Pop/Review Je Bonus - Vaticide (feat. Brian Montanaro)

Je Bonus is a style-blending artist from New England whose sound lives at the crossroads of gritty folk and hip-hop. With raw honesty and a storyteller’s edge, his music speaks to perseverance and connection—a reminder that you are not alone and that it’s always worth chasing what you believe in.

“Vaticide” by Je Bonus is a deeply moving and profoundly personal work that captures the transformation of grief into creation. Originally written in 2022 as an acoustic duet with Brian Montanaro, the song once reflected on the nostalgia of past relationships. However, following the unexpected passing of Je’s uncle and collaborator, Arthur Comeau, in 2023, “Vaticide” took on an entirely new meaning. It became the emotional and thematic centerpiece of Je’s forthcoming album “What Would Art Do?,” a full-length family collaboration honoring Art’s legacy and creative spirit.

Musically, “Vaticide” blends the sincerity of folk storytelling with the delicate atmosphere of indie pop. Its production is intentionally raw, highlighting Je’s vulnerable vocal delivery against sparse, haunting instrumentation. What makes the song truly remarkable is the inclusion of Art’s own voice — a ghostly refrain of “Let it go” woven into the mix — which turns the track into an intimate dialogue between memory and presence, loss and love.

Lyrically, Je explores the way tragedy reshapes purpose, offering reflection rather than despair. “Vaticide” becomes a meditation on what it means to continue creating in the face of loss, to turn pain into art, and to honor those who shaped us. It’s both elegy and renewal — a song that feels lived, not just written.

In “Vaticide,” Je Bonus delivers a work that transcends mourning, transforming sorrow into beauty — a timeless tribute to creativity, connection, and the enduring echo of those we’ve lost.