“This is What Losing Someone Feels Like” by JVKE

“This is What Losing Someone Feels Like” cover art
Credit: itsjvke.com

“This is What Losing Someone Feels Like” is a poignant conversation with the person who is gone while also offering advice to listeners.

The co-writer and performer — 22-year-old JVKE, pronounced Jake — was born Jacob Dodge Lawson and is from Cranston, Rhode Island. The song was co-written by his brother Zachary John Lawson, a Grammy-nominated producer. It was released in March 2023 via the Jvke Music, AWAL label.

A simple melody begins on the piano, then JVKE quietly starts singing with the addition of strings later building to a more impactful chorus.

And would you call me crazy if I told you I still call you?
‘Cause sometimes you’re the only one I feel like I can talk to
It feels like my heart is torn in two
And you took the other half with you, ’cause

It’s not that complicated
When you love someone, you tell ’em that you do
Don’t waste a second or a breath
You don’t know when you’re gonna lose them, now they’re gone
But you didn’t make that call
And now you live with your regrets because it’s all your fault

(Second part of the chorus)
So it breaks my heart that I let you leave
Been so hard learning how to grieve for you
I should’ve let you know the truth
‘Cause when you love someone, you tell ’em that, you tell ’em that you do

A Text for Help

Underneath the video reads “Text 988 for free support if you need someone to talk to,” a topic that is important to JVKE, he explained in a Spin interview posted on Sept. 13, 2023. “With this song we’re partnering with the text 988 service — the crisis hotline. It’s easy and accessible through text, which is unintimidating,” he said.

JVKE
Credit: itsjvke.com

“I always had a heart for this, but recently a number of friends of mine have experienced loss and a few to suicide,” JVKE said in the interview.

“I’ve just seen the impact it’s had on some of my friends and close family. I just want to make an impact and let people know they are not alone and let people know that they’re loved and appreciated.”

The song has had some impact, according to the 8,000-plus listeners who left comments beneath the video, some of which include the following:

“I just lost my mom on Tuesday. I feel this so deeply. Thank you for this song.”

“I’m 12 and I lost my great grandma about last fall and ever since I have been battling depression. People ask if your okay at times and just say yeah and go on with my day, but really I am not okay. This song as soon as I heard it I literally started sobbing and just letting my heart out. Thank you so much for this song.”

“I lost my grandmother today 3 weeks ago my last words to her were I love you – losing someone hurts so badly. Never let them go thinking you didn’t love them spend time with your loved ones and always forgive them.”

“This is What Losing Someone Feels Like” was released on TikTok 10 months ago, the same social media platform that led JVKE to fame. The song is one of several on the artist’s album, “This is What _ Feels Like” which also contains his top hit “Golden Hour” with more than a billion streams on several platforms.

Pointing people to goodness

With JVKE’s roots in music and the church, his mother a music teacher and his father a pastor, faith is a big part of his life, he said during the Spin interview.

“I’m a really strong man of faith and so to keep people alive and to share with them the love and point them to goodness and not to death — ultimately I believe the enemy wants death and he wants that to rule in peoples’ lives — and so yeah, I hate to see that happen to anybody and whatever I can do to prevent that I want to,” JVKE said.

He added the reminder to text 988 for free support.

“I would encourage you if you don’t have someone to talk to just text that number and, you know, just do it for me for sure,” he said.

The official video was released in March and is up to 4.3M views and counting. It features some archived video footage of JVKE’s family and loved ones playing as he sings the song.