j a b o b o’s EP is a melodic dream that highlights their boundless, diverse talent.
Manuel Miller and drummer Jack are a whimsical duo that have assembled 5 uniquely fantastic tracks together to form their EP. Pulling inspiration from acts like King Krule, High Club, and Mk.Gee, Miller explains, "that sort of slacker jazz chordy stuff really inspires me to make the dumb songs I make.”
What first caught my attention was the way their music sounds like a fun, high-quality Tiny Desk/studio type performance. Incorporating guitar, bass, percussion, keys, and saxophone, j a b o b o’s stunning instrumentals throughout the whole EP draw you in and dazzle you. Although each element complements each other and blends effortlessly, they also stand strong on their own and it’s such a lovely listening experience. I definitely recommend reading the lyrics during your first playthrough of this EP, as it adds an extra layer of understanding of j a b o b o’s brilliance.
With a soulful, jazzy sound and entrancing vocals, “walk through the snow” is about doing simple things that you may not enjoy, just to spend more time with someone. Although Miller describes this track as having “the dumbest lyrics,” the simple and sweet honesty is much appreciated. “walk through the snow” features a wonderfully dynamic and full sound.
Credit: Max Herman
“fire makes the world go round” has minimalistic lyrics that touch upon a deep and thought-provoking topic. It is said to be an apocalypse song written 2-3 years ago pre-covid, that paints an image of a world in chaos. Despite the disarray, there is always something beautiful to live for, and in j a b o b o’s case, that's music. I’m really pleased with the richness in this one. Providing an edgier vibe, “repeat” is about being in a relationship with repetitive problems that don’t seem to have a solution. Miller says, “I mainly wrote those lyrics because it would make sense with the CD-skipping sound of the middle of the chorus and the entire pre-chorus.”
“a piece of you” reflects on the career of a musician, and how the fantasy of it tends to be better than the reality. The poetic writing style aids in expressing this message in a not so obvious way. Wrapping up the EP is “diy disasterpiece,” which portrays this idea of what happens when you pretend to be something you’re not. “It’s about all the hip diy show kids that I know and have myself sorta been or pretended to be, where they probably have a decent childhood that gets further and further away all the time, a weird and lonely middle school/early high school time, and just end up so excited to find an artsy fartsy ingroup after those years that they lose track of their life and everything becomes a shitshow,” Miller writes.
Something about j a b o b o feels familiar yet unconventional, and they are just so exciting to listen to. I can’t wait to hear more from them!
Alex Kilgore, Untold Music Promotion