Grow On, released Aug. 11 via Captured Tracks, showcases the Canadian songwriter and producer’s creativity, talent, and confidence. This is especially true in “Dirk Gently (Know Yourself)”, a track that mixes hip-hop, R&B, jazz, indie rock, and exciting groovy synth instrumentation reminiscent of Tame Impala, complete with JayWood’s unique voice.
The colorful video, directed by Min Soo Park and filmed in Los Angeles, shows him singing as he freely rides his bike through both busy streets and empty fields. JayWood’s energy radiates as much as the sun in the video – you can feel his joy through the screen.
“This sh*t nasty af. If you hear this and you’re not shaking ya ass, WTF are we even doing here?”, Haywood-Smith says about the song.
Grow On comes after his most recent LP Slingshot, “a self-portrait of JayWood at his surface and his depths.” The new EP consists of four tracks, two of which are bonus tracks from the Slingshot sessions, an “OG” version of the album single “Thank You,” and a cover of Tyler, the Creator’s “SWEET.” It “is a continuation of the sonic playground Haywood-Smith cultivated between 2018 and 2020 and seeks to ‘leave nothing behind artistically’ from the last record, while shedding some light on the creative path ahead.” Its title, a lyric from “Thank You”, came from Haywood-Smith’s late mother’s advice for him to “grow up and grow on”.
Watch the video for “Dirk Gently (Know Yourself)” here and make sure to stream JayWood’s new project. Visit his website at jayinthewoods.com.
Find more exciting new music on our Alchemical Multigenre Mixdown playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Emma Page, a recent Journalism graduate of The George Washington University, possesses a passion for music journalism and storytelling in all its forms. Originally from Baltimore, MD, when she is not writing, she can be found at a local concert or making music of her own.
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My interview with Amy Santis aka aSanTIS began in the most unexpected way. The Maryland-based flow-bending artist and lyrical storyteller came prepared to engage in conversation around questions I had posed – and she also brought one or two of her own thoughtful prompts based on her curiosities around my view of learning.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
