Marshmello Shows Us He Can Play The Guitar In The New “Friends” Video

A couple months after the release of Marshmello and Anne-Marie’s song “Friends”, there is now an acoustic version of the track. Dubbed the “official friendzone anthem,” “Friends” is a track that tells the tale of someone trying to get with that special person who doesn’t feel the same way. The guitar on the acoustic version comes from none other than Mello man himself. A Marshmello playing guitar may surprise many fans, which he mentions in the video comments:

“Surprise! This Marshmello also knows how to play the guitar. [✖‿✖]”

In the video, Marshmello sits on a stool while Anne-Marie stands and sings into a wired mic. The black background with spotted white lights gives the video a very MTV “Unplugged” vibe. However, the all-white-wearing Marshmello and yellow outfit of Anne-Marie give the video a lot more pop than something you’d watch 20 years ago. Make sure to catch the video of the acoustic version of “Friends” below!

Photo via Marshmello’s Facebook page

Related: Easy Guitar Songs To Learn

“Friends” itself had already turned into one of 2018’s biggest crossover hits by the time this acoustic cut dropped. The original went multi-platinum and became a mainstay on pop and dance radio alike, helped along by that Jimmy Fallon performance and a music video that leaned hard into the song’s playful, exaggerated take on the friend-zone theme. Anne-Marie’s voice paired with Marshmello’s production turned out to be a genuinely great combo, and the song helped cement both artists as legit crossover stars rather than one-hit acts.

The acoustic version wasn’t the last time “Friends” got a makeover, either. The track picked up multiple official remixes in the months and years after, including versions from Justin Caruso, M-22, and Borgeous, each putting their own spin on the melody. It’s a good reminder of how far a well-written pop hook can travel once the right people get their hands on it — from a stripped-down acoustic take with Marshmello on guitar all the way to full-blown club remixes built for festival mainstages.

It’s also a fun look at Marshmello’s range as a performer. Most fans know him for the drops and the mask, not for sitting on a stool with an acoustic guitar, but moments like this show he’s got more going on musically than just production chops. Between the mask, the guitar, and the ever-growing pile of pop hits, Marshmello kept finding new ways to surprise people well beyond his EDM roots — and “Friends” ended up being one of the clearest examples of that range paying off commercially.