Jerk announces new album 'Mood Swings' with first taster, '27'
Jerk returns to some of their core influences, embracing vulnerability, and an authentic experience of the self on the forthcoming ‘Mood Swings’ album.
Lead single ‘27’, sets about introducing some of the themes at the core of the album, including trans-rights and gender identity. Marking both Jerk’s age at the time of creating the record, whilst also putting a critical microscope to American lawmakers’ attempts to raise the age of consent for medical transitioning, they comment:
“Though the age of consent for medical transition has historically been 18, a new push began to raise it to 27 citing brain development as a process that continues through age 26. Reflecting, I was feeling as true to my gender identity at 27 as when I was 15. 27 is a sonic exploration of that idea –an ethos established by a tune played on the Fender Rhodes, stretched, developed and deepened via a lush saxophone solo, returning to its original ethos as one always does.”
The upcoming album is an eclectic collection of pieces spanning varying compositional and production styles, captured on analogue instrumentation. Warm saxophone tones, glistening Fender Rhodes and cyclical beats encompass the project, with weaving synths adding to Jerk’s tapestry of sounds. The project channels some of Jerk’s earliest influences, taking onboard the beatmaking sensibilities of J Dilla and Madlib, the Brazilian rhythms and textures of Hermeto Pascoal, and the uplifting sonics of Patrice Rushen and Earth Wind & Fire. Jerk shares:
“Mood Swings is a collection of 12 pieces reflecting on gender and mental health. 2022 was a year of political strife for transgender people in America, and a time where I was experiencing some intense emotions–dysphoria, derealization, grief, and romantic love and loss. I wanted to write music embracing this very authentic and vulnerable experience of self.”
Jerk is the brainchild of composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Kinney. Based in Brooklyn, NY, they explore the connection between jazz and hip-hop, with compositions blurring the lines between hip-hop beats and instrumental jazz compositions. Their music has found support across BBCR6, Reprezent Radio, Soho Radio and Jazz FM.
