Introducing #152 - jak lvr
Let us introduce you to Teesside newcomer jak lvr - who has just released his second single ‘Take A Ride’ - taken from his debut EP ‘Call It Love (If You Want To)’, which is due for release this September. He took a moment to talk to us about his music.
Hey there jak lvr - how are you? So your debut single is our now, how does it feel to have it finally out there in the world?
Hello, yes I'm fine. It feels interesting. As you can imagine there's a multitude of thoughts and emotions you cycle through on a daily basis. It's all very unhealthy I'm sure.
It is titled ‘Still’ - can you tell us what it is about?
Well aye, it's basically about self-doubt, which I'm just so very good at. I often push myself away and to the back of situations when I find myself in these low moments and I suppose the whole song is me trying to reflect on that to some degree. I try to consider how things affect me, and others and just push that into lyrics.
You were originally in the band Llovers - what made you decide to release stuff as a solo artist?
Llovers broke up simply because of perspective changes and re-evaluations that came about during lockdown. We had a lot of unforgettable moments but sometimes these things just kind of end for so many reasons. Lockdown has basically been the reason I started the project solo, I've not had any other choice really, it was just quicker & easier to put some tracks together myself.
You are based in Teeside - what is your favorite thing about living there?
I don't know really, I like how you're never really very far from somewhere nice, like the Redcar beach or Cleveland Hills. I like walking in pretty places so I have options and that's nice.
What are your key influences when it comes to your music?
It's hard to say, this project is kind of a mess, in a good way, i think. So each track kind of draws from a different shade on my spectrum of music taste. For example with 'Still' I think you can kind of hear a bit of Bleachers and maybe a bit of Arcade Fire with that anthemic kind of size, but my next track to come out 'Take a Ride' probably draws closer to the likes of Joji and Damon Albarn. I love music so much I think it's a waste to listen to the same things all the time and I think that about creating as well.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never listened to you before?
I'd say it's an Alt Pop Indie patchwork, drawing from as many directions as possible. Maybe that makes it sound way more interesting than it actually is I don't know.