Midwest emo is for anyone who’s never been able to get over anything, and Midwest Goodbye has mastered this mantra with their first single of 2025, “I’m Ready To Move On.” They have taken on the task of convincing everyone that they’re over it—or, perhaps, they’re simply trying to convince themselves.

The single’s moving groove gets the ball rolling on introspection. Each note indicates more to the story than meets the eye or ears. Midwest Goodbye’s confident delivery suggests that heartbreak is temporary, but the crunchy distorted guitar is forever.

Building drums nearly overtake a layered lead vocal, but they don’t entirely overwhelm the track. Instead, they coincide with emphasized emotion in an honest vocal performance. These imperfections shouldn’t be perceived as flaws; instead, they pay homage to the genre’s roots in DIY methods.

Midwest Goodbye focuses on the subgenre’s ethos while staying true to his story. His perhaps forged motivation comes from within his songwriting, ensuring that creative outlets turn mantras like “I’m Ready To Move On” into inherent truths that he really will believe over time.