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djamesk13

djamesk13 weaved scathing socialism into a grungy dreamscape with ‘Everything Is Certain – Your Majesty’

The London-based solo artist, djamesk13, is no stranger to the arenas of Avant-Garde alt-rock, but for his latest release, Everything Is Certain – Your Majesty, he went deeper into the domain than ever before while exploring our strained relationships with high society.

While we used to look at royalty and other figures of the elite ruling class with awe, the tables are gradually turning on the perception shared by the masses. Simply put, Everything Is Certain – Your Majesty is a socialist masterclass, but instead of running in the same vein as the Manic Street Preachers, djamesk13 orchestrated a dreamy grungy dreamscape to run his reflective lyricism through.

How can you be magnificent when we can buy you” will go down as one of my favourite lyrics of all time, and for the way the instrumentals and ethereally sludgy vox juxtapose the lyrical sting, Everything Is Certain – Your Majesty became an unforgettable release; a paragon of the post-grunge movement.

Everything Is Certain – Your Majesty was officially released on January 28th; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

djamesk13 reached the pinnacle of haunting subtlety in the twisted psych-rock tale, ‘She Was Angelina’

She Was Angelina by djamesk13 is a captivating piece that solidifies the artist’s position in the realm of grungy, bass-driven psych rock. This single is a masterful blend of raw energy and haunting subtlety, showcasing djamesk13’s adeptness in creating a soundscape that is both gritty and ethereal.

The track opens with a deep, resonant bass line that immediately sets a dark, immersive tone. The distortion is cranked up, not just as an effect, but as a statement, echoing the grunge era’s love for raw, unpolished sound. This choice pays off brilliantly, as it adds a visceral edge to the song.

Lyrically, She Was Angelina is a poetic exploration of a film noir femme fatale figure. The character is painted as both innocently sweet and dangerously alluring, a combination that is as intriguing as it is unsettling. The reference to the Jesus and the Mary Chain not only situates the song within a specific musical lineage but also adds a layer of depth to Angelina’s character, suggesting a complex individual with a rich inner world.

The melody, dusky and lingering, perfectly complements the lyrical content. It’s a siren song, drawing the listener deeper into the narrative and the emotions it evokes. The use of lo-fi elements by the London-based solo artist adds a personal, intimate touch to the track, making it feel like a glimpse into a private, almost secret world.

She Was Angelina was officially released on December 10th; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

djamesk13 touches on the existentialism of the temporal experience with ‘No Time’

“No Time” is a sonic meditation on temporal experience, a nudge to wake up to the present and to prioritise what truly matters. djamesk13’s unique blend of grungy guitars, atmospheric psychedelia, and introspective lyricism creates a powerful commentary on the human tendency to let life’s precious moments pass us by.

By encapsulating the elusive and fleeting nature of time and serving as a poignant reminder of the moments that slip away unnoticed as we get entangled in the minutiae of everyday life, the theme of No Time is universally affecting as it reflects on the complicated tapestry of the human condition.

The instrumentals weave together the dark tonal shades of grunge with the introspective swirls of psychedelic rock. There’s a weight to the sound that mirrors the gravity of the song’s message, creating a soundscape that’s both haunting and intimate. As the music unfolds, it lays down a dark and reflective atmosphere that perfectly captures the essence of the lyrics, encouraging a deep, inward look at the listener’s own personal timeline.

djamesk13, with this track, asserts why there’s always space for his artistry on our radar. His lo-fi expressionism has a rawness and authenticity that strikes a chord with his audience, tapping into emotions that are often left unexplored. His music doesn’t just pass through the ears but lingers in the mind, igniting thoughts and feelings that resonate on a deeply personal level. The gritty authenticity of the production enhances the song’s message, allowing the listener to feel the immediacy and the urgency of the present moment.

No Time was officially released on November 19; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

djamesk13 lit a beacon to the outliers in the Lynchian post-punk atmosphere of his latest single, The Left-Over Piece of the Puzzle

If djamesk13 wasn’t a solo artist, you’d be forgiven for wondering if Paul Banks had added a new project to his legacy. With echoes of the early Interpol records lingering in the guitar’s reverb entwined with an atmosphere which could only be described as Lynchian, the latest single, The Left-Over Piece of the Puzzle, is an alluring pool of tonal and textural mesmerism.

When you’re not busy being consumed by the artful effects applied to the post-punk nuances, you will find the time to find the melancholic beauty in the release. While some people lament because a piece of them of missing, others are alienated by the unshakable feeling that there’s no place where they can fit in and feel at home.  This one is for anyone who has felt a kinship with Camus.

The Left-Over Piece of the Puzzle was officially released on October 8th; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

djamesk13 has unveiled his retrospective krautrock lament, If We Had Been Forthcoming

Oasis told us not to Look Back in Anger in 1996; djamesk13 heeded that warning before getting to work on the production of his latest lo-fi alt-rock release, which carries the swagger of 90s Britpop into the sludged-up sanctuary of a release that emanates the artful style of an unreleased Pixies B-side.

