Wallows began to work on their debut studio album, Nothing Happens, following the release of their EP Spring.
The band were inspired to include a female feature on the track after completing a demo version of the single, which used pitched-up vocals from member Braeden Lemasters, and knew Clairo through mutual friends at the time.[2]
Composition
Dylan Minnette, the group's frontman, described the track as being from "the perspective of someone in a relationship who can see that it's coming to a definite end", whereas the verse performed by Clairo is from the perspective of "the other side of the relationship" and is more optimistic. Band member Cole Preston described the track as "nice, digestible, [and] easy-to-listen-to" in comparison to the other songs from the album.[3]
Musically, "Are You Bored Yet?" is an indie rock song with elements of bedroom pop,[4] with "chiming piano and delicate guitar riffs."[5] Carrine Hen of Melodic Magazine wrote that the song "has a very soft, upbeat sound driven by light synth and piano that will make you feel nostalgic."[6]
Remixes
On June 14, 2019, Wallows released two remixes of "Are You Bored Yet?" in collaboration with Sachi of indie-rock band Joy Again and Big Data. A third remix, produced by British musician Mura Masa, was released on August 28, 2020. Austin Evanson of Dancing Astronaut described the new electronic arrangement as a "different, yet altogether mellow new environment" when compared to the original.[7]
Music video
The official music video, directed by Drew Kirsch, premiered alongside the release of the single on February 1, 2019. The video depicts the band members and Clairo performing at a karaoke bar, with members of the audience lip-syncing along to the lyrics of the song and features a cameo from actor Noah Centineo as a bartender.[8][9]