Based in Olympia, Washington, USA, Jemmy Joe is an artist quite unlike any other I’ve encountered before, tearing up the rulebook to create collections that defy convention.
By Graeme Smith
In recent months, he’s released two such projects. Bitter Sister is an EP which reinvents the same song four times, while Song And Dance Man sees him defer the song-writing to the legendary Bob Dylan in a series of covers.
Bitter Sister is his latest, having been unleashed onto the world at the end of January. The EP opens with its arranged version which opens haunting and inviting in equal measure. Ghostly vocals come in, creating an eerie atmosphere. The track takes its time unfolding, slowing growing in stature before arriving at a textured finish.
The broke & angular version transforms it into a jangly indie rock song that’s rich with a sense of anarchy. It’s cassette & dead reimagination gives it a raw and classic feel. Joe’s Dylan influences start to come in during this rendition. The EP is then rounded off by the instruments version. An ethereal instrumental gives the track yet another dimension, proving its versatility.
Song And Dance Man proves to be quite a different prospect, showing what a musical chameleon Jemmy Joe is. He takes on thirteen Dylan tracks, avoiding the obvious ones to delve deeper into the folk singer’s extensive back catalogue.
Across all the thirteen covers, Jemmy shows us the talent on display in his native Olympia, featuring plenty of local artists who are flying under the radar.
The swinging Dark Eyes gets things going with Joe adding a quirky indie pop edge to the original. She Belongs To Me sees him team up with The Pine Hearts for a raw and soulful early highlight.
Other highlights include the electro pop take on Mississippi, the twinkling and captivating The Man In The Long Black Coat, the raucous and punky Clean Cut Kid, the banjo-infused Lenny Bruce, and the cosmic and psychedelic What Good Am I?
Jemmy Joe is an artist who isn’t afraid to do things his own way. Across both his Dylan playlist and his new EP, he eschews convention while giving us plenty of heart and soul in the process. His ability to straddle a wide range of genres is second to none. The world of music needs more artists like him – he shows that there’s isn’t just one way to do things.
Both Bitter Sister and Song And Dance Man is available to listen to on Spotify now.
