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Truly fascinating and something to be very grateful for when you’re introduced to a new artist or reminded of a familiar one through the initiatives of Sweet Beets and Driven as well as through listening all around our indie scene. To give all the indie artists from around our community the recognition, celebration and an opportunity to be heard and appreciated is something that everyone here is ultimately worthy of. Today we’re celebrating an artist of whom has just recently passed into these ears and has genuinely inspired myself personally, and I’m certain a lot of us all feel this same sentiment toward the brilliant JR Band and their very intriguing, intelligent and inventive song “Predilection” (interestingly with its title based on a conversation about the writings of Carlos Castañeda (author of “The Teachings of Don Juan”))
When it comes to the instrumentation of this track and the band itself-we have a brilliant combination of guitars, double bass, organ, mandolin, violin, and banjo bringing us a beautiful blend of Americana, folk music, bluegrass and country to enjoy. The songwriting is outstanding, bringing phenomenal storytelling into their music which-along with the wonderful blend of instruments and musical styles - gives us a sense of ease; as we hear astonishingly astute lyrical themes and well crafted melodies to suit the brilliant storytelling woven elegantly in this piece of music. All the elements which helps this musical backdrop covey the sense of grounding and “Predilection” which the character Don Juan is referring to as a physical place to ground, restore and direct you to reconnect you to your purpose. Here the JR Band displays that theirs (like most of us in our music scene) is a musical purpose to follow. An inspiring and engaging piece of music from genuine artists and human beings.
As always with our indie music scene, there is often a surprise and a gem to be found. We can travel the world to try to find it and suddenly realise these gems have been there all along and all around us. The indie community may be vast-yet discoveries such as The JR Band reveal there’s a lot to be grateful for-listening to and discovering musical gems such as those found all around our entire indie community-brings us closer together.
