#marcus paquin

[nofatclips]

Gentle Pulsing Dust by Richard Reed Parry from the album Quiet River of Dust Vol. 1

[citrivenus]

Written Dreams and Photographed Memories

Chapter 1 — Small Town Shenanigans

song inspo: Jesus, Etc. — Wilco Mama’s Boy — Dominic Fike Chandelier — Will Paquin Harness Your Hopes – B-Side — Pavement

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ENTRY 1 — Mar. 14 20xx

sometime around December, my friends and i decided to try making a scrapbook of sorts. polaroid photos, goofy little notes, drawings, stickers, etc. we even planned to take trips to different places to take pictures and make memories. So when January came around, we bought everything we needed. Juno bought the sketchbook, while Teagan had a short list of things we could visit. Most, if not all, were out of state. No one would blame her for the ideas; our city can only entertain for so long. She’s always been the extroverted and adventurous type. And I bought the Polaroid camera and the film.

After telling Carson about the scrapbook, she suggested I keep a journal, too. She said it would be a healthy outlet for my emotions and thoughts, so I figured I’d entertain her suggestion, at least for a while. Maybe it won’t be so bad. It helps me get out the things I can’t tell others without possibly getting locked up in a psych ward.

After having a routine down, you’d think life would be easier to manage. Sure, it’s boring, but consistency is better than unexpectancy.

Routines are easy to form most of the time. Ironically enough, they’re also easy to disassemble. A routine has kept me sane in this town. While it’s not a horrible town, you get tired of it eventually. A small town on the East Coast isn’t always excitable. It has its moments, though.

The most exciting thing you can get is from the movie theater on 12th Street or the mall down on Junesburro Lane.

There’s not much, but it's home, I guess. There’s nothing extravagant about this town, which is nice. It won’t disrupt my routine.

While i enjoy my routine, i’d like to leave this town. Maybe explore the states? Or just settle somewhere else. The only problem is that my family is here, and i’d hate to leave them behind. i know that once i go, i likely won’t come back.

— end of entry —

— — — — — —

Crunching footfalls trudged down the road with the occasional car passing by the young adult—who was flicking through his phone, looking for music to listen to through his earbuds and an army green satchel slung over his shoulder.

Cars passed, blowing his hair in front of his face, which he moved back with his hand. He’d be driving to work if his car wasn’t in a mechanic’s shop. Not only would it be faster, but it’d be safer, too. Not like this town is dangerous; the most danger anyone could get into would be from human error… Thinking about it, that can be dangerous.

Reaching the intersection, he quickly glanced at each side of the road. Cars drove down the road, and he waited for an opening before gunning it to the other side. He adjusted his satchel on his shoulder and the hood of his jacket as he walked along the paved sidewalk that soon became a dirt and dead grass trail. ‘Why are the sidewalks never consistent in this town?’ He thought, grunting as he jogged down the man-made sidewalk and through a parking lot to the convenience store. He jumps up the curb and to the store’s entrance, grasping the door handle, opening the door, and slipping inside the shitty convenience store. The little bell above the door chimed as the door opened and shut, his Docs Marten’s quietly thumping against the grubby tile floor. The cashier at the counter gave him a tired greeting.

“Hey, Mikey, how ya’ doin’? You on yer way to work?”

“Hey, Marcus. I've been doin’ okay. I figured I’d come up and grab some snacks and bug you.” 

Marcus let out a chuckle and replied something that the young adult didn’t hear. Mike walked down the aisles, grabbing snacks before going to the fridges. He looked around for Monster Energy drinks, grabbing four different flavors.

With his arms full of his goods, he awkwardly approached the counter, where Marcus stood behind it.

  The young adult on the other side of the counter—was waiting for Marcus to finish ringing up his items while his eyes wandered behind the counter. “...You think you could snag me a pack o’ Marlboro Reds?” Mike mumbled as he dug out his wallet from his hoodie pocket. Marcus snorted, causing Mike to look up at him.

“Fat chance… $28.19 is yer total, kid.”

Mike scoffs, rolling his eyes and pulling out his money—a 10, three 5s, three 1s, and some change. He sat it on the counter and slid it to the cashier. Marcus took the money off the counter. “I’m 20. ‘M no kid…” “Sure… Says the one who asked me to sell cigarettes to them illegally.” Mike huffed, pocketing his wallet and reaching for the bag’s handles. Marcus retrieved a pack of Marlboro Reds from the shelves before swiftly turning back to the register and deftly pressing the keys.

"...'Fore you go, ya need'ta pony up 'nother $13," he announced.

Michael glanced at him, silently questioning the demand. Marcus leaned closer with a smirk.

"Ya want yer cigarettes or not, kid?"

Michael grinned, retrieved his wallet, gathered the remaining cash, and handed it over to Marcus, who chuckled as he accepted the money.

Fortunately, it covered the cost of the cigarettes. Marcus tossed the pack and receipt into Michael’s bag with the rest of his snacks and drinks before he snagged the bag off the counter and let it hang by his side. “Now don’t go tellin’ nobody, ‘kay? I’on’t need the owner or bears on my ass now.” Michael nodded, mumbling an ‘okay’ and turned on his heel to leave, checking his watch. 1:45. He had fifteen minutes to get to work before getting another write-up for being late. Again.

He opens his satchel, shoving his snacks and drinks inside wherever they’d fit before closing it back up. He jumped off the curb and jogged down the street to work.

[youngsoulcity]

Flower Face / CAT'S CRADLE

Produced by Marcus Paquin

2024

[independentartistbuzz]

Alt-Pop Singer And Producer Maïa Davies Shares “Isn’t Love Everything” from Lovers’ Gothic LP

For the past four years, the award-winning, JUNO-nominated, SOCAN #1 bilingual Canadian songwriter, recording artist and producer Maïa Davies has been on a stubbornly unwavering mission of deep musical and self-discovery.

Born in Montreal, Davies has devoted the vast majority of her life to the craft of music. Getting her start in the Warner Music signed folk band Ladies of the Canyon, she has released two solo albums in French and penned over 12 top ten commercial radio hits for Canadian music artists, including Mother Mother and Serena Ryder.

The Lovers’ Gothic LP is a chronological storyboard of the artist’s emotional journey in song. The new full-length by Davies is a compilation of compositions that best encompass the visceral throughline of her euphoria, heartache, abuse, self-actualization and acceptance—a concept she jokingly now refers to as the stages of relationship grief. She recorded the album in 12 different studios across the country, with the help of a large cast of co-producers and star musicians including drummers Jimmy Paxson (Stevie Nicks) and Glenn Milchem (Blue Rodeo), as well as new producer collaborators Marcus Paquin (Begonia, The National) and Erin Costelo (Kaïa Kater).

After cycling through many stages of grief and mourning after a toxic relationship, Davies had a moment—whether you call it weakness or strength—of remembering and honoring the love that had been. In the focus track, “Isn’t Love Everything,” Davies honours her immense capacity to love, with her whole person, knowing that no matter how it ended, she was true to herself and giving with her heart.

[movies-to-add-to-your-tbw]

Title: The Good Dinosaur

Rating: PG

Director: Peter Sohn

Cast: Frances McDormand, Raymond Ochoa, Jeffrey Wright, Steve Zahn, Sam Elliott, Anna Paquin, John Ratzenberger, A.J. Buckley, Marcus Scribner, Peter Sohn, Maleah Nipay-Padilla, Jack Bright, Ryan Teeple, Jack McGraw, Mandy Freund, Steven Clay Hunter, David Boat, Carrie Paff, Calum Grant

Release year: 2015

Genres: adventure, family

Blurb: An apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.

