Behind The Tracks: Citovitz And The Fireflies Of February - You're Not My Friend—You're My Brother, My Friend (Single) (2026)

"You're Not My Friend—You're My Brother, My Friend" is a SONG ABOUT BROTHERHOOD THAT TRANSCENDS FRIENDSHIP

"You're Not My Friend—You're My Brother, My Friend" explores the rare bonds that develop when friendship deepens into something words struggle to capture—when someone becomes family not through blood, but through choosing to stay when staying is hardest.

"Some relationships transcend easy categorization," Citowicz explains. "Patryk and I didn't plan to become brothers. Music brought us together more than a decade ago, but what built between us—the trust, the loyalty, the showing up through loss and grief—that happened because we both chose it. Every single time."

The song carries particular weight given Citowicz's recent years navigating the loss of his son Jonasz, documented in his deeply personal album "Living Room Rockstar Part 2." Through that darkness, certain people proved themselves to be more than friends.

"When you go through what we've been through, you learn who your real brothers are," Citowicz states simply. "Patryk stayed. Not just musically, but humanly. He stood beside me when I couldn't stand alone. This song is about people like him—the ones who become family when you need it most."

PATRYK SZYMAŃSKI: MORE THAN A DECADE OF MUSICAL BROTHERHOOD

Patryk Szymański's bass work on "You're Not My Friend—You're My Brother, My Friend" showcases the musical intuition that develops when two players share more than a stage—when they share a life.

"Patryk's bass playing is phenomenal, but that's almost beside the point," Citowicz reflects. "What makes working with him special is that he understands what I'm trying to say before I say it. We've been creating together for over ten years. We've survived together. The music reflects that connection—you can't fake the kind of chemistry that comes from genuine brotherhood."

Szymański's contribution extends beyond technical proficiency. His bass lines provide the foundation that allows Citowicz's guitar work to soar while grounding the song's emotional weight in solid, driving rhythms. The result is a track that feels both powerful and intimate—rock music that carries the weight of lived experience.

"Patryk doesn't just play on my records," Citowicz emphasizes. "He makes everything complete. But more than that, he's been there through the moments when music was the only thing keeping me alive. Through the loss of Jonasz. Through grief that had no words. He stayed when staying was hard. That's brotherhood."

THE MUSICAL APPROACH: MELODIC HARD ROCK WITH MODERN PRODUCTION

Musically, "You're Not My Friend—You're My Brother, My Friend" embodies melodic hard rock with contemporary production values—honoring the classic rock traditions that shaped Citowicz while embracing modern sonic possibilities.

"I grew up with Bon Jovi and Def Leppard posters covering my walls in Wałbrzych, Poland," Citowicz recalls. "Those bands taught me about melodic craft, about hooks that stay with you, about guitar-driven rock that still serves the song. But they also taught me something deeper—Jon Bon Jovi showed me you can be a rockstar and still honor commitment, still build something lasting with the people in your life. That philosophy runs through everything I create."

The song's production balances raw emotion with polished execution. Guitars drive the track with the energy of classic hard rock, while the production techniques employ modern clarity and depth. The result bridges generations—appealing to listeners raised on 80s rock anthems while sounding current and vital.

"I wanted this song to feel timeless but sound today," Citowicz explains. "The melodic sensibility, the song structure, the way the guitars and bass work together—that's pure 80s hard rock influence. But the production, the sonic space, the way everything sits in the mix—that's using everything we can do now. It's respecting where I came from while living in the present."

The Bon Jovi and Def Leppard influence manifests not just in sound, but in philosophy. Like his heroes, Citowicz believes rock music should be accessible without sacrificing substance, powerful without overwhelming vulnerability, anthemic while remaining personal.

THE COVER: A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF BROTHERHOOD

The single's cover features Citowicz and Szymański together—a deliberate choice that honors the song's central theme. "I wanted people to see us," Citowicz states. "Not just hear the music, but see the faces of two people who built something real through sound. Patryk belongs on this cover because this song doesn't exist without him. Not just his bass playing—though that's crucial—but his presence in my life. His brotherhood. That deserves to be visible."

The cover image captures both musicians in a moment of genuine connection—not posed or manufactured, but authentically representing the relationship the song celebrates.

"We've been playing together for over a decade," Citowicz notes. "We've shared stages, studios, grief, joy—everything that makes up a life in music. The cover shows two brothers. That's not marketing. That's the truth."

THE MESSAGE: FOR EVERYONE WHO FOUND THEIR BROTHER THROUGH SOUND

While deeply personal, "You're Not My Friend—You're My Brother, My Friend" speaks to universal experience—the discovery that sometimes the people who become most important aren't connected by blood, but by shared passion and mutual choice. "If you've ever had someone in your life who became more than a friend—who became the person you call when the world is too heavy, who stays when staying is hard, who shares your music and your silence with equal care—you know what this song means," Citovicz offers.

He continues: "This is for everyone who found their brother through sound. Who built something real through creating together? Who knows the difference between friendship and brotherhood because they've lived it. Music can do this—it can bring two people together and create a bond that holds when everything else falls apart."

The song's message resonates particularly in an era where genuine human connection often feels increasingly rare. "We're living in complicated times," Citowicz observes. "Everything feels divided, isolated, disconnected. But music still has this power to bring people together—not just as audience and performer, but as real human beings who recognize something in each other. Patryk and I found that through playing together. This song celebrates that possibility—that you can find your family through art, through creation, through showing up and staying."

YouTube lyric video: https://youtu.be/IlRPDrb2bLg?si=sZHHdIp1zBmRwFD1

"Some relationships transcend easy words. Patryk and I didn't plan to become brothers—music brought us together, and everything else built itself through years of playing, creating, surviving together. When you go through what we've been through, you learn who your real brothers are. Patryk stayed. Not just musically, but humanly. He stood beside me when I couldn't stand alone. This song is about people like him—the ones who become family when you need it most. If you've ever found your brother through sound, this one's for you."