From its opening chord, “Stayed The Same” shows that 3 Year Project is more interested in depth than flash. The instrumentation is clean but full, with guitar lines that echo with longing, drums that shift from restrained to insistent, and subtle production touches that do not distract but enhance the sincerity of the effort. Nothing feels overproduced; the song retains an earnest edge.
The structure of the song allows for emotional peaks. In the verses, the tone is almost confessional, with a warmth in the vocals and sparseness in the arrangement. When the chorus arrives, it expands both musically and emotionally with a swell that feels necessary, like the moment someone finally speaks out rather than holding everything inside. That movement from quiet to fuller sound mirrors the lyric’s theme of refusing stagnation.
Holden’s voice carries pain but also something sturdier, the resolve to change. When he sings about mental health, loss, and trying not to stay the same, there is weight behind every line. The shark imagery in the video reinforces the danger that lurks beneath appearances, making the song’s message more vivid.
“Stayed The Same” resonates because it balances beauty and grit. It is not an easy listen all the way through, but it does not pretend to be. There is comfort in its honesty and strength in its willingness to admit the hard parts. For a project built on reclaiming past music, this track shows that growing older and facing hardship can still produce something powerful.