MJ Lenderman was previously known as the guitarist for the indie rock band Wednesday. Lenderman and Wednesday singer Karly Hartzman dated for six years, splitting up in March of 2024. Initially, they kept their breakup secret so they wouldn’t worry the other members of the band. Though Lenderman contributed to the 2025 album Bleeds, he stepped away from touring with the group. He had launched a solo career in 2019, which led to his breakout 2022 album titled Boat Songs. Following this, he signed with ANTI-Records and released the album Manning Fireworks in September 2024.
Manning Fireworks peaked at No. 48 on the US Independent Albums chart. The album charted particularly well in the UK, peaking at No. 9 on the UK Independent Albums chart. The lead single, “She’s Leaving You”, reached No. 45 on the Rock Airplay chart. Additionally, it was featured on various year-end lists ranking the best songs of 2024.
“She’s Leaving You” is about a midlife crisis and the end of a relationship. It’s unclear whether the midlife crisis ended the relationship or if the relationship resulted in the midlife crisis. The song’s opening lines instantly reference the midlife crisis aspect of the song.
You can put your clothes back on, she’s leaving you
No time to apologize for the things you do
Go rent a Ferrari and sing the blues
Believe that Clapton was the second coming
Life Goes On After She Leaves You
It falls apart, we all got work to do
It gets dark, we all got work to do
She’s leaving you
The song’s chorus emphasizes a universal message of “life goes on.” It’s an encouraging message that pairs well with the song’s anthemic tones that are reminiscent of 90s rock radio. Musically, the song comes off as a hybrid of bands such as Built To Spill and Uncle Tupelo.
Though it’s not confirmed, it seems MJ Lenderman used the concept of a midlife crisis/divorce to symbolically reference the end of his own relationship. Notably, Katz Hartman sings along and takes lead vocals for the final lines of the track, repeating “she’s leaving you.” She also directed the song’s music video, along with Clay Tatum. Hartman penned her own perspective of the breakup with the Wednesday song “The Way Love Goes”, released in 2025.
It’s inspiring to watch how MJ Lenderman and Katz Hartman continued a working relationship. The two have garnered much attention within indie rock in recent years and will continue to do so. As the song states, “we’ve all got work to do.”
Photo by Pedro Becerra/Redferns