had an interview with MTV talking about the song in 2018. He

stated, “This is probably the song that we’re all most proud of, just because of who it’s with. We

got the pleasure to work with Steve Mac and Ed Sheeran, our label mate. We just went in and

4
Shaffer, Claire. “Why Don't We Unveil Video for Ed Sheeran-Penned New Song 'What Am I'.” Rolling Stone,
August 23, 2019. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/why-dont-we-what-am-i-875838/.
5
Moser, John J. “Allentown Fair Concert Preview: With New Single 'What Am I,' Why Don't We Examines
Musical Options.” mcall.com, August 28, 2019. https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/lehigh-valley-music/mc-ent-
why-dont-we-allentown-fair-interview-20190828-nun6kyxrm5bkbm3lkoz7pqbgum-story.html.
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Matthew Ngo
MUSI 1310.S01

knocked this out with them, and it was the best time.”6 On Twitter, Why Don’t We posted the

cover art of the song a few days before the release date and fans were excited about it. On the

release date, sales were increased by digital, streaming, and radio. The band continued to grow

after the single’s release and the news about another album is unknown.

Description/Analysis
The recent single from Why Don’t We called “What Am I” brings in pop and serenading

music to the listeners. The music composition in this piece centers in four-bar measures and

moderate tempo. Each singer has their own part in the song. Corbyn sings the first verse and the

chorus along with Daniel, Jonah sings the pre-chorus, Zach sings the second verse, and Jack

sings the bridge after the chorus is being sung at the second time. At the beginning of the song,

the first verse starts off with an acoustic guitar and voice. In the middle of the first verse, there is

another voice heard, but it is quiet and hard to notice. At the pre-chorus, there is a guitar beat in

the first and third beat of a four-bar measure. In the chorus, guitar and voice is still being

presented in the piece, and at the end, an electronic beat comes in at the post-chorus. The song

centers in the chorus about how the performer want to spend time with their crush on the beach

and asking themselves who they are.

Tell me, have you seen a sunset

Turn into a sunrise?
Kiss right through the night?
'Cause we should try that sometime
Hold you 'til the mornin'
And if I said I'm fallin', would you just reply
"I know you are, but what am I?"7
6
“Why Don't We – Trust Fund Baby.” Genius, February 1, 2018. https://genius.com/Why-dont-we-trust-fund-baby-
lyrics.
7
“Why Don't We – What Am I.” Genius, August 23, 2019. https://genius.com/Why-dont-we-what-am-i-lyrics.
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Matthew Ngo
MUSI 1310.S01

There is a vocal gesture in the post-chorus, “ah-ooh” occurring in the third beat of the

section. The electronic beat stays in its place throughout the rest of the song except in the bridge.

At the bridge, only the acoustic guitar is present in the section. Every time the chorus ends and

moves on to the next section, there is a string sustain, which means that the final note goes silent.

The final chorus comes back with the backbeat and ends with a vocal sentence.