Great riffs, great production, a live rock sound and lush vocals of emotional integrity, professionally captured for that studio escapism and musical realness combined…
Jason Chaffee crafts uniquely evocative post-rock anthems with passion and precision, the kind of songs that are fit to embrace the deep-thinkers and nostalgic rock fans alike, those who’ve struggled and those who love real music, and the latest single It’s Down provides a bold and beautifully introspective example of that truth.
Exploring themes of uncertainty, memory and resilience, It’s Down is a unique expression of struggle and overcoming, built around the feeling of something that once felt stable suddenly shifting and falling away.
It comes from a longer songwriting journey and impending album, within which Jason Chaffee tackles deeply personal stories of suffering, grief, chronic illness, sobriety, and poor mental health. But despite these difficult topics, the intention is to find a way forward – to seek out the light at the end of the tunnel, as a protagonist of sorts, and in turn, provide the same kind of hope and connection for those who listen.
Featuring a mellow, seductive underlying groove, with a somewhat snappy electric guitar riff echoing throughout various points in the mix, It’s Down achieves a brilliantly immersive overall experience. The sonic appeal is distinct, the writing unique and interesting, with short lines both poetic and personal, laying down a thoughtful foundation that’s easy to connect with.
Stylistically we meander through a few different moments of influence. There’s something nineties pop-rock band-like about the bridge, then something mildly grunge-like or Pearl Jam-esque about the verses. And for the hook – this looping brightness and contrasting desire to escape, adds a whole new twist of artistry – “I just want to leave behind, I just want to run…”
The energy builds up beautifully, with Jason Chaffee putting in a delicate to impassioned performance, and reaching a gritty and soulful crescendo for the final fifth of the song. It’s Down is a structural gem, indicative of an experienced songwriter, and the performance both musically and vocally is authentic and moving, precise but engaging for its originality and honest humanity.
That’s something fans have come to love about Jason Chaffee’s music in general. Summer Song released earlier this year, and while the voice and set-up, the riffs, the realism, all rang loudly as Jason Chaffee, the song came with an aptly more upbeat, colourful aura, and helped inject a little versatility and uplift into a growing catalogue.
To then follow with the depth and darkness, the freedom and reality of It’s Down, there’s no question about the fact that the upcoming album will be a timeless one of real creative value, diversity, and reward for listeners far and wide.
The new Jason Chaffee single releases June 26th – Pre-save It’s Down. Then later, the sublime and heart-wrenching conceptual ache, the hypnotic sonic escapism, of No One Notices, will hit streaming platforms on August 7th, with a video and storyboard alongside. This track is a personal highlight from the whole project, an epic arrangement and song, with a piercing lyrical depth and darkness that’s impossible to turn away from.
As the full album launch approaches, the final single Lost It All will release on August 28th, with the highly-anticipated full project The Weight of The Sky dropping September 18th. Jason Chaffee will celebrate this with a release party on September 19th, where fans can hear all of the songs from the new album in the live setting, no filter, no falseness; just real music and real connection.
Find Jason Chaffee on Instagram, Apple, Spotify, YouTube & his Website.
