TBT: Sir Sly – Jojo – Dan Croll – Black Satellite
TBT: Sir Sly – Jojo – Dan Croll – Black Satellite
Some familiar faces, some new places and all the best tunes
Words in Part By: Natalina Zieman [Sir Sly]
It’s another busy Thursday here at Play Too Much, which means it’s time for another installment of Throwback Thursday. Each week we bring you a highlight reel of a few artists that need to barrow the spotlight for just a moment to show off their brilliance. This week we go back into quarantine with a track co-written by the iconic Billy Corgan [Smashing Pumpkins], the latest from a pop-star who helped defined our adolescence, the latest music video from a familiar face who took a break from the music scene and the latest single from an intense roc duo.
Back in May, alt-rock group, Sir Sly, released a new song “All Your Love”. In an attempt to let their creativity flourish the group recorded a socially distanced performance to accompany their latest release. Co-written and featuring instrumentation from Smashing Pumpkins’, Billy Corgan, “All Your Love” showcases Sir Sly‘s stunning-but-honest lyricism and creative musical capabilities. Despite being quarantined in three separate locations, lead singer and guitarist, Landon Jacobs, keyboardist, Jason Suwito, and drummer, Hayden Coplen, manage to collaborate wonderfully and in sync for this unique performance. From traditional singing to incorporating various trackpads and samples, they were able to keep both the spirit of the song and performing alive.
Coplen spoke a little bit about their performance, explaining, “It felt a bit odd finger-tapping on a sampler for a live take, but in the spirit of the moment, I’m just doing my best with what I have. As silly as it may look in a performance video, it’s not too different from the way I demo things at home before we meet up in Jason’s studio. I get a lot of joy from wrangling electronic sounds and fragments into drums loops that ebb and flow naturally. In that way, it felt great to be back at ‘band practice’ and immerse myself in something that I love.”
It may have been a moment since you’ve heard the name Jojo, but we all know her songs “Leave (Get Out)” and “Little Too Late” were featured on your MySpace page at one point. Once a budding pop-star with a #1 single, opening for Usher, Jojo was on everyone’s radar as the next best thing to take over music. However, behind closed doors, a different story was being written – shady label moguls and constricting contracts forced this once bright young star to no longer own her own voice. Earlier this year Jojo broke her silence and took back her voice in a part of the video series presented by Honda Backstage. Finally free from the shackles that held her back for so many years, Jojo released her fourth studio album May 1 of this year. Good To Know featured a collection of songs full of raw emotions and too real experiences – released in both digital and physical versions, the album houses 11 brand new original tracks. Now, Jojo has recently released the Deluxe Edition of the record that features 5 brand new singles – one of which recently debuted its official music video. “What U Need” sits at the fourteenth spot on the album and possess a sound most aren’t used to hearing from the songstress. Draped with a heavy early 2000’s R&B influence, Jojo delivers a style much different than childhood may be used to – but damn, if she doesn’t pull it off flawlessly. In a video that highlights fun choreography while showcasing Jojo’s power vocals – “What U Need” becomes a beacon of light illuminating a bright future ahead of a childhood staple.
Back in June, Dan Croll released the casual styled music video for “So Dark”. The single came ahead of his August 21 LP, Grand Plan. Complied of 8 songs, this would be his first collection release in three years. The video is simplistic, yet it amplifies the dark lyrics as Dan sits in the back of the car being driven around town – only illuminated by streetlights. Croll expanded a little bit about the meaning behind “So Dark,” saying, “After a few months in LA I started to find my feet a little, but where I still lagged was on the social side of things. Everyone I met in LA seemed to be desperately happy, sugar coating everything, forcing humour out of fear to be seen as sad. It made me really miss home, It made me miss that dark British humour and the ability to laugh at yourself, no matter how bad it gets. ‘So Dark’ is about that search, and the moment that perseverance paid off to meet someone like minded.”
Last year Croll began collaborating with Matthew E. White to bring the album to life – sharing, “The past two years have been a rollercoaster, starting from scratch, alone in a different country, but I’m so happy to have come out the other end with this collection of songs. Feels great not only to be back on the music scene, but to be doing it with songs that I finally feel represent the influences and music I truly love.”
The final feature on this glorious thread is an emerging rock duo who’s most release single, “Void” premiered August 13. Named one of Alternative Press’ 12 Bands You Need To Know, Black Satellite is an NYC band taking the music world by storm. Housed on their forthcoming album, Aftermath, “Void” is a heavy hitter that builds with intensity through the verses. The band shares on the single, “The concept behind ‘Void’ is realizing you’re not heading in the right direction mentally and allowing yourself to be devoured by your darkness anyway, and almost relishing in it. There’s a certain kind of beauty to be found in even the darkest parts of the psyche.” Filled with heavy riffs and harsh vocals laced with gentle undertones. Reminiscent of the stylings of Three Days Grace, Marilyn Manson – Black Satellite brings a new take on the hard rock many of us grew up on.
