"Talking Backwards" is a song by American indie rock band Real Estate. The song was released on January 14, 2014, through Domino Recording Company, as the lead single from their third studio album Atlas. "Talking Backwards" explores miscommunication, and how distance and separation affect relationships. It was written by frontman Martin Courtney, who was newly married at the time and based it on long stretches on the road touring. The song was produced by Tom Schick and recorded at Magic Shop in New York. The song received widely positive reviews from critics.