Words by Tom Disalvo //
It was 2015 when Brisbanian singer-songwriter Jarryd James debuted his platinum single and global streaming success, ‘Do You Remember’. Now, after a five year hiatus from the spotlight, the 36 year-old has managed to defy the sophomore slump and re-emerge in signature soulful style with the release of his second long-awaited new album, P.M.
Some 18 months in the making, the aptly-titled LP propels Jarryd’s musical evolution of dusky bedroom bangers. On album opener ‘Promises’, Jarryd offers a mesmeric blend of trap-pop and brooding RnB vocals, and the Clams Casino produced ‘Problems’ coasts by on flitting lyrics and a propulsive lo-fi beat. Written completely at nighttime, Jarryd says the album’s after-hours sound comes from “not think[ing] about it too much…lett[ing] the mood and vibe inform it; relax[ing] into the music.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E86fb1F9mf4&feature=emb_title
The collaborators on P.M (handpicked by Jarryd himself) read like a who’s who of the music industry, and feature producers whose discographies span the echoey soundscapes of Frank Ocean’s Blonde to the glittery alt-pop anthems of Benee. Now on release day, we caught up with Jarryd to compile a list of five standout tracks from the producers on P.M
This is one of the first tracks I heard that Clams had a hand in. His production style is so insanely unique, and so insanely simple. Pretty sure this one is literally just the sample stuff, kick and snare. I don’t think there is even one hi-hat in the whole track, all the momentum and movement comes from the way Clams chopped up the samples.
He really is a low-key genius.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR5dwQNizVU
Andrew is also the vocalist in Miike Snow, so this one’s a bit different I guess. Always great to put on at house parties. Perfect use of samples. Amazing melodies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWJHK0JT_Xc
The first song I ever heard from Caleb and Georgia who I now count as some of my closest friends on the planet. Two extremely good eggs. Same goes for Joel, and that guy never ever misses. The first tour I ever did was opening for Broods on an Australian run, and so I got to hear them play this song every night and it never got old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWnOqEdogGA
Another one of my Kiwi brethren, Josh has been heavily involved in creating a sound for Benee, but is also part of chill New Zealand band Leisure, so the man needs to just calm down a little bit. Way too much talent for one human. One of the funniest and nicest people I’ve ever met. ‘Glitter’ is the first Benee song I ever heard and I was immediately into it in a big way. Definitely my kind of pop music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAWgpuTBdmE
Easily one of my favourite songs ever recorded, off one of my top 5 albums of all time. Malay was one of the main collaborators on Channel ORANGE, so working with him has been a highlight of my musical endeavours to date. His sensibilities always align with mine – on P.M. we made ‘Overdue’ and ‘Problems’ together.