Jerk - Mood Swings

Jerk returns to some of their core influences, embracing vulnerability, and an authentic experience of the self on the forthcoming ‘Mood Swings’ album. Released via DeepMatter Records, the album is an eclectic collection of pieces spanning varying compositional and production styles, captured on analogue instrumentation.

Channelling the beat-making 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 comments:

“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 when 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.”

Lush saxophone tones, glistening Fender Rhodes, and cyclical beats encompass the project, with weaving synths adding to Jerk’s tapestry of sounds. ‘Mood Swings’ Parts I-III appear throughout, introducing recurring motifs and operating as spacious, atmospheric interludes that glue the album together. ‘Space Case’ builds on the addictive melody introduced in ‘Mood Swings Part I’, with subtle nods to 80s jazz funk in the beat, and melody arranging reminiscent of Brazilian bossa nova.

The record builds upon some of the themes closest to Jerk’s heart, including trans rights, gender identity, and love. Lead single ‘27’ marks Jerk’s age at the time of creating the album, whilst also putting a critical microscope on American lawmakers’ attempts to raise the age of consent for medical transitioning from 18 to 27. ‘I Don’t Question You ’ is an empowering vocal feature building upon the sentiment of fighting for your truth, rather than feeling the need to answer to others, whilst ‘4Sal’ is a poignant dedication to Jerk’s late grandmother. Written in the days following her passing, it’s a heartfelt expression of the process of grief in musical form, in Jerk’s words: “The piece is a dedication to the living burning memory of a fierce woman I was fortunate to have in my life.”

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.

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.”

Listen to ‘27’ on all platforms

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.

Jerk announces new 'Limina' EP with brand new single 'Father Sky'

Following the release of their album ‘Bloom’ in December 2022, Jerk returns with their signature blend of hip-hop beats and jazz instrumentals, but this time with a disco twist.

‘Father Sky’ is an addictive introduction to the sound world of their forthcoming ‘Limina’ EP. Based around a dreamy, uplifting chordal loop, Jerk puts a four-to-the-floor groove and bopping bassline at the front and centre of the mix. Ever evolving to keep the listener on their toes, they put their full skill set as a multi-instrumentalist on display, opening up for a flowing saxophone solo, nodding to the jazz heritage of New York City.

Speaking on the track, Jerk said; “Father Sky was the first track written on this project, and I’ve come to think of it as a sort of sonic affirmation. I started with the chord progression, and it had this sort of addictive character where I could play it on repeat forever like a sort of constantly evolving spiral - I tried to make the rest of the instrumentation match that ever-evolving feeling, cascading until it reaches that final drop. The title, Father Sky, comes from that feeling of reaching out to the ethereal.”

Jerk is the brainchild of composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Kinney. Based in Brooklyn, NY, the project is an exploration of the connection between jazz and hip-hop with compositions blurring the lines between hip-hop beats and instrumental jazz compositions.

Listen to ‘Father Sky’ on all platforms here.

Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Jerk reveals brand new album ‘Bloom’.

Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Jerk reveals reveals brand new album ‘Bloom’.

Written in the late spring of 2021, the album's first offering, ‘Il. Sunshower’ demonstrates the boundless virtuosity of the Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist, playing every instrument on the track (and the album for that matter) completely themselves, minus the programmed drums. The track offers a tantalising glimpse at what Jerk has created across the album and sees the polymath step into an exciting new zone of rawness and musical purity ahead of the album’s unveiling.

Speaking on the single, Jerk went on to say; “This was the first piece I had written in months, it seemed to pour out of my fingers. The melody, harmony, and textures felt so fresh and invigorating. I exported the demo to my phone and took a walk to Prospect Park in Brooklyn to listen. Mid walk, it started pouring rain, but there were hardly any clouds in the sky - a Sunshower. I was soaked head to toe, but it was so beautiful I couldn’t even be upset. It was a renewal - a washing away of the old and embrace of the new.’

