Chicago indie artist Jacob on the Moon back with the full band version of “Still Wonder”
Chicago artist Jacob on the Moon goes from bedroom pop to beach pop, shares “Still Wonder” off of Live! From Earth recorded at Audiotree
Jake Dinneen records music at his apartment studio but he brings a new sound to his old songs working with a full, live band and working out of Audiotree’s studio space with engineer Rick Fritz.
Chicago singer, songwriter, and producer Jake Dinneen started Jacob on the Moon as a solo outlet, recording mostly alone at his own apartment studio. But over the years since he first began sharing music in 2019, he found his songs took on a new sound and meaning when playing with a live band.
He sought to capture this sound, band lineup, and this moment in time by recording a live album, working out of Audiotree Studios with engineer Rick Fritz. He announced this full band album Live! From Earth last month with the single “Surface” and today he’s sharing the sax-heavy single “Sweet Time.” (Please note that while Dinneen recorded out of the studio, the album is not an Audiotree session or distributed by the company.)
The Big Takeover Magazine announced the album last month, writing, “With a touch of yacht-rock right before summer, Dinneen has let his songs take on a new sound going from home studio to live band.” Jammerzine interviewed Dinneen and wrote of the single yesterday, “This live version of ‘Still Wonder’ captures that magic moment of a band in transition and evolution of musical revolution as a vivid presentation of their live sound as well as the songwriting and style.”
You can find the new single here via this smartlink or here on DISCO (includes the option to download the audio file).
“‘Still Wonder’ was originally released in May 2020 — very much a product of the pandemic—and was one of the first songs I started to write and feel really good about after releasing my first project CAME UP FOR AIR the previous summer. To me, the song is very plainly an exploration of unrequited love. It was a way for me to ask the questions I didn’t have answers to but desperately wanted.”
Dinneen also touches on the different feel and his relationship to the song in 2024, moving from lockdown to the live band version, saying, “Now in 2024, the live version of this song has become a staple of our set. In contrast to working on it alone in my room, performing it for crowds of people has made it one of my favorites to sing. That connection is great and it’s been a joy to see the song come all this way.”
While his studio recordings are mellow, hazy, and introspective, the upcoming live album swaps out bedroom pop synths for saxophones, guitar riffs, and an overall upbeat execution of these songs.
Jacob on the Moon will be releasing his album Live! From Earth on Friday, September 12.
The live band also has a summer residency in Chicago at The Dock at Montrose Beach every Wednesday evening through September 4th (7-10 pm).
Album Bio
Live! From Earth is a collection of nine songs performed live and recorded at Audiotree Studios in Chicago in June 2023. Jacob on the Moon is comprised of Jake Dinneen (guitar, vocals), Dylan Barnett (guitar), Robby Kulik (drums, vocals), Julian Merluzzi (percussion), Spencer Schillerstrom (saxophone), and Devin Wessels (bass guitar, keys, vocals).
In 2019, Dinneen launched what was then an individual pursuit of writing and releasing his own songs. Fast forward to 2024, his music found a new meaning and sound with his live band. With the exception of track nine, “Wander”, these songs have all been previously released as studio versions mostly recorded and performed by Dinneen alone. While the songs themselves aren’t exactly new, these live versions are and they sound so different from the original songs that they may as well be entirely new songs.
Despite working tirelessly as a solo artist over the years, Dineen says these live songs are his favorite version of Jacob on the Moon so far. After the live album release on September 12, Jacob on the Moon will be sharing new studio recordings.