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.”
Jaguar Sun
Jaguar Sun is a Canadian solo project created by multi instrumentalist Chris Minielly. Weaving together inspiration from bands such as Frightened Rabbit, Youth Lagoon, and Fruit Bats, Minielly creates dreamy, pop centric soundscapes with experimental and folky flair produced entirely in his home. The Ontario based artist allows his instruments to speak equally to his voice urging listeners to get lost in richly layered guitar lines and deep droning synths between soft vocal melodies.
Indigo Waves
At times poppy and polished, and other times, melancholic, Indigo Waves runs the gamut of saccharine, ’80s lo-fi nostalgia and dream pop. With catchy singles such as “Jerry Whiner” and “Can’t Let Go,” Indigo Waves reminds me of Wild Nothing but with a sound that lends itself to more rock rhythms. In between each upbeat single, richly sublime tracks serve as emotional palette cleansers, as in “Let Go,” a personal favorite of mine from the album that imparts a hopeful gloominess, and “Draynor Manor,” a synthy, instrumental track that encompasses the cassette-tape atmosphere of the entire album. Vocalist/guitarist Austin Oestreich has a way of emotively charging his simplistic vocal melodies that makes the slightly distorted vocals pop against the instrumental background. For me, “Thanks” highlights the interplay between the somber lyrics, Oestreich’s charming vocals and the upbeat guitar and synth melodies well. The highly danceable track features a chorus of “Oh yeah you’re falling asleep / Oh yeah you’re caught in a dream.” Similarly, the second track, “Symbols,” boosts the album’s tone with an ethereal soundscape that breaks into an upbeat rhythm and equally optimistic vocals. The dichotomy between the nostalgic dreaminess and the catchy pop elements sets each track of Indigo Waves apart from the rest. Don’t be surprised if you catch an ear worm or two—these songs will get stuck in your head. -Ali Shimkus, SLUG Mag
