Summary
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.
Jam City | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jack Latham |
| Also known as | Vincent L'Traques |
| Born | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Laptop, guitar |
| Years active | 2010-present |
| Labels | Night Slugs |
| Website | www |
Recordings edit
Classical Curves edit
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 edit
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 socio-political 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 edit
After the more explicitly political Dream a Garden, Latham initially attempted to continue in this path by reacting musically to 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, 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]
EFM edit
In 2023, EFM was released, with more of a club-centered focus, inspired by his experience at Liquid and Envy.[10] Pitchfork referred to it as "an effervescent blend of rattling garage, glitzy disco, and thumping house."[11]
Work with others edit
Latham has also written songs and produced for Kelela, producing "Keep It Cool" and "Cherry Coffee" on her mixtape Cut 4 Me, and providing a remix of "Keep It Cool" on the deluxe edition.[6][12][13]
Personal life edit
Latham grew up in Redhill.[10] He later worked as a fashion designer.[14][15]
Discography edit
Albums edit
- Classical Curves (2012)
- Dream a Garden (2015)
- Pillowland (2020)
- Jam City Presents EFM (2023)
Singles and EPs edit
- 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 edit
| 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"[16] | 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[17] | 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 edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis. "Jam City: Dream a Garden review – modern psychedelia with a dark edge". Guardian. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ The Quietus
- ^ Saxelby, Ruth. "Jam City Is Fighting The System With Love". The Fader. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Eede, Christian. "Positive Force: An Interview With Jam City". The Quietus. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ^ "On feeling productive without feeling rushed". thecreativeindependent.com. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Ryce, Andrew. "Jam City - Pillowland · Album Review ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Cover story: Jam City is living 3 a.m. eternal". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Torres, Eric. "Jam City: Jam City Presents EFM". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Kelela - Cut 4 Me (CD, Album)". Discogs.com. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ Ravens, Chal (18 February 2015). "Darkest dreaming: Jam City dismantles his world". Fact (UK magazine). The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Jam City interview and mix". DJ Magazine. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ Cape God - Allie X | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 8 April 2024
- ^ Let's Start Here - Lil Yachty | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 8 April 2024