Yung Lean Kicks Off 'Jonatan' With "Forever Yung"
Delivering a music video for the lead single that celebrates his 13-year career and brings forth a new chapter for the artist.
Yung Lean has dropped off the first single lifted from his imminent Jonatan album. After revealing plans for the forthcoming project at the end of January, the enigmatic Swedish artist has made his official return to the music scene by offering up the first glimpse into the anticipated album — delivering its lead single entitled “Forever Yung.” The project is now confirmed to be releasing on May 2 and will serve as his sixth studio album and his first individual album since the release of 2020’s Starz.
Aidan Zamiri — whose recent credits include Charli XCX and Billie Eilish — directed the track’s accompanying music video, which features not only Yung Lean, but his real friends — including the other two members of Sad Boys, both Yung Sherman and Gud — family and fans. Lean had reposted a casting call last August, prompting his followers to apply to appear in the music video while it was being shot in Budapest. This ultimately resulted in over 100 fans being credited for their appearance, several of which are seen wearing old merchandise of Lean’s.
While Lean begins the video by stepping out to exchange pleasantries with fans — gifting one the watch he’s wearing and lighting a cigarette for another — he joins a group in delivering a coffin into the bed of a truck. It’s revealed that Lean himself is inside the coffin, seemingly deceased with a crown on his head. Meanwhile, the alive version of himself closes the coffin and proceeds to wave farewell to the line of fans, taking a bow before sitting atop the coffin and chaining himself to the truck. This poignant send-off seemingly marks the end of an era for the artist known as Yung Lean, a sentiment that is further backed by the track’s “Forever Yung” title. His lyrical emphasis on encouraging one to take off their mask seems to tie into the album’s title, Jonatan, which is a nod to his legal name of Jonatan Leandoer and ostensibly the version of himself that is alive in the video.
Perhaps this is the culmination of his era as Yung Lean, as on the track he embraces the Indie Folk and Art Pop flair he’s presented via his jonatan leandoer96 project since 2016. Regardless, a new chapter for Yung Lean is here and is set to culminate with the release of Jonatan in just a few months.
