Jagwar Twin Imagines a Better World on New Album, 33

Jagwar Twin, the alter-ego of singer songwriter Roy English, is set to release their sophomore album, 33, on September 30^thvia Big Loud Rock. 33 was produced by longtime collaborator Matthew Pauling known for his work with bands such as Twenty One Pilots and 5 Seconds of Summer.

Numerous artists have incorporated themes surrounding their age into their music. Taylor Momsen sang about still being alive on “25”, Taylor Swift discusses life at “22” on her Red album, and Paul McCartney imagined later life on “When I’m Sixty-Four”. Similarly, 33 has a special meaning for English.

He reflects, “I felt a shift once I turned 33. Like a switch flipped and I knew my purpose and why I was even still making music after so long and so many ‘failures.’ I have a different story to tell. One that I feel like only I can tell.”

Even at his relatively young age, English has had a long musical journey. It has taken him from several bands including Dead Letter Diaries, Canary Dynasty, and Eye Alaska to solo artist to his latest endeavor Jaguar Twin. Along the way the musical artist has amassed over 100 million streams.

“All of the seeds of Jagwar Twin were there. I was just playing around it,” English says. “Getting signed right after high school, sleeping in a van with eight dudes in a Walmart parking lot, living on $5 a day. I learned a lot about collaboration and what not to do. I got in my own way a lot. Even if you’re right, you can still be wrong. I learned how important it is to be compassionate and lift up others. When you’re playing to 500 or fewer people, right there and sweaty in the room, it’s about finding that authentic center in yourself and being able to emanate it and translate it.”

33 is an imaginative album mixing different music styles. It’s almost a flashback to my teen years in the ‘70s and early ‘80s with its R&B and electro-pop sounds albeit with a more modern interpretation. Initially the music from this era did not make much of an impression on me but looking back years later I tend to recognize the value of it much more. This album had a similar impact. The more I listened to it the more I began to appreciate it.

Leading up to the album’s release, Jagwar Twin shared the singles “It’s Your Time”, “I Like to Party”, “Happy Face”, and “Down to You”. However, the track that stands out the most to me is “Imagine A World”. It is an escape from the cynicism that dominates the world around us. In the 1971 classic “Imagine”, John Lennon shared his vison of a world without oppression, greed, divisions, or hunger.

Whereas Lennon viewed the existing world from a negative perspective, Jagwar Twin focuses on the positives aspects of life that bring people together rather than the negatives that keep them apart. “Imagine A World” is emblematic of this viewpoint with a more upbeat vision of a better world. Filled with infectious lyrics “Just Imagine” and “Imagine a world full of wonder, It isn’t hard to see, just close your eyes and imagine it in your mind”.

I often get asked how things are going, especially in the work environment, and invariably say “great” or “good” even though it may be anything but. “Happy Face” is about this practice of hiding your true emotions and presenting a false front to satisfy others. The music and video present an almost circus like atmosphere suggesting how life is sometimes like a show. English sings “Say you’re good, say you’re fine, Tell ’em everything’s alright” and “Say I’m happy, I’m happy, I’m happy today!” and to “Put on a happy face!”. However, this facade can only be sustained for so long with him warning “Cause we’re tic tock, tic tock, Ticking like a time bomb.”

33 is about self-reflection. English says, “My hope is that the stories on 33 will show the listener to the listener. It’s about showing possibilities beyond the grid we’re living in; how a 33-year-old failed influencer finally found their voice in this digital-first world. I want to make music that makes me want to dance,too.”

The album is out September 30th. Fans can pre-save 33 now here.

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Post by Scott Raymer (Website | Instagram | Facebook)

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