If We Had Been Forthcoming is a retrospection-rich release that era spans and genre hops to lead the listener in a track that kicks with as much psychedelia as a Krautrock record and picks up just as much dust as desert rock. Between the laments of government-instilled delusion and bitter-sweet retrospections on how we’ve moved past the point of salvation as a society, there are some pitch-black dark lyrical themes, but the blows are nicely cushioned by the sonorously inviting distortion-drenched grooves.

If We Had Been Forthcoming was officially released on August 25; stream it on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

djamesk13- She Rides in Secret: grungily Lynchian psychedelic Britpop

For his latest single, She Rides in Secret, the alt-rock artist, djamesk13, orchestrated a scintillating installation of grungily Lynchian psychedelic Britpop.

Finding the middle ground between Pixies, Stone Roses, the Psychedelic Furs, and the pioneers of darkly dissonant post-punk, She Rides in Secret is a hypnotic aural effigy to authenticity, inexplicably carved by one of the boldest experimentalists that we have had the pleasure of putting on our radars in recent years.

The moodily sludgy lo-fi propensities of She Rides in Secret may not be anyone’s cup of tea, but if you’d prefer to lose yourself in a sonic storm in a teacup, delve right into the seductive soundscape that will caress you with its succinct melodies and wistful romanticism.

She Rides in Secret was officially released on July 17th; hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Into Your Eyes: djamesk13 sees something happening inside on If I Ever Meet You, Then This Is For You

Battling to control his feelings at seeing such an exceptional place which has just blown his mind into pieces, djamesk13 shows us his love for an extraordinary time in his life which will never be forgotten on If I Ever Meet You, Then This Is For You.

David Kemp aka djamesk13 is an East London, UK-based indie rock singer-songwriter who dusted off his guitar during lockdown times and hasn’t looked back again.

Beguiling his loyal fans with something to cook with as the world burns, djamesk13 is the kind of mysterious character who brings so much ear-piercing joy to all those who like music immersed with a cutting edge.

If I Ever Meet You, Then This Is For You from East London, UK-based indie rock artist djamesk13 is quite the mesmerizing experience to lock the doors with, as all uninhibited energy is placed in the hands of an underground master who has brought his best work to the fore. He seems to be feeling further inspired by the rigours of the world, as we are treated to another gem of a track to spark up the day with.

Listen up on Soundcloud.

See more moves on Twitter.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

“The A13” is a Bold Anthem of Self-Reflection

https://soundcloud.com/djkemp13/the-a13wav

Djamesk13’s “The A13” is a heartfelt and expertly played punk-rock ballad that draws comparisons to Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day.” The track is a testament to the power of raw emotion in music, with its stripped-down instrumentation and raw vocal performance perfectly capturing the song’s themes of loss and regret.

The instrumentation on “The A13” is sparse but effective, with the acoustic guitar providing the backbone of the track and subtle touches of electric guitar and percussion adding depth and texture. Djamesk13’s vocals are suitably raw and impassioned, with the imperfections in his performance adding to the song’s overall authenticity.

Lyrically, “The A13” is a powerful exploration of the human experience, touching on themes of loss, regret, and the passage of time. The chorus is especially poignant, with Djamesk13 singing “The smell of tarmac always hits me” in a way that is both haunting and cathartic.

“The A13” is a memorable track that showcases Djamesk13’s talent for writing and performing emotional, heartfelt music. The track is a perfect example of how punk rock can be used to explore complex emotions and experiences, and how the genre’s raw energy and emotion can be harnessed to create truly powerful music. With “The A13,” Djamesk13 proves that he is a musician to watch.

Boston Meets Britpop in djamesk13’s Alt-90s International Convergence, You Said.

https://soundcloud.com/djkemp13/you-said

London’s David Kemp has slid back under his djamesk13 moniker once again to release yet another feat of evocative lo-fi alternative alchemy by the grace of his 8-track recorder. You Said carries the raw lyricality of Disco 2000 while the instrumentals look far beyond 90s Britpop for their grit and sludge.

With no-wave-y motifs and crunchy guitars that bite in the same vein as Pixies, You Said is a riotous smorgasbord of Alt-90s nostalgia. Judging by the streaming stats on this release shortly after it grunged up the airwaves, clearly, plenty have an appetite for djamesk13’s seemingly effortless ingenuity.

You Said is now available to Stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The alt-rock originator, djamesk13, struck again with his grungy proto-punk single, And That’s Where It Ends, And So It All Begun

https://soundcloud.com/djkemp13/and-thats-where-it-ends-and-so-it-all-begun

And That’s Where It Ends, And So It All Begun” is the latest tonally sublime single released by the London-based alt-rock originator djamesk13 (David Kemp).

If Dinosaur Jr veered away from grunge and towards proto-punk and made a pit stop at 90s Britpop to pick up a bit of extra guitar swagger, the sonic result would be in a similar vein to this nostalgically produced hit.

The distortedly and poetically orchestrated single provides a definitive discourse on the nature of our lives which runs through like pre-determined chapters of destiny. Lament it or live it to the max, but that’s the nature of being, captured in the lyrical hooks in this epitomisingly sludgy earworm.

And That’s Where It Ends, And So It All Begun was officially released on November 19th. Catch it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast