Jam City

This article is about the music producer. For the mobile game developer, see Jam City (company).

Jam City
Birth nameJack Latham
Also known asVincent L'Traques
BornLondon, England
Genres
Occupation(s)DJ, producer
Instrument(s)Laptop, guitar
Years active2010-present
LabelsNight Slugs
Websitewww.jam-city.net

Jack Latham is a British electronic music producer and DJ who performs under the alias Jam City.[1][2] He has been active since 2010 and records on the label Night Slugs. He has released four full-length albums: 2012's Classical Curves, 2015's Dream a Garden, 2020's Pillowland, and 2023's EFM. He has also produced for artists such as Kelela, Troye Sivan, Gaika, and Olivia Rodrigo.

Recordings

Classical Curves

Main article: Classical Curves

Jam City's debut album, Classical Curves, was released in 2012 to positive reception. Sonically, the album featured glossy, alien-sounding post-dubstep and club music and established his reputation for creating instrumentals from club music tropes.[1][3][2] The Quietus called it "one of the most interesting album-length listens to come from a UK club producer in a while."[4]

Dream a Garden

Main article: Dream a Garden

Latham's follow-up album, Dream a Garden, was released in 2015. Inspired by the 2011 England riots and the work of bell hooks, the album further developed the sociopolitical conscience of his debut, engaging particularly with the effects of neoliberalism.[1][5][2][6] Latham said the album "is about the personal effects of living under capitalism. Why do I feel shit and why do the people I love feel shit when they look at billboards?"[6] The first single from the album, Unhappy, critiques corruptive elements of online porn.[7]

Pillowland

After the more explicitly political Dream a Garden, Latham initially attempted to continue in this path by reacting musically to then-current world events. When this process did not lead to music he was satisfied with, he turned in a more personal direction, which led to the 2020 album Pillowland, inspired by California and focused on themes such as "a desire for a better life."[8] Resident Advisor referred to it as vibrant, distorted, kaleidoscopic, and self-assured.[9] Dan Barrow, writing for Tribune, described it as both dream-like and anti-dream, realistic and psychedelic, and argues that it showcases the way politics and music are connected "at every level".[10] Similarly, Joe Creely wrote for The Line of Best Fit that Pillowland "interrogate[d] escapism while it embraced it."[11]

EFM

In 2023, EFM was released, with more of a club-centered focus, inspired by his experience at Liquid and Envy.[12] Pitchfork referred to it as "an effervescent blend of rattling garage, glitzy disco, and thumping house," The Line of Best Fit referred to it as "unabashed giddy fun" in contrast to Dream a Garden's more serious nature, and The Quietus described it as unified and straightforward, "an upbeat musical Blade Runner."[13][11][14]

Work with others

Latham has also written songs and produced for Kelela, producing "Keep It Cool" and "Cherry Coffee" on her mixtape Cut 4 Me, providing a remix of "Keep It Cool" on the deluxe edition, and acting as one of three executive producers for her 2017 album Take Me Apart.[6][15][16][17] He also produced multiple songs on Lil Yachty's 2023 album Let's Start Here, implementing music from Pillowland along with other original productions.[18][19]

Personal life

Latham grew up in Redhill.[12] He later worked as a fashion designer.[20][21]

Discography

Albums

Singles and EPs

  • Refixes 12" (2010)
  • "Magic Drops" (2010)
  • Waterworx EP (2011)
  • "Glide" (2012)
  • Classical Club Mixes (2012)
  • Club Constructions Vol 6 (2013)
  • "Unhappy" (2014)
  • "Proud" (2015)
  • Earthly Versions (2015)
  • Trouble Mixtape (2016)