[leanstooneside]

A bird makes his nest little by little (NORMALRUN-CHEWSTICK-FALLENORACLE)

- Melissa Rycroft's endangered lower leg

- Jay Cutler's endangered buttocks

- Sadie Frost's endangered leg

- Emily VanCamp's endangered eyelash

- Scott Disick's endangered nose

- Jonas Brothers's endangered bottom

- Ben Stiller's endangered back

- Pitbull's endangered head

- Ryan Seacrest's endangered leg

- Anna Paquin's endangered breast

- Arnold Schwarzenegger's endangered nostril

- Holly Montag's endangered eye

- Jack Nicholson's endangered lip

- Maroon 5's endangered waist

- Zac Efron's endangered waist

- Russell Brand's endangered eyelash

- Jenna Elfman's endangered nostril

- Demi Moore's endangered calf

- Floyd Mayweather's endangered foot

- Marcus Schenkenberg's endangered back

- Kellie Pickler's endangered head

[chorusfm]

Marcus Paquin – “Something Beautiful” (Video Premiere)

Today is a great day to share the latest single and music video from Marcus Paquin called “Something Beautiful.” In this beautiful-sounding song that expands upon the themes of friendship and unconditional love, Paquin makes you feel like you belong in his musical odyssey. On the single Paquin shared: ’Something Beautiful’ is a song about friendship and unconditional love. It celebrates an awareness that a myriad of beautiful experiences exist in every moment and that it’s up to each of us to be present in those moments so we can absorb and reflect that energy back onto others. Making the video for ‘Something Beautiful’ with my daughter was one of the most joyful experiences of my life. The original idea for the video was that it would be an animation. It would involve a number of characters that are typically natural enemies in the wild in conflict and then eventually, they would forge deep and unexpected friendships. But that concept fell through so I started considering alternate plans. If you’ve been looking for that next artist that checks all of the boxes, look no further than the talented Marcus Paquin. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/features/marcus-paquin-something-beautiful-video-premiere/

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Audio: Julia Jacklin Shares Hazy and Earnest "Be Careful With Yourself"

New Audio: Julia Jacklin Shares Hazy and Earnest "Be Careful With Yourself" @JuliaJacklin @laurie_torres @adamkinner @whiteleyb @Polyvinyl @grandstandhq

With the release of 2016’s full-length debut, the folky Don’t Let The Kids Win, acclaimed Melbourne-based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Julia Jacklin quickly carved out a reputation for being a direct lyricist, willing to excavate the parameters of intimacy and anger with songs that were simultaneously stark and raw, loose and playful. 2018’s sophomore album Crushing managed to draw…

[mitjalovse]

The bonus tracks we discuss in here could be called as the B-sides that either received a promotion or got involved in another sector, though their content remained unnoticed. I mean, I didn't really talk about what they say, the latter might be the reason they're not on their supposed home albums. Some of them, however, serves as the tributes. For instance, this extra tune from The National's Trouble Will Find Me remodels one of their peers, Perfume Genius.  While the combination of the two doesn't seem like something that would've been possible, I must admit the group equip themselves well for the challenge. You can feel they have a massive amount of respect for Mr. Mike Hadreas, so they don't really change the piece that much, yet the vibe feels different.

[the1920sinpictures]

1928 Model Marion Morehouse posing in the library of publisher Conde Nast’s New York City apartment at 1040 Park Avenue. She wears a “dull turquoise-blue moire” dress by Paquin, with jewels of Marcus. Photo by Steichen. From America in the 1920′s, FB.

[independentartistbuzz]

Songwriter Maïa Davies Shares Dreamy, Piano-Driven Single “Lift Me Up”

For the past four years, the award-winning, JUNO-nominated, SOCAN #1 bilingual Canadian songwriter, recording artist and producer Maïa Davies has been on a stubbornly unwavering mission of deep musical and self-discovery. Born in Montreal, Davies has devoted the vast majority of her life to the craft of music. Getting her start in the Warner Music signed folk band Ladies of the Canyon, she has released two solo albums in French and penned over 12 Top 10 commercial radio hits for Canadian music artists, including Mother Mother and Serena Ryder.

Davies’ new single, “Lift Me Up,” is a piano-driven, melodic plea to break free from the loneliness of unmet expectations. Written in Berlin at HANSA studios where David Bowie wrote and recorded his hit “Heroes,” “Lift Me Up” wistfully weaves confessional pop and synth nostalgia into well-crafted motifs, awash in buttery vocals. Produced by Montreal’s Marcus Paquin (The National, Begonia), “Lift Me Up” begins as a vulnerable tableau of the artist’s longing to belong, and her all-too-human loneliness. 

