You’ve probably seen the videos. Someone staring blankly into a mirror while a frantic, glitchy beat kicks in, or maybe a montage of old photos burning away. It’s a specific kind of digital catharsis. That’s the power of this is what heartbreak feels like by JVKE. It isn't just a song. It’s a mood that took over the internet and refused to leave.
Honestly, the track feels like a panic attack caught in a 2-minute and 37-second bottle.
Jacob Lawson—the guy behind the JVKE name—didn't just stumble into a hit. He’s a Grammy-nominated producer who basically treats TikTok like a laboratory. When he released this is what heartbreak feels like on April 1, 2022, he wasn't joking. It was the gritty, resentful response to his previous viral smash, this is what falling in love feels like. While that one was all violins and butterflies, this one is about the "snake" and the "pretty little liar."
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It’s raw. It’s messy. It’s exactly what happens when the "golden hour" fades to black.
The Viral Architecture of a Breakup Song
Most pop stars try to hide their process. JVKE? He broadcasts it. He built his following by making beats with his mom and showing exactly how a song comes together in his bedroom. This transparency is why this is what heartbreak feels like hit so hard. It feels personal, like you’re eavesdropping on a FaceTime call he should have ended twenty minutes ago.
The song serves as the chaotic center of his debut album, this is what ____ feels like (Vol. 1-4). The record is structured like a four-act play: falling in love, the heartbreak, the sadness, and eventually, the detachment.
- Falling in Love: The "golden hour" phase. Everything is shimmering.
- Heartbreak: Where this is what heartbreak feels like lives. High-energy, angry, and fast.
- Sadness: The "i'm not okay" phase. Slow piano and literal crying.
- Detachment: Moving on, or at least trying to.
Musically, the track is fascinating because it doesn't just stick to a "pop" formula. It’s built on a sample of "Comfort Chain" by Instupendo, which gives it that ethereal, indie-pop texture. But then JVKE layers in these aggressive, almost trap-inspired drums. It’s jarring. It’s supposed to be. Heartbreak isn’t a smooth transition; it’s a car crash.
Why the Lyrics Actually Matter
If you read the lyrics on paper, they might seem simple. "Pretty little liar / whatcha gonna say?" It sounds like something written in a high school notebook. But in the context of the production, it works.
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"I know you double-crossed me, girl you're such a fake, what a shame, guess my lover was a snake."
He sings these lines with a sort of frantic energy, shifting between a hybrid talk-rap and a smooth, high-register lament. It captures that specific moment of realization where sadness turns into pure, unadulterated annoyance. You’re not just sad they’re gone; you’re mad you were fooled.
The song eventually went platinum for a reason. It tapped into a collective frustration. By 2023, the track was impacting US contemporary hit radio, proving that "TikTok songs" can have a real-world shelf life. People weren't just using it for 15-second clips; they were screaming it in their cars.
The Production Secret
One thing most people miss is how JVKE uses sound design. He often incorporates "real world" sounds—clock ticks, gasps, and heavy breathing. In this is what heartbreak feels like, the percussion feels like it’s chasing the vocals. It creates a sense of urgency. You feel like the walls are closing in.
He’s admitted in interviews that he wants his music to be "choose-your-own-adventure." He keeps the details just vague enough that anyone who’s been lied to can project their own "snake" onto the lyrics.
Beyond the Viral Moment
Critics sometimes dismiss this kind of music as "playlist fodder." That’s a mistake. JVKE is doing something complex with his branding. By titling his songs as descriptions of feelings—this is what losing someone feels like, this is what autumn feels like—he’s created a literal emotional library.
When you’re feeling a certain way, you search for that feeling. He’s optimized his entire career for the human experience.
It’s also worth noting his independence. Even as he climbed the Billboard charts (peaking at #10 with golden hour), JVKE stayed largely independent with AWAL. He didn't need the traditional machine because he had the direct line to the listener. That’s why this is what heartbreak feels like continues to rack up hundreds of millions of streams years after its initial drop.
How to Actually Move On
If you're currently listening to this is what heartbreak feels like on repeat because you’re going through it, there are actually a few things you can take away from the song's "arc":
- Acknowledge the Anger: The song doesn't try to be "mature." It calls the person a snake. Sometimes, you need to be a little petty to get the poison out.
- Listen to the Whole Album: JVKE didn't stop at heartbreak. He moved into the sadness and eventually the "falling out of love." Don't get stuck in the high-bpm anger of track two.
- Create Something: JVKE turned his mess into a platinum record. You don't have to be a Grammy-nominated producer to journal or vent into a voice memo.
To really understand the impact, go back and watch the music video—the "world's most dangerous music video" shot in Dubai. It visualizes the song’s intensity perfectly. If you want to dive deeper into his discography, check out the 432 Hz versions of his tracks; they’re designed to be more "resonant" and healing, which is a wild contrast to the chaos of the original heartbreak single.
Next Steps for Your Playlist
Check out the "Transitions" on the album. The way golden hour flows directly into this is what heartbreak feels like is a masterclass in album sequencing. Listen to them back-to-back without the crossfade turned on. It perfectly mirrors the "snap" of a relationship breaking. After that, look up the CG5 remix released in 2025 for a completely different take on the same emotional energy.