JESSE NORTHEY’S NEW LP, ONION KNIGHT, OUT VIA VICTORY POOL RECORDS ON AUGUST 10, 2022
WATCH / SHARE “BOTH EYES CLOSED” HERE
BUY / STREAM “BOTH EYES CLOSED” HERE
PRE-SAVE ONION KNIGHT HERE
Photo Credit : Heather Saitz // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
If one was to analyze the DNA of Jesse Northey music, its double helix might look an awful lot like a sharp insider's take on the world of capital “P” pop songcraft. A decade and change into his career, Northey has long established his own voice as a songwriter, but the music palpably pulses with inspiration from the decades' worth of tune-smiths that have come before him. In tandem with lyrics that explore the myriad ways in which we need to dismantle the artifice of masculinity, societal norms, and creativity-sapping careerist ambitions, this is music firmly rooted in the classics, but cut with a clear-eyed contemporary viewpoint.
On his new album Onion Knight, Northey presents a widescreen distillation of these influences, brought to life with exceptional warmth and attention to detail by ace producer Thomas D’Arcy (The Sheepdogs, NOBRO, Yukon Blonde) at Taurus Studios in Toronto. “Onions are associated with crying,” Northey says. “I wanted to conjure an imagery that confronts the stoic heroism associated with masculinity and take a jab at it.” And he's done just that: the feel of Onion Knight is classic but also urgent, tackling modern anxieties and buffered by a warm, rich psychedelia that is inviting as it is pristine.
The drums are lush and up front, the bass melodic and McCartney-esque, and the songs are driven by piano, vintage keyboards, and shimmering synths. All of these elements readily bring to mind titans of song such as Elliott Smith, Harry Nilsson, Aimee Mann, and Spoon, as well as contemporaries such as Chris Cohen and Andy Shauf.
Today, Northey is sharing album cut “Both Eyes Closed”, a track about “not being present enough in the moment and missing an opportunity to connect,” he says. “It's close but not quite. Wind with no air, a fire with no spark, a star with no shine.”
The video for “Both Eyes Closed” was produced / directed by Cayley Thomas and Bob L’Heureux. “The song is about things not panning out,” says Thomas, “so we figured a friendless birthday party might be the perfect place to showcase the feeling that we all know too well. It’s a simple visual to accompany the song that leaves a lot of room for wondering what the hell happened.”
WATCH / SHARE “BOTH EYES CLOSED” HERE
BUY / STREAM “BOTH EYES CLOSED” HERE
“Both Eyes Closed” Single Artwork // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
MORE ABOUT JESSE NORTHEY
Northey has maintained a parallel career behind the curtains of the music world. His work as an engineer and producer has afforded him plenty of time to hone his studio skills, and his place on the High Priestess Publishing roster has led to songs appearing in far flung places such as the Amazon's documentary on Pete Buttigieig, former Indiana Mayor turned presidential candidate. As the leader of Jesse & The Dandelions, he has shared stages with Hollerado, Said the Whale, and July Talk, and toured extensively in Japan. And since 2020, he's been the man behind Victory Pool Records, a record label and management company, helping to shepherd an impressive variety of acts such as Witch Prophet, The Deep Dark Woods, Marlaena Moore, Ghost Woman and OMBIIGIZI.
WATCH / SHARE “SOUL SEEKER” HERE
BUY / STREAM “SOUL SEEKER” HERE
PRE-SAVE ONION KNIGHT HERE
ONION KNIGHT TRACKLIST
01 Soul Seeker
02 Picking The Numbers
03 Both Eyes Closed
04 Do You Like Me Now
05 Is This Real Love
06 Hold On
07 I Am An Island