Intimate and instantly memorable, JAIE’s breathtaking debut December EP lights a fire full of emotionally-charged electro-RnB.
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Her EP may be named December, but JAIE’s debut defies seasons just as it does genre. It’s an expansive musical exploration that transcends time and place – the sort of record that introduces itself for you, immediately entrenching listeners in the depths of an artist as she strives to better understand herself and the surrounding world. Intimate and instantly memorable, JAIE’s breathtaking December EP (released 12/23/2017 via +6 Media) lights a fire full of emotionally-charged electronic RnB.
don’t make it sound so easy
i really thought we’d make it, you and i…
times ain’t always so breezy
but if we tried if we tried
a little more could we survive
this lonely fire’s about to burn out
burn out burn out now
“u + i,” JAIE
JAIE describes her debut as “a reflection of production and musical styles that I have explored – pop, ’80s dance music and R&B songs I’ve written over the past year.” It’s the stuff of dark nights spent in comfortable solitude; of burning candles whose shadows dance furiously upon the wall. Malaysian-raised, New York-based R&B pop singer, songwriter and producer JAIE paints immense portraits with a single stroke. Having written, produced and mixed her entire EP, JAIE is in full control of her artistry. Her music is decidedly minimalist, yet her soundscapes burst with color, glowing with passion and warmth. Such is the promising talent of this emerging voice, whom we will be keeping a close eye on in the months to come!
EP opener “u + i” quickly establishes JAIE’s promise and power. The song’s laid-back rhythm eases listeners into her sound; you may not even notice the cascading synth tones bouncing between your ears the first time around. What you can’t miss is JAIE’s smoky voice: Lively yet bittersweet, the artist indulges in her feelings, coming to terms with the fact that people change – and with them, relationships.
The slower “games” fully engulfs us in JAIE’s vision: Vast, dynamic synths birth heavy beats out of empty space. JAIE is simultaneously detached and fully immersed in her work as she bids farewell to someone close to her heart: “Am I just a game to you?” she croons, “Now I’m caught up; now I’m not the same, ’cause you led me on.” She captures the spirit of TLC, harnessing the self-confidence one needs to be empowered and devoid of scrubs. “Well keep playing will you, ’cause I’m all out – we need’a sustain these forces on us.”
JAIE’s fiery debut single “honest oceans” made waves for the artist upon its August 2017 release, placing on several Spotify playlists and garnering over 120,000 streams to-date. It also perfectly encapsulates its parent EP’s sound, dwelling in that soft, dark space full of reflection, exploration and introspection.
You carve out a perfect space
Where you can make everything feel better
Cast the view in a gentle fade
Yet i’m seeing so clear with you
These honest oceans
Bring me back to you
The artist’s soulful side comes out en force in final track “better days,” an acoustic song that captures the full marvel of JAIE’s sometimes-sultry, sometimes-sweet vocal prowess. Layered harmonies offer a profoundly moving finale as JAIE observes everyone’s imperfection.
I would never break free
If i didn’t leave you
Things would only happen
If we just followed through
And we should
Let it show
You know, you know
I’ve had my better days and
You’ve had your better days too
You know, you know
I’ve had my better days and
You’ve had your better days too
Perhaps sometimes, a second chance is in order. JAIE leaves us enveloped in emotion, caught between our personal darkness and light, wrestling with questions of change and separation, but also togetherness and understanding.
And remember: This is only the beginning.
Taking us deep into the artist’s heart and soul, December truly eclipses all expectations. JAIE sets a high bar, exposing her innermost thoughts and feelings through a profoundly evocative, immersive musical experience. Though not euphoric in the traditional “happy” sense, December leaves listeners with an intimate euphoria – the cathartic high from overcoming the overwhelming. Experience the full record below, and peek inside JAIE’s December EP with Atwood Magazine as the emerging artists provides a brief track-by-track through her debut release!
:: stream/purchase December here ::
Listen: December EP – JAIE
:: Inside December EP ::
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u+i
inspired by changing friendships and fall outs. knowing someone is only temporary because people change. remade the track with ’80s synth sounds and gated drums.
games
moody rnb track with asian inspired plucks, collaborated with friend and producer Ed Tucker who brought the extra punch to the track with the heavy synths
honest oceans
a more laid back production, chill rnb track, letting my vocals and the e-piano lead the song
better days
[I] wanted to keep the acoustic live feel by keeping the arrangement simple and leaving in an accidental recording of myself sipping tea. revisiting my roots as a guitarist and singer/songwriter
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:: stream/purchase December here ::
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photo © Nicholas Wong