This song was a chance for me to become ultra-honest about my need to belong, and my disappointment at not finding true connections in my life. It was an examination of myself, of what my role in my unhappiness was and how I could break that curse. I think I had to become ready to attempt happiness, so I wrote this song aspirationally, in hopes it would come to be realized. - Maïa Davies

[jj-lynn21]

The Calling ch 4

Warnings: toxic masculinity, bi/gay characters, 70s key party scene

Notes: This went a little long.  For those that want a little more intimacy with Sebastian Stan that will come in the last chapter, I promise. The story went in some surprising directions but I just went with it.

ch 1, ch 2 ch 3

First you shower, then you take a better look at the email. The costume requests a 70s style. Example photos are included. Burnt oranges, faded reds, hot pants, white and black paired with the burnt orange are the color scheme. Tired as you are you rip through your closet to find a few things that will hopefully do. You pack red hot pants paired with a white t-shirt, a wrap-around skirt with a fitted silky tank top with a jean jacket, and decide to put out a burnt orange romper you find in the back of your closet you never wear to wear there.

Then you finally crash for the night dreaming what a house party themed shoot would entail. Because of who you have already worked with your mind pairs Bill Skarsgard and Tom holland in crazy 70 cloths, Shirts unbuttoned. Lots of gold chains around their chests. Alcohol flowing as you chat about school, work or something even less significant the taste of the beer you are all consuming. As you get drank in this dreamland you are laying all over them. Their hands touching all parts of your body. Leaning closer in to take…your alarm goes off its 4am.

You get ready and head out the door with that ever-necessary caffeine buzz in hand. Its rainy and cold which just makes you feel more sluggish. But as soon as you pull up to park where the bright yellow signs say to it is game on acting face. You are not tired, even though your eyes say differently, you are ready to do whatever they need you to and be here as long as they keep you.

“Good morning everyone, I’m Shelly.” The woman that checked you in said to everyone. “We have donuts, coffee and breakfast burrito at the tables in the back. As soon as all the crew are done, we will tell you so you can have breakfast. Today we need extras for an elevator scene and the key party scene. If you don’t know what a key party was, it was a 70s swingers party where the men dropped their keys in a bowl when they arrived with their partner and the woman would pick keys on their way out and go home with whoever belonged with the keys. The director has personally chosen who she wants to include in these scenes so Markus will be calling for you when everyone is ready on set. Have a great day.”

The older gentleman at your table starts talking about him and a girl he dated had been to one of these parties in their 20s. They didn’t know it was a key party when their friends invited them. When they went to leave someone spoke up. His girlfriend didn’t participate but instead berated him in the car. They broke up soon after that not because of what the party was about but because she was always on his ass about things he liked, and she didn’t. He wasn’t really interested in a party like that so, when the same friends invited him and his current wife to a party at their house, he made sure to ask what kind of party it was before accepting the invite. You meet so many interesting people being an extra actor.

Marcus comes in with a clipboard and calls you and a blonde guy barely a foot taller than you, Vic you heard someone call him earlier, to walk to set with him. Everything was set up in the building you were in today. There was lighting and other equipment around an elevator. A key had it set to stay open.

“Step right in here,” Marcus said.

He positioned the two of you looking at each other holding hands.

“You two are a great couple.” He smiled.  “Just get to know each other if you haven’t met yet. I think you will be working together in the other scene scheduled today. Anna Paquin and Sebastian Stan will be in here shortly.”

Marcus leaves the two of you alone. You interduce yourself and ask his name.

“I’m Vic, sweetheart.” He smirked. “I guess they put us together because I get to go home with something better at this key party scene.”

You rolled your eyes trying to ignore this guy that was coming off as a real asshole. You were stuck with him. At the other scene since you were supposed to be in such an open relationship it was your character that would be getting something better you thought. 

Anna comes in the elevator in a red low V-neck shiny bathing suite type outfit. She also wears A sunhat, sunglasses and boots. You smile but turn away, so you are not distracting her while she is working. You are not there to chat up actors. Everyone has a job to do.

Vic turns to her, “Last time I saw you, you were naked on my TV banging some whine bitch vampire.”

She lowers her glasses, “That was a long long time ago. But I’m still fucking that sexy man and if I choose, I could have your girl too.”

