Jae Soto releases new single “Working The Weekend” today on Switch Hit Records
today on Switch Hit Records
Miya Folick, Loveshadow
Spanning indie-alternative and experimental pop, Jae combines traditional songwriting and processed sounds and marries them into a playful symbiosis. Her music serves as a call-back to beloved eras of musical transformation, often blending nostalgic sounds with darker experimental elements.
On the song Jae Soto says, “‘Working the Weekend’ is a tongue-in-cheek portrait of working-class life. With minimalist lyrics that feel like a day in the grind, the song is meant to capture the pressure cooker of emotions – from turning shoulders against the oppressive heat to smashing glass in screams of frustration. As the chorus erupts into “I won’t make it out,” the song takes on a playful nihilism, accepting the trap of inequality with a knowing laugh against the danceable backdrop. The juxtaposition indicates a decision to embrace the burden, finding humor and release in the overwhelming struggle. Though the details evoke a sense of being trapped, the driving rhythms suggest cathartic acceptance as a small escape.“
“Working the Weekend” was created using the vintage Roland Alpha Juno 2 synthesizer. Jae Soto says, “I focused mainly on the Juno 2’s marimba and xylophone patches. I processed the sounds through Ableton Live’s Max MSP experimental effects chains. I tend to gravitate towards the bright and blippy sounds and I think in this case, the cuteness of them is a good juxtaposition to the heavy subject matter.”
She adds, “It felt almost like creating a collage, because I pieced together the processed sounds and rearranged them, so it resulted in a sort of kaleidoscopic soundscape at times with lots of overlapping patterns. A happy accident.”
Prior to shifting her focus to production, Jae Soto was a long-time session singer, often participating in collaborations with large modern jazz ensembles. Before venturing into music-making as a solo endeavor, she explored various corners of NYC’s music and dance scenes. Along the way, she absorbed a cacophony of eclectic sounds and cultures and now draws from those experiences, placing them into her own context.
