By: Thomas Higgins
Detroit natives Jamaican Queens aren’t simply a band which is trying to adhere to any music industry standards. They are lucidly taking their love of folk, pop and electronic music and fusing it into something they call “Detroit trap-pop”.
Currently living in a day and age where most bands look to channel a certain sound or genre, it’s refreshing to hear something as unique as Jamaica Queen’s debut album, Wormfood. There are acoustic guitars and high vocal melodies layered over, and sometimes under, synthesizes and electronic drum beats that are reminiscent of southern rap artists like Three 6 Mafia and Young Jeezy.
The band consists of Ryan Spencer, Adam Pressley, and Ryan Clancy.
“It all happened pretty naturally. We were just trying to replicate sounds from the music that we liked,” said Ryan Spencer of the bands unique discovered sound.
The title Wormfood, comes from a concept that Spencer and some friends had uncovered, where no matter what you do in your life, we’re all just going to become wormfood.
On the album’s first song “Water”, you get a little taste of everything that is to come on Wormfood.
The band goes from hip hop to something along the lines of The Soft Bulletin era Flaming Lips in a matter of seconds.
One of the reasons for this selective mix can give thanks to the band’s creative writing process which consists of Pressley and Spencer sending song ideas back and forth via email.
“Our processes are both very different. I tend to start with a melody or some lyrics,” said Spencer. “Adam (Pressley) tends to work more with beats.”
This combination of pop melodies and hip hop beats is what makes Wormfood such an interesting listen. There are moments when the haunting a cappella intro to “Asleep at the Wheel” takes a sharp left turn and leads into a distorted electronic beat.
Most of the lyrics on Wormfood talk of love, including all of its ups and downs. You’re not going to find many metaphors or hidden meanings while listening to the nine songs that make up Wormfood.
Everything that Spencer sings about is very “to the point and blatant” which goes perfectly with the idea that nothing really matters in life. What’s the point of beating around the bush when you could just get to the point?
An example of this is on the song “Wellfleet Outro,” when he sings, “I could call you but I never want to…”
Jamaican Queens are a band that has learned from its past experiences.
“One of the things that we have learned is that sincerity is what’s most important,” said member Adam Pressley. “You have to want to be in a band.”
The band is currently on a tour with the band Houses. After that they will embark on a few more dates of their own and then get back to working on new music.
You can download their album Wormfood at Jamaicanqueens.bandcamp.com.
To stay updated on Jamaica Queens future upcoming tour dates visit Jamicanaqueens.com.
