Last updated: 8 hours ago
A concocter of neo-psychedelic lo-fi pop from Chicago, Arkansas native Justin Fernandez aka J Fernandez settled in the city for a day job in 2008 to work for map company Rand McNally. After three EPs, his 2015 debut LP, <a href="spotify:album:39yhFa7ye8rL3FCY9NEnoY" data-name="Many Levels of Laughter">Many Levels of Laughter</a> put out by Joyful Noise Recordings, garnered positive reception from the press. That year also saw him share the stage with the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:1LeVJ5GPeYDOVUjxx1y7Rp" data-name="Unknown Mortal Orchestra">Unknown Mortal Orchestra</a>, Alvvays, <a href="spotify:artist:2uYWxilOVlUdk4oV9DvwqK" data-name="Mitski">Mitski</a> and Ezra Furman.
Over the past decade, his songs by have appeared like unexpected gifts, each time invoking a holiday we didn't realize existed. And like good holidays, these songs are imbued with a mythical energy, full of curious moods, charmed settings and the timelessness of a familiar moment.
Fernandez starts skeletons of songs with an organ and a Casio drum machine. Through endless revisions and tweaks, he builds and rebuilds each into complex arrangements. With 'Occasional Din' he mines the sound of the past; drawing influences from vintage Italian pop and soundtrack composers like <a href="spotify:artist:1zPQrFtF93xibAcM35FYvl" data-name="Bruno Nicolai">Bruno Nicolai</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6NXwJ5CEziDQrfimLpr7gZ" data-name="Alessandro Alessandroni">Alessandro Alessandroni</a> and Mina, as well as their American contemporaries like <a href="spotify:artist:4nymPwNq7Y6i1tVs1d9WVB" data-name="The Free Design">The Free Design</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3SMY2MGuaUOhuPpgRn6clw" data-name="Margo Guryan">Margo Guryan</a>. Lyrically, Fernandez expands on previous themes of isolation by exploring topics such as climate change, trend-forecasting and data collection. The result is a playful pop record that holds a kaleidoscopic mirror up to our need for escapism.
New full length, 'Occasional Din', expected Nov 9, is a sunny shoebox diorama for the eternal pessimist.
Over the past decade, his songs by have appeared like unexpected gifts, each time invoking a holiday we didn't realize existed. And like good holidays, these songs are imbued with a mythical energy, full of curious moods, charmed settings and the timelessness of a familiar moment.
Fernandez starts skeletons of songs with an organ and a Casio drum machine. Through endless revisions and tweaks, he builds and rebuilds each into complex arrangements. With 'Occasional Din' he mines the sound of the past; drawing influences from vintage Italian pop and soundtrack composers like <a href="spotify:artist:1zPQrFtF93xibAcM35FYvl" data-name="Bruno Nicolai">Bruno Nicolai</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6NXwJ5CEziDQrfimLpr7gZ" data-name="Alessandro Alessandroni">Alessandro Alessandroni</a> and Mina, as well as their American contemporaries like <a href="spotify:artist:4nymPwNq7Y6i1tVs1d9WVB" data-name="The Free Design">The Free Design</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3SMY2MGuaUOhuPpgRn6clw" data-name="Margo Guryan">Margo Guryan</a>. Lyrically, Fernandez expands on previous themes of isolation by exploring topics such as climate change, trend-forecasting and data collection. The result is a playful pop record that holds a kaleidoscopic mirror up to our need for escapism.
New full length, 'Occasional Din', expected Nov 9, is a sunny shoebox diorama for the eternal pessimist.
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