Side Effects ft. Emily Warren

“Side Effects” is the fifth track from the American production duo The Chainsmokers and their second studio album: “Sick Boy”, which was released in December 2018. The track also features vocals from American singer Emily Warren.

The Chainsmokers (Alexander Pall and Andrew Taggart) produced “Side Effects” along with Sly, as well as writing the track with Emily Warren, Tony Ann, Corey Sanders and Slyvester Siversten. The song details a relationship that has side effects, but they are ignored anyway. Both Taggart and Pall spoke about the track in an interview with Bilboard:

Billboard: What inspired the vibe for the song?

Andrew Taggart: It’s definitely funky. We felt like our music has been like in a much slower, more mellow place. And it’s summertime, and we feel like we really wanted to make an upbeat summertime record – and that’s what we came up with. We also made “Sick Boy” and “You Owe Me” during the winter, and it was a darker time and we were dealing with a bunch of personal stuff. Our music is almost always a reflection of what we’re going through at that moment, and as soon as the weather got better, and everything warmed up – we started making music that reflected that.”

B: What inspired the lyrics of the song?

AT: We love writing about millennial relationships, for better or worse. [Laughs.] But we write about what we observe, and we write about making bad decisions often, as you’ll hear in the song. But also kind of being impulsive in getting into them, and also living in the moment, as we find beauty in those small moments.

B: Why was Emily Warren featured on the song?

Alexander Pall: She has dirt on us, so we’re kind of like a hostage to her. [Laughs.] No, but she’s the best. She’s probably one of our favorite human beings, period. When you’re comfortable with someone and they know you well, it’s really easy to make music that you enjoy and are excited about. It’s really exciting that she’s featured on this record and hopefully the world loves it, ‘cause I think it’s time that they all get to know who Emily Warren is.

B: What does Emily bring to the table that other artists you worked with haven’t?

AT: Writing songs with people, it comes down to your connection with them. Emily is just the most fun. She’s so not only intelligent, but she’s so well-read in so many different things. And her skill in particular, she’s so good at helping you tell your story. We always joke that it’s like these long therapy sessions before we start writing. We sit down and we’ll talk for 4 or 5 hours and then a song will just kind of fall out. She’s such a good listener, and she’s so clever, and you’ll say something and she’s like, “oooh, lets keep talking about that.” Eventually a song falls out.”

The music video for the track was released on the 21st August 2018, and was directed by Matthew Dillon Cohen. Shot at the Shore Club South Beach hotel in Miami, it features actress Camila Mendes (most known for her role in American teen drama “Riverdale”). Mendes is shown as “Riley” working as a hotel employee who receives a phone call from her boss informing her she has to work over the weekend. Riley removes her uniform and dances in different parts of the hotel – from the ballroom to the pool. In the bridge of the track, Emily Warren and The Chainsmokers are shown dancing in lit up rooms. As of December 2019, the music video has almost 1 million likes on YouTube and 115.5 views.

Release Date: 27th July 2018

Songwriter/s: Andrew Taggart, Tony Ann, Emily Warrne, Corey Sanders & Sylvester Willy Sivertsen

Producer/s: The Chainsmokers & Sly

Label/s: Disruptor & Columbia

Music Video Release Date: 21st August 2018

Music Video Director: Matthew Dillon Cohen

Chart Rankings & Certifications: “Side Effects” hit the peak chart positions in the following countries within one year of its release: #19 in Argentina, #61 in Australia, #44, #3, #5 and #10; #39 in Canada, #100 in Colombia, #7 in Croatia, #31 and #32 in the Czech Republic; #14 and #67 in the Netherlands, #9 in Poland, #94 in Portugal, #72 in Romania, #40 in Scotland, #96 and #23 in Slovakia; #26 in Slovenia, #100 in Sweden, #92 in Switzerland, #50 on the UK Singles Chart, and #66, #33, #36, #7 and #13 on various US Billboard charts. “Side Effects” is certified Gold in Australia, Canada, Poland and the US.

The lyrics to “Side Effects” can be accessed here: LINK