In a world full of factory-produced radio-friendly pop songs, it’s absolutely refreshing to be sitting back with headphones on and experiencing the music of JEEN. Gold Control is JEEN‘s delightful fourth LP this decade, coming February 2nd, 2024. Gold Control glides along the same trajectory as its predecessors while maintaining its own identity – grunge, garage, psych-rock, punk, with tinges of shoegaze.
“Hold My Head Up Higher” sees JEEN join creative forces once again with long-time collaborator, Canadian indie musician and producer, Ian Blurton. Ian has taken the role of co-producer on JEEN‘s last five albums and their strength in working together shines on this track. Its swirling chorus shimmers along the flesh and actually induces frisson with ease which is a hard sensation to help facilitate through song.

What can you share with readers about your new project?

I have a new album coming out Feb 02/2024 and just released the 3rd single Hold My Head Up Higher on Nov 1st. We recorded the album in Toronto earlier this year and it is co-produced by myself and Ian Blurton.

How does this release compare with your other projects you had in the

I lost all my demo projects for this album in a massive computer fail last year so Ian (also my co-producer) suggested we just go in and jam the songs a bunch top to bottom and re-demo them before we started tracking for real. We never really did it that way for the previous albums, always just worked off my home demos as opposed to rehashing the songs prior with full band. Anyway, it was nice to go a little deeper on these songs at that early stage and I think the whole LP is better for it.

What about this single makes you most proud?

Hold My head Up Higher is the only co-write on the upcoming LP and it’s always fun getting the chance to collaborate with Ian. I usually do vocals solo on most of my stuff, so it’s an extra bonus to have him singing on this one too.

Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?

I tend to lean a little dark lyrically sometimes so I like that this song has a more optimistic outlook. It’s about blessings and curses and trying to find peace with both so I guess the goal is to have that resonate with people on some level.

What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

I quit school in gr 10 to pursue music and have been doing it for a living since then. It’s all I really know so it’s hard to imagine myself doing anything else. Over time, writing songs has become a way to cope and make sense of stuff for me as well.

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.

God hard question, there’s sooo many. Layne Staley comes to mind because I’d love to write/sing harmonies with him. Chris Cornell too for the same reason.

What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?

Bit random but the last song I listened to was a track called Elastic by Joey Purp. I’d never heard it before last week but I loved his vocal so I kept going back to hear it again.

a few all time fav bands I love: Beastie Boys, Nirvana, The Who, Jane’s addiction, Pink Floyd, The Band, some Corrosion of Conformity etc etc

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

I’m on IG/FB/TwitterX/Youtube/tiktok  @thisisjeenmusic I try to keep regular tabs on all of them.

I really appreciate your time. Is there anything you’d like to share before we sign off?

thanks so much for having me