“Oh, I just met this guy,” You chime in finally turning back to look at her. “I think he’s being extremely rude.”

“Alright, come with me sweetie,” Anna smiles and reaches for your hand. “You stay here for the time being.” She puts her finger in Vic’s face.

You go with her out of the elevator. Down the hall to anther room where the director sat at a desk.

“We have a problem with one of the extras being a fucking rude dick to me and this girl.” Anna said. “I’m sorry sweetie, what’s your name?”

You tell her your name. Then bite your inner lip nervously as the director stares at you and then looks to Anna.

“What did he say to you Anna?” She asked.

“He said something about seeing me naked fucking a vampire when he saw me last.” Anna spit the word like they tasted bad in her mouth. “I of course had a witty retort but men like that should not be employed here or anywhere in my opinion. I don’t care what I choose to do on film. The way he was talking to me was uncalled for. I won’t press charges, which I could for verbal abuse by a co-worker, but I want him gone.”

The director looks to you. “And you heard him?”

“Yes,” you said quietly. “And he was rude to me before Anna came in. Not exactly on the same level but I agree with what Anna said.”

“Ok, he’s out.” The director got on her walkie to tell the P.A. and Assistant casting director to send Vic home without pay. She would discuss the matter farther after the shoot wrapped today. “Now, is there another male extra you worked with before you could work with again today?” She looks to you.

“How do you know she wants to be with a guy.” Anna said. “Maybe she would be more comfortable with a woman.”

“Thanks Anna, but I haven’t gotten to know many of the woman here.” You said. “Rich um Richard is a friendly guy to work with. We already have a work friendship. I don’t know his last name, but he is wearing a light blue leisure suit.”

The director gets on the walkie again to call for Richard to meet at the elevator. “That should clear things up. Now let’s get this scene shot ladies.” She walks back to the elevator with you.

Sebastian Stan is there chatting with one of the crew members. They both look as the director said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Sebastian nods to Anna, “Hey Anna, who’s your friend?”

She introduces you as Richard is walking up with the P.A.. He just says, “hey.” More to you than anyone else.

Sebastian reaches his hand out for Richard to shake, “What’s up man? What’s your name since we will be working together.”

Richard looks nervous, “I’m Richard but everyone just calls me Rich.”

The A.D. shovels everyone into the elevator, “Enough chit chat. Time to work. You can chat at the wrap party tomorrow night at O’Brian’s. Now my extras just hangout in your little corner looking enamored with each other. I believe you have done that before together in another film. Anna and Sebastian do your thing.”

Anna stands in the corner of the elevator ogling Sebastian’s behind. Rich makes you giggle quietly in the other corner as he pretends to tell you a secret as his hand rest on the small of your back. Your hands are on his chest.

“Action.” The A.D. yelled.

Anna said, “Those beers for the party tonight, Peter?”

Sebastian said, “Yep.”

“I think My boyfriend and I will be coming tonight.” She said.

“I guarantee you will.” He walks out of the elevator.

“Cut,” The A.D. said.

You are doing your best not to burst out laughing at the cheesy suggestive dialogue. And you have to hold that laugh and to be all romantic with your friend in the elevator.

On the next take Richard whispers, “I don’t need to wait until the party. I’m going to come right here. He is too hot.”

Your giggle is louder. Cut is called.  “Sorry,” you say.

You manage to control yourself for the next several takes. The scene is done shooting within a few hours which pasted by quickly in your mind. To much fun. Lunch is setting up when you and Rich are taken back to the holding room. You didn’t get much time with Sebastian who you agree with Rich was looking hot. But maybe he will talk to you at the wrap party the A. D. was talking about. You made a note on your phone to look up O’Brian’s in the area for tomorrow night.

After the BBQ lunch buffet, everyone was led downstairs to a house party set. The P.A. and A.D. set everyone up where they want them. Some sitting, some standing but all in groups of couples two to four with prop drinks in their hands. A table is covered with snacks and drinks. The A.D. takes you and Rich outside the door to the makeshift apartment door.