Second single ‘Miss Psilo’ was born during a complicated period in Jerk’s life and is the first piece of music Jerk wrote after acknowledging their queer identity, as they describe: “I was on a trip in Upstate New York and participated in a mind-expanding activity. I remember looking in a mirror and hating what I saw, and I didn’t understand why I felt this way. As a result, I fell into a deep depression. After swimming in these feelings for weeks, I acknowledged that I had been lying to myself for my entire life. The first time I sat down at the piano, Miss Psilo poured out of my fingertips.”

That is evident throughout, with an abundance of emotive instrumentation, along with a rawness that cuts through the heart of the track allowing space for the stunning piano solo to effortlessly enter across the mid-section of the song, in preparation for the harmonic saxophone to come in towards the end.

The album's final single, ‘Still Searching’, is an embrace and reclamation of one of Jerk’s earliest influences, the legendary Roy Ayers, and his piece ‘Searchin’. Gleaming with uplifting vibrations, 'Still Searching' is Jerk at their finest with melodic saxophone throughout, accompanying the abundance of instrumental layers and textures within the three and half minute striking and upbeat jazz number.

The album itself follows a period of change, understanding and coming of age for Jerk, which clearly transcends within the music, and sits fittingly within the album's title - Bloom. The music from beginning to end is raw in form and profoundly personal, as Jerk articulates:

“When a flower blooms, it’s a sign that everything went right - the soil was fertile, the sun and water met its needs, and the plant was nourished. Bloom is a collection of music I wrote when I was embracing my queer identity and coming out of the closet. Coming out wasn’t something I wanted at the time, but rather something I needed. In the same way, I didn’t intentionally write this music, it just seemed to pour out of my fingertips. This album is my bloom - proof that owning and embracing my truth was necessary to be nourished.

Bloom is very raw and very personal. The songs captured real-life moments of beauty, euphoria, fear, and awkwardness. When I decided to make this album, I wanted to capture that rawness. The drums are programmed. Everything else is a live instrument - you can hear my mistakes, my breathing, the piano bench squeaking, and the warm and hissy sound of signal pouring through vintage instruments, microphones, and preamps.” 

Jerk Release 'II. Sunshower', the first single from their forthcoming album 'Bloom'

DeepMatter is very excited to announce 'Bloom', the brand new album by Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Jerk.

Written in the late spring of 2021, the album's first offering, ‘Il. Sunshower’ demonstrates the boundless virtuosity of the Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist, playing every instrument on the track (and the album for that matter) completely themselves, minus the programmed drums. The track offers a tantalising glimpse at what Jerk has created across the album and sees the polymath step into an exciting new zone of rawness and musical purity ahead of the album’s unveiling.

Speaking on the single, Jerk went on to say; “This was the first piece I had written in months, it seemed to pour out of my fingers. The melody, harmony, and textures felt so fresh and invigorating. I exported the demo to my phone and took a walk to Prospect Park in Brooklyn to listen. Mid walk, it started pouring rain, but there were hardly any clouds in the sky - a Sunshower. I was soaked head to toe, but it was so beautiful I couldn’t even be upset. It was a renewal - a washing away of the old and embrace of the new.’

The album itself follows a period of change, understanding and coming of age for Jerk, which clearly transcends within the music, and sits fittingly within the album's title - Bloom. The music from beginning to end is raw in form and profoundly personal, as Jerk articulates:

“When a flower blooms, it’s a sign that everything went right - the soil was fertile, the sun and water met its needs, and the plant was nourished. Bloom is a collection of music I wrote when I was embracing my queer identity and coming out of the closet. Coming out wasn’t something I wanted at the time, but rather something I needed. In the same way, I didn’t intentionally write this music, it just seemed to pour out of my fingertips. This album is my bloom - proof that owning and embracing my truth was necessary to be nourished.

Bloom is very raw and very personal. The songs captured real life moments of beauty, euphoria, fear, and awkwardness. When I decided to make this album, I wanted to capture that rawness. The drums are programmed. Everything else is a live instrument - you can hear my mistakes, my breathing, the piano bench squeaking, and the warm and hissy sound of signal pouring through vintage instruments, microphones, and preamps.”