Lost at Ease deconstructs the end of a relationship on “Stupid Human Games.”
The Grand Rapids, Michigan, collective captures the blunt verbal interplay of two people confronting each other on its latest indie-pop single.
“I think it kind of reflects lots of relationships, and I think it could be about friends or family,” said Burton Kroes, a songwriter, producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist who formed Lost at Ease in 2024.
“I wouldn’t say it’s autobiographical, but those lyrics are very personal to me. It’s a little bit of how I see the world sometimes … like through a domination-submission [lens].”
Filled with shimmering synth and pounding drums, “Stupid Human Games” features a stellar collaboration with Grand Rapids singer-guitarist Wren Burns, who provides soulful vocals on the track.
Burns sings, “I know you say that you love me so / Reflections of your ego / They’re all you want, and they’re all you need / It’ll cost, you will see.”
“It’s definitely a good venting song,” they said. “I like how it applies to a lot of different relationships … especially when you’re noticing patterns of behavior instead of just continuing to deny those giant red flags because you don’t want to see them.”
Along with Burns, Kroes also collaborated with drummer Adam Hubbell, engineer and percussionist Logan Thierjung, and arranger Kiersten Quilliams on “Stupid Human Games.”
“The whole thing was a puzzle to piece together, and while I wrote and produced it all myself, I was lucky to have some great ears around me for feedback on specific elements, like the guitar solo, the strings, and the drum mix,” Kroes said.
To learn more, I spoke with Kroes and Burns about their backgrounds and the inspiration behind the song.
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