One of the absolutely remarkable aspects of music is its mysterious ability to inspire your memory. Over the years as you develop a better perspective of your past it is easy to dive deeper and deeper into music. The feelings you experience when hearing a familiarized artist, album, or single are unlike any other memories, indescribable at least. One of my 'blasts to the past' is LA based songwriter Jaymes Young's Dark Star. Now, Dark Star is only about a year young, but the imprint it left on my frontal lobe is now an everlasting influence on how I view my past.
About a month ago, Jaymes was gracious enough to allow his fans to stream his new project Habits of My Heart, but today marks the release of his major label debut EP via Atlantic Records. He's spent much of the past year on the road including headline dates and tours alongside London Grammar in both North America and the UK, as well as releasing a collaboration with fellow Atlantic recording artist Birdy on Atlantic’s recent soundtrack for The Fault in Our Stars. Not only that, but he also leaves on October 17 in direct support of Vance Joy's Dream Your Life Away World Tour 2.
The title track of the EP has garnered a lot of attention since its initial release, yet not many fans know that the acclaimed remake/remodel of Sufjan Stevens’ “Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois.” has hit No. 1 on Hype Machine on four separate occasions… That's unheard of. So, he's doing well for himself. It's clear. Has the attention jaded his personality? Jaymes had this to say about his approach to songwriting:
“My belief is that emotion is the strongest thing. You can’t replace words. This whole EP has been a heart-breaking process and journey,” says Young. “It was important for me to explore the entire spectrum of emotions, as real and raw as possible, no matter what the emotion is. I’m not writing for myself, but for the people I want to connect with. All I care about is connecting.”
Habits of My Heart is available for pre-order beginning today on the iTunes Store, with all pre-orders accompanied by the stellar track, “Come Back For Me.” Take a listen to the EP now, as come a year from now it may act as a guideline to the way you see your past.
Jaymes Young North American Tour Dates 2014:
OCTOBER
17 Dallas, TX Trees
18 Austin, TX Emo’s
19 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s Upstairs
21 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom
22 Atlanta, GA Terminal West @ King Plow Arts Center
23 Charleston, SC The Pour House
25 Washington D.C. 9:30 Club
28 New York, NY Webster Hall
29 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
30 Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
NOVEMBER
1 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
3 Ottawa, ON The Observatory At Algonquin College
4 London, ON London Music Hall – Rum Runners
6 Columbus, OH The A&R Music Bar
7 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
8 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
10 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre
11 Winnipeg, MB West End Cultural Center
13 Calgary, AB Republik
16 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
19 Eugene, OR WOW Hall
21 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
22 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
24 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
25 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
28 Los Angeles, CA The Fonda Theatre
29 San Francisco, CA Slim’s
Jaymes Young
Habits of My Heart EP
- Atlantic Records
- September 30