Songwriting and production credits

Title Year Artist(s) Album Credits Written with Produced with
"Keep It Cool" 2013 Kelela Cut 4 Me Producer - -
"Cherry Coffee" - -
"INTRLD" 2016 Rosie Lowe Control Co-writer/Producer Rosie Lowe -
"I'll Be Gone" Co-writer/Co-producer Rosie Lowe Dave Okumu
"LMK" 2017 Kelela Take Me Apart Producer - Kwes
"Frontline" - -
"Waitin'" - Ariel Rechtshaid, Kwes
"Take Me Apart" - Al Shux, Ariel Rechtshaid, Arca, Loric Sih, Kwes
"Truth or Dare" - Kwes
"Turn to Dust" Co-writer Kelela Mizanekristos, Alejandra Ghersi, Romy Madley Croft -
"Bluff" Producer - -
"Altadena" - Ariel Rechtshaid, Kwes
"Intro" 2018 Bad Gyal Worldwide Angel Producer, songwriter Alba Farelo El Guincho
"Internationally" Alba Farelo, Joaquín Bartra, Marc Glasser El Guincho, Dubbel Dutch
"The Good Side" 2018 Troye Sivan Bloom Co-writer/Additional producer Troye Sivan, Brett McLaughlin, Bram Inscore, Alexandra Hughes, Ariel Rechtshaid Ariel Rechtshaid, Bram Inscore
"Animal" Co-writer/Co-producer Troye Sivan, Brett McLaughlin, Bram Inscore, Alexandra Hughes, Ariel Rechtshaid Ariel Rechtshaid, Bram Inscore, Buddy Ross, The Haxan Cloak
"No Fun" 2018 Joji Ballads 1 Producer George Miller
"Life of the Party"[22] 2020 Allie X Cape God Producer, co-writer Alexandra Hughes, Oscar Görres -
"Heather" 2020 Conan Gray Kid Krow Co-producer - Dan Nigro
"A Ballet" Sébastien Tellier Domesticated Producer - Corentin "nit" Kerdraon
"Won"
"jealousy, jealousy" 2021 Olivia Rodrigo SOUR Co-producer - Dan Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo
"Top Picks for You" Injury Reserve By the Time I Get to Phoenix Co-producer, songwriter Nathaniel Ritchie, Jordan Alexander Groggs, Parker Corey, Jeremiah Raisen Parker Corey, Jeremiah Raisen
"The Ride" 2023 Lil Yachty Let's Start Here Producer, co-writer[23] Miles McCollum, Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Miles Robinson, Aaron Thomas, Patrick Wimberly Miles McCollum, Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Patrick Wimberly
"Pretty" Miles McCollum, Fousheé, Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Patrick Wimberly Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Patrick Wimberly
"Say Something" Miles McCollum, Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Patrick Wimberly

References

  1. ^ a b c Wilson, Sophie (25 March 2015). "Weekly Listening: Earl Sweatshirt, Diana Tribute, Jam City and more". Wireless. Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Fox, Killian (22 March 2015). "Jam City: Dream a Garden review – a departure from Jack Latham's glossy debut". Guardian. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  3. ^ Petridis, Alexis. "Jam City: Dream a Garden review – modern psychedelia with a dark edge". Guardian. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  4. ^ The Quietus
  5. ^ Saxelby, Ruth. "Jam City Is Fighting The System With Love". The Fader. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Macpherson, Alex (19 March 2015). "Jam City's songs of resistance are a reaction to 'living under capitalism', says Jack Latham". The National. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  7. ^ Eede, Christian. "Positive Force: An Interview With Jam City". The Quietus. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  8. ^ "On feeling productive without feeling rushed". thecreativeindependent.com. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  9. ^ Ryce, Andrew. "Jam City - Pillowland · Album Review ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  10. ^ "There are Other Worlds Than This". tribunemag.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Jam City: Jam City Presents EFM Review - fun mixtape vibes | Electronic". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Cover story: Jam City is living 3 a.m. eternal". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  13. ^ Torres, Eric. "Jam City: Jam City Presents EFM". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  14. ^ Quietus, The (25 May 2023). "Cool Memories: Jam City Presents EFM". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  15. ^ Lindsay, Cam. "We Talked to Jam City About His New Protest Record, the Angry But Still Hopeful 'Dream a Garden'". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Kelela - Cut 4 Me (CD, Album)". Discogs.com. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  17. ^ "How Jam City helped Kelela find the sweet-spot between the R&B and electronic worlds". The FADER. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  18. ^ Medithi, Vivian (6 March 2023). "Jam City on making psych rock with Lil Yachty". No Bells. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  19. ^ "Jam City, Mac Demarco and Alex G contribute to new Lil Yachty album". Crack Magazine. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  20. ^ Ravens, Chal (18 February 2015). "Darkest dreaming: Jam City dismantles his world". Fact (UK magazine). The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  21. ^ "Jam City interview and mix". DJ Magazine. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  22. ^ Cape God - Allie X | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 8 April 2024
  23. ^ Let's Start Here - Lil Yachty | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 8 April 2024