“You two will be the next couple through the door,” He said. “We will film you walking through a few times at different angles. Then film Sebastian’s character greeting you. Rich you toss the keys we give you in the bowl to the right as you enter.  Just have fun with it like you really want to be at this party.”

You both nod. Rich slides his hand around your waist. The prop person hands him a set of keys. They film you walking to the door and Richard opens it but 5 time from different ankles. When the camera is right in front of your face it’s a little nerve racking, but you manage not to look at it. Then they film you coming in from the other side of the door about five times. Once a continuous shot to where Sebastian’s character walks up to you both after Rich tosses the keys in an empty fish bowl, Shakes Rich’s hand, hugs you and excuses himself as he looks towards the door. That doesn’t work very well.

They reset for you and Rich to walk over to Sebastian’s character and him to greet you both before his attention is taken towards the door. You film the greeting about ten times at multiple angles. You can’t see who has come through the door behind you but several of the couples seem excited to see them raising their glasses in a greeting. Maybe they were told to do that or that it would be natural in the moment.

Next you are told to go sit on the burnt orange chair together. You sit on Rich’s lap with prop beer to sip.

“You can react how ever you see fit within the context of the party scene when the next two actors come in the door to be greeted.” The A.D. said. “We will then move on to some music playing and the two of you will get up to slow dance. Once Anna grabs keys from the bowl and exits the room with Sebastian, you take the next key to exit the party with Alex who will be playing Ryan.”

“Cool,” you and Rich said.

Anna comes through the door with Alex Skarsgard. You almost drop your drink. Instead of letting your mouth drop wide you bite you lip and look to Rich. He looks as surprised and exited as you.

“You bitch, getting to trade me for him” He whispers. “I’m so jealous.”

Their entrance is film from all angles needed. Next Peter Frampton’s Baby I Love Your Way plays. Alex and Anna start to dance. You and Richard get up to dance. A few more couples do as Sebastian watches from the sidelines. They keep rolling as Sebastian walks up to take Alex’s place and Alex taps Rich on the shoulder to take his place. You thought Rich was going to pass out when Alex touched him. You kept a smile on your face as Rich went to sit down. You looked up at Alex with big eyes. After taking your hand to put around his neck Alex put his forehead to yours swaying to the song.

“Cut,” The A.D. yells.

Alex straightens up. “Hi, Princess. I’m Alex. Anna told me what the two of you went through earlier. I would like to apologize for the assholes of my gender. I hope the rest of your filming is a good experience.”

His voice is so smooth and tender. You just barely get out a, “Thanks.”

When you walk back over to reset your position with Richard he said, “You bitch. I am so jealous over here as you get all up close and personal with that big sexy man.”

“I know right.” You laugh.

“Action,” is called.

You run though that part of the scene several more times. Getting more comfortable each time. After one take Sebastian comes over and Alex introduces you. Anna joins the group. You are kind of stunned standing there and the three of them being all casual as inside you just can’t believe your life at this moment.

Sebastian’s eyes crawl over you as he asks about the other films you worked on. You tell him a few things but keep it a little cryptic. The A.D. calls places.

Before you go Sebastian said, “hopefully we get to chat more at the cast party.”

You said, “Sure.” Before going back to your position with Rich.

“Why are you taking all my dates for after work,” Rich whispers in your ear.

You giggle, “fate I guess.”

You try to keep doing the same things over and over. How you position your hands and when you giggle at what Rich says. He does make a great scene partner since he keeps you entertained. Alex always positions you when he comes over to take Rich’s place. And you let him have total control because he makes it so easy. You are not even nervous by the fifteenth take.

Last shooting of the day. Anna saunters over to the key filled fishbowl to grab keys. Sebastian grins as they walk towards the back where there is a hallway that leads to his bedroom. You get up and pick keys up and hold them dangling with a grin on your face as Alex crosses the room and escorts you out the door. You only need to film that five times to get angles and things.

The filming day ends. You drive home with some great memories. The incident with Vic not even registering in your mind.

