Bowties and Jack Capture the Hidden Cost of Pretending You’re Okay on “Turn To Green”

There's a certain kind of sadness that rarely gets talked about openly: the feeling of watching everyone else seem okay while you're quietly falling apart. On their latest single, "Turn To Green," Bowties and Jack transform that experience into a vibrant indie-pop track that feels equally suited for late-night reflection and dancing through your emotions.

The Irish trio has carved out a sound that perfectly fits what they jokingly describe as "sad songs wearing a happy outfit," and "Turn To Green" may be their strongest example yet. Built on grooving bass lines, shimmering retro synths, and infectious melodies, the song immediately creates an upbeat atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with its deeper emotional themes.

At its core, "Turn To Green" explores masking, the act of hiding how you're truly feeling in order to fit in or avoid burdening others. While the lyrics reflect feelings of envy, isolation, and emotional exhaustion, the production never becomes overwhelming or bleak. Instead, Bowties and Jack create a space where vulnerability feels approachable, allowing listeners to process difficult emotions without being consumed by them.

What makes the song impactful is the personal perspective behind it. Frontman Stevey draws from his experiences as an autistic person, exploring the exhausting reality of navigating social situations while concealing internal struggles. The result is a song that feels deeply authentic while remaining universally relatable. Even listeners unfamiliar with the concept of masking will likely recognize the experience of pretending everything is fine when it isn't.

Musically, the band's chemistry shines throughout "Turn To Green." Having spent years collaborating on various projects after meeting at Cork School of Music, the trio sound completely locked in, balancing emotional depth with irresistible indie-pop charm.

As part of a larger project still to come, "Turn To Green" offers an exciting glimpse into Bowties and Jack's creative world. It's honest, catchy, and refreshingly human, proving that some of the most meaningful conversations can begin on the dance floor.

The song explores masking and the feeling of pretending everything is okay. Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked the idea for this track?

Stevey: A lot of the time when I start writing, I’m not fully sure what I’m trying to say at first. So I write phrases and words I like the sound of together, and after a few lines I figure out what I’m saying, which guides me through the rest of the song.

When “Turn to Green” started to come together, I think the main experience that came to mind was when I got older and realized my life wasn’t where I thought it would be, while everyone around me seemed to be further ahead and doing fine. I wanted to explore that mix of pretending to be okay with who you are and the envy you feel when other people seem to be fine.

You describe your music as "sad songs wearing a happy outfit." Why do you think upbeat music can sometimes be the best vehicle for difficult emotions?

Matt: Lots of songs that deal with darker/emotional issues tend to have music that matches that theme. Some people find comfort in that, which I completely understand; I used to as well. Writing about personal experiences to a more upbeat instrumental brings the idea of universal understanding. It lets people know they aren't alone and others are going through similar issues. I find the blend of emotional lyrics to bouncier tracks helps show that things get better.

Stevey, you've spoken openly about your experience with autism and masking. How important was it for you to bring that perspective into your songwriting?

Stevey: I feel like too many people have to hide their disabilities/neurodivergence in an attempt to fit in, but if people could talk about it more freely, maybe awareness and acceptance would help people feel safer to be themselves.

I also think there’s quite a lot of media about autism over the years that is told by people who aren’t autistic themselves. So having autistic experiences shared by autistic people themselves is something that I think people like me would love to see a lot more of.

The song balances personal experiences with themes that feel universally relatable. How do you approach writing something deeply personal while still connecting with a broad audience?

Kenny: There’s a certain level of commonality between what someone who’s neurotypical and someone who’s neurodivergent may feel. Though the experiences/feelings would be exaggerated. Whenever I’ve been asked “What’s it like to be autistic?”, I find myself having to write my own metaphors to better give them an idea. I imagine that a neurotypical person hearing these lyrics would think “Yeah, I’ve definitely been in this scenario once or twice”, whereas a neurodivergent person would see it as another Tuesday. You almost have to dress it up to make it understandable, which is ironic given the nature of the song.

This release is part of a larger project in the works. How does this song fit into the bigger story you're preparing to tell?

Matt: Some of the material we started working on in our last year of university together. It was a difficult time for us, between academic pressure, love life, and personal life. ​

Even though the world is so connected, people still struggle to talk or realize that others could be dealing with the same issues, and that's something we want to highlight.