Drawing us in with waves of cerebral and industrial textures with an astral frequency, JSDavani opens Sam Y Nona with the track Coumarou, featuring a subversive, layered vocal design with introspective prose.
The opus expands with an elegant piano performance, creating a dichotomy and juxtaposition with the overarching energy of the soundscape, needless to say, we are mesmerized. We appreciate the repeated hook which lends itself to a magnetic and mantra-esque vibe, which we connect with deeply.
Next up is S. Winona ‘says whydon’cha’ which opens with a meditative energy and the voice of a child. We learn that this is the introduction of the protagonist of the record, Sam Winona/Y Nona/Anonymas, who according to the creator is “a proud optimist and strives to spread his message of glass half full philosophy to everyone.”
The textures featured on the record feel organic and tangible, including the falling rain on the track, fused cohesively with the elements of electronica, creating a luscious and dimensional tapestry of sound.
The drum nuances and static detailing are refined, opening up the record for the next chapter, intendanending, which takes on a more melodic edge, whilst retaining the overall sentiment of the album.
The artist, also known as Jacoby Davani, showcases Eastern vocal elements, whilst whirring and metallic structures accompany him. Speaking on his sonic influences, the experienced creator, confesses, “I hold the following artists in high regard and recommend everyone listen to them: Dean Blunt, Slauson Malone, Moor Mother, Perera Elsewhere, Josin, William Basinski, Grouper, Moses Sumney, Yves Tumor, and Gold Panda.”
He adds, “Some really inspirational films [and] directors that I’ve enjoyed include: Chris Marker (Sunless), Jodorowsky, and Gasper Noe …and then I got really inspired digesting the A24 filmography… They are almost all really great contemporary films that embrace surrealism.” We can certainly feel his influences come to life on Sam Y Nona, although there is no doubt that JSDavani is creating a universe of his own.
We then experience, opportunityisnowhere, which kicks of reversed textures and a peaceful frequency with a brief throat clearing and background noise which possibly includes crunching down on an apple. We appreciate the attention to detail and the experimental journey that the producer takes us on.
The sixteen minute track is the longest on the record, and serves as holistic experience for the centrepiece, “utilizing elements of ASMR into an extended downtempo experiment.”
Next is nowhere, which showcases a transcendental energy, evolving with bright, melodic percussion elements and synthetic, pitched vocals lending themselves to a sense of surrealism.
overdue, phone call long showcases echoing narrated vocals, inviting us to call the artist, even if it’s 3am. The track also features Supreet Singh, who produces his own music under the name, Prince Prospero. We appreciate his presence on the opus and the warm, unconditional love and openness that the prose generates.
Finally, we experience the optimist, which hosts reverberating bass notes and cosmic melodies with a stunning vocal performance of atmospheric lyrics from JSDavani as he shares his inner most emotions, bringing the optimistic message of the record full circle.
Speaking on the wider perspective of Sam Y Nona, the creator tells us, “This whole album is a bit of a puzzle. The titles for all the songs all reference one another. In this way they also serve to function as easter eggs. If one analyzes the lyrics and song titles they can see the circular and symmetrical nature to the composition, as a whole.”
We appreciate what JSDavani is creating, and have added the optimist to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we explore his wider discography including his EPs from earlier this year, Again Begin, and imaginary vowels.