[elshowmagazine]

(Album) Groenland - A Wider Space

(Album) Groenland – A Wider Space

Groenland es una banda orquestal de Montreal, liderada por Sabrina Halde y Jean-Vivier Lévesque. Su album debut The Chase fue lanzado en 2013 vía Bonsound, el cual fue rápidamente aceptado por los usuarios de internet y consiguió varias nominaciones en Canadá a mejor…

[findasongblog]

Find A Song that is an expression of gratitude directed towards a loyal companion

Nature Of - Middle Of The Morning

Last year, we were both shocked and honoured to win Bent River Records’ recording competition sponsored by CKUA Radio Network. This granted us the opportunity to work on a new full-length record with Marcus Paquin – an incredible producer who has worked with the likes of Arcade Fire, Local Natives, Stars, and The National.

Marcus was super involved and encouraging from the get-go. His personality and expertise brought something special to each song, and we are thrilled with the impact this experience has had on the sound of the album. The Mean is slated for release in June 2019 on Bent River Records. (press release)

[upalldown]

Julia Jacklin - Pre Pleasure

Third full-length album of indie art pop from the Sydney-born singer-songwriter co-produced with Marcus Paquin

9/13

Julia Jacklin’s third album PRE PLEASURE offers her most frank, grounded collection of songs to date. To suggest that this makes it less poignant than its predecessor Crushing is ludicrous. In fact, her vivid lyricism shines brightest when she isn’t caught in her own emotional web.

Jacklin’s craft for storytelling was immediately obvious on her debut LP Don’t Let The Kids Win. It’s honestly the kind of debut album that never quite felt like a debut album. The title reveals as much: it’s a playful prod against ageism in the music industry, where talent is often harvested and exploited before artists can fully process their own place in the world. Jacklin was honestly way ahead of the curve, penning country-tinged songs that felt worldly yet sanguine, their weight often alleviated with a timely zinger or quirky observation.

The record immediately endeared her to critics and fans. The prospect of having an audience, however, can do strange things to a psyche. You have a stage where you can explore your innermost thoughts to the fullest, but doing it over and over, it starts to feel like, well, a job. But unlike doing assembly line work (side note: Jacklin used to work at an essential oils factory), managing your emotions becomes a full-time occupation, as there’s a constant pressure to ferment your experiences into your work (not to mention dealing with the fallout of having those experiences made public).

With follow-up Crushing, Jacklin made a devastating break-up record, documenting her coping process to the urgent minutiae. Songs such as “Turn Me Down” sit right as that intense flux of letting go and moving on from a relationship, something she navigates with her usual spry songwriting talents. It does beg to wonder, however, the merits of capturing an individual’s most urgent states in melody and words, other than catharsis.

Truth be told, there’s an unsettling voyeurism within music criticism in lionizing ‘bravery’ of total confession, to the point where it becomes downright uncomfortable. Similarly, covering records such as Sharon Van Etten’s Are We There in the past felt like an invasion of the artist’s privacy. Especially when equating that to superlatives like ‘captivating’ or ‘genius’. It makes one second guess on the virtues of making artists ‘open up’ and reveal all, capturing the immensity of that act in terms as ‘self-discovery’ and ‘authenticity’, which feel hollow in their ubiquity.

Recording PRE PLEASURE in Montreal, Jacklin was indeed entertaining the thought of ‘opening up’. But how to achieve that without it feeling like, well, work? For one, she rekindled her love of songs and musicals that exult in the maudlin and romantic, subjecting her ears to Robyn, Luther Vandross and Celine Dion; bona fide torch songs that are unapologetic about opening the emotional floodgates.

Secondly, she traded the guitar for keyboard as primary writing tool, inciting newfound clarity and curiosity in her own creative process. These shifts can be considered acts of generosity, and, in turn, that generosity permeates back through these 10 songs.

On opener “Lydia Wears A Cross”, Jacklin paints such a resplendent, wistful imagery of a childhood memory, you’d wish it was converted into an anime in the tone of From Up On Poppy Hill. She sings about her and her schoolmate Lydia “still wearing a cross” sitting back-to-back in their “pretty” school uniforms, listening to the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack. “I’d be a believer / If it was all just song and dance,” Jacklin sings with the same solemn serenity as someone singing to herself in the shower. It’s such an incredible lyrical hook because she reconciles both the potency of belief with the growing pains of God-fