Ballads 1 – LP – Joji Ian Farrugia. 16.10.

2020

When a person passes by a record store window and sees Joji’s 2018 Ballads 1 displayed, it is
doubtful that their first thought of its musical content is a melodic delivery of heartbreak, loneliness
and growth. And in the more likely case, when one of such melancholy hits in Ballads 1 as Yeah Right
and Slow Dancing in the Dark plays from a music streaming service playlist, someone that does not
follow the work of the musician is likely to be surprised by the devilish grin and red eyes in the
accompanying picture.

The cover image of Ballads 1 displays Joji Miller himself. His head is leaned back, likely to an
uncomfortable angle. His Adam’s apple poking out; eyes puffy and red; teeth shining through an
open and demonic grin. His messed black hair, blending in with the backdrop in its dark shades,
almost cuts away at the image of his face in sharp angles as if giving him horns and triangular ears.
One can make a direct comparison to the grimacing devil masks of Japanese tradition. Additionally, a
layer of film grain is visible. It is unclear what the nature of the image is, whether it was taken by a
friend or with this purpose in mind. The alleged full version of the image exhibits Joji bearing some
unclear brown object of fur and displays red scratches across his back; it is to a degree disturbing.

As was previously described, one would not consider the photograph to fit the songs in Ballads 1 at
first glance. [Disclaimer: Joji is very present across the internet, thus the amount of time that it
would take to find the interviews where he discusses the subject matter in the following paragraph
is unfeasible] Upon recollection from internet forum user some_random_old_guy Joji may have
stated in interviews that he chose this picture because of its creepiness, because he wanted that sort
of mood to accompany the tracks. Upon viewing the corresponding music videos this becomes
clearer. According to user SuicidalFuccboi Joji mentioned that the picture serves as a vehicle for the
complexity of emotions buried within the music. A complexity that one may also fail to notice when
first listening.

As one that finds enjoyment in Joji’s musical ventures and has been long familiar with his past
internet video antics, my own present opinion is that the cover image can be seen as a badge of
authenticity; one that displays in its chaotic energy that this is the same person that ushered into the
2010s an excess of obscene, fascinatingly disgusting and offensive internet humour for the teenagers
of the period to dive into. The image cries that it is such musical content that Joji has been wanting
to create even during the comedic part of his career. It displays that while he has grown and moved
on, his artistic creations are ones authentic in nature. Not driven by monetary gain but in search of a
musical signature that is truly Joji Miller.
Comments referenced 15/10/2020 from Reddit users some_random_old_guy and SuicidalFuccboi
paraphrasing Joji’s reflection upon the cover image:
https://www.reddit.com/r/PinkOmega/comments/dnz9pw/whats_the_story_behind_ballads_1_alb
um_cover/