Born in Oklahoma, raised in Paris, living in New York City, assistant to a Nobel Prize Winner, licensed New York City tour guide and Murder Mystery business owner, JW Francis is one of the newest signings to Sunday Best Recordings. His brand of lo-fi, utterly irresistible bedroom dream-pop takes its lead from the city JW lives in, with echoes of Jonathan Richman, The Velvet Underground and the lo-fi sound New York has been inspiring for decades.
Following a string of singles, New York’s very own JW Francis finally releases his sophomore album WANDERKID on Sunday Best Recordings. The LP is the follow up to his critically acclaimed debut We Share a Similar Joy, which saw JW firmly mark himself out as New York’s next lo-fi legend gaining mass support from BBC 6Music, Apple Music, Spotify, DIY, The Line of Best Fit, The Independent, HMV, Wonderland, and many others.
A collection of 11 irresistible tracks, WANDERKID is a concept album which explores themes of escapism and the urge to break free as JW elaborates;
“WANDERKID is an album about escape. It’s supposed to be a gut punch of a record about an anti-hero named WANDERKID who wants to get OUT: out of his living situation, out of his head, out of his life. This album is like looking out the car window with an urgent desire to be on the other side. It was finished during the most recent global pandemic, so hopefully folks find it relatable.”
Payette
Payette is the alias of Boise-based Producer, Songwriter, and Multi-instrumentalist Ryan Elliott, who began honing his craft through DIY recordings in 2018. Featuring a warm voice and a unique blend of pop, rock, psychedelia, and soul, his songs push the fluidity of genre into exciting new territories. With introspective lyrics surrounding the nature of life and love in the confusing modern age, the music invites you to hold on to the good in your world. Common sounds include layered synthesisers, crunchy guitars, and slick bass grooves. What started as a solo project has begun to expand into a more collaborative process with friends, although just as homebrewed as ever. Now featuring a full band for live performances, their sonic concoctions are taking on a life all their own on stage.

