Photo by Fox Beach
Hiraeth (n) (Welsh) :
“Nostalgia, homesickness; A bond with one’s country;
A longing for a home you can no longer return to.”
Hiraeth is my favorite word. Ever since Safe to Say’s Down in the Dark introduced me to the anomalous term, one without a true and direct English transition, I was enamored with a word that seemed to capture exactly how I felt about elements of my past without even being decipherable in my native tongue. But this isn’t a journal entry, it’s an article. I just don’t think I’d be able to speak on Jay Vee’s newest project and follow up to 2017’s Home is Just a Feeling, the aptly named Hiraeth, without establishing that first.
Jay Vee’s repertoire as a producer has been growing steadily in the past couple years, working with a variety of some of the most eclectic current artists under the “emo trap” umbrella. It’s really no surprise, melodic beats lined with twinkly guitar work have been a staple of the burgeoning genre for a while now. Hiraeth finds us looking at the most impressive collaborative lineup we’ve seen in the genre since Misery Club’s debut earlier this year. Perhaps the standout inclusion is that of Free Throw, a Tennessee native emo band whose sound doesn’t immediately bring to mind booming 808s. It really goes to show how far the reaches of the niche are starting to grow, and how blurred the lines of emo music are becoming.
Hiraeth opens with a lush and breezy instrumental on “One and Only,” a track that’s truly the most unique in the way it samples a voicemail. Not that voicemail sampling is in any way unique in of itself, but most often its inclusion is that of a negative or downtrodden message. “One and Only” forgoes the stigma with a very intimate and positive message from a loved one, giving the light and airy nature of the track even more (or less, in this case) weight.
It’s an honestly refreshing take on a concept that has been circulated for a while now, and sets the tone for the EP well. One that doesn’t lash out in anger or wallow in sadness, but still looks back in fondness, even when things are rougher than you may want them to be.
Compounding upon this notion is next track “Make a Wish,” featuring Shinigami. Lyrics tell of feelings of regret and love for family. Delivered bluntly and emotionally, the song doesn’t need verbosity to convey what it wants to say in few words. Production is laid back until the last third of the track, where Jay Vee demonstrates his ability to crank up the energy on a track, while keeping the tone intact. (As an aside I can’t be sure but I think I hear some banjo in the final notes of the song which would be a total game changer, but maybe I’m just hearing things.)
Next track “Jeep” really shows the extent to which Jay Vee is able to incorporate guitar work into his music. If anything, it’s more of a math rock song than a beat. However, the addition of trap elements and the use of quick and choppy guitar chords give an idiosyncratic texture to the song. Released as a bit of a preview of the EP, next track “Rewind” brings guccihighwaters on board for a song that functions well in multiple parts, with a beautifully delayed and layered guitar-drive intro switching into something darker on a dime, as guccihighwater’s vocals dig themselves straight into the production, as comfortable as they are somber.
And now on to “Overthink,” featuring Free Throw, as aforementioned. Something commendable about the song is that it’s still very much a Jay Vee song, even with the inclusion of such a different feature. Instead of trying in some way to cater to Free Throw’s usual sound, it’s actually one of the most hip-hop heavy tracks on the project. In the same vein, I would like to see what the two could have made with a little more emphasis on blending the two sounds equally, akin to familypet’s “Yearbook” ft. Capstan. Speaking of whom, next track “Homebound” finds Jay Vee teaming up with familypet. Of all the songs on the project, I would call this the most “conventional” emo trap, which is in no way meant to discredit to anyone involved. Both of the artists are insanely talented and consistently make great songs, so if anything it’s an exoneration. Seeing the two as being listed on a track together, you know you’re in for quality and they deliver no matter what.
That being said, it’s very exciting to see relative newcomer Sullii, as well as electronic-heavy producer drip-133 on titular closing track Hiraeth. Quite honestly, the EP goes out with a bang, not a whimper. Hiraeth brings out more amazing work from Sullii on vocals, proving that the artist is going to be way more than a flash in the pan in years to come. The production is clean and brings some great synth work to a more guitar-centered project. I almost wish it were longer, but appreciate that both the song and the EP as a whole don’t overstay their welcome.
Hiraeth lives up to this writer’s self-imposed standard. The EP is a beautiful and distinct picture of the feeling that the word invokes, through both music and lyricism. It lives up to the legacy of my favorite word, to say the least. If you want to miss the home you never knew you needed, Hiraeth has got you covered. Truly a showcase of the genre and the strides it’s made over the past few years, Hiraeth contends itself as one of the strongest releases of the year from everybody involved. Take a listen to the whole EP below: