Joey Whelan: We Were Young Once

Joey Whelan’s “We Were Young Once” deals with the wistful ache of looking back on the past. He brings a narrative of youthful romance, boundless dreams, and the bittersweet clarity that comes with hindsight. It was written for a 1970s-set coming-of-age film about two kids embarking on a daring adventure along the Jersey Shore, serving as the emotional anchor for the story’s themes of rebellion, discovery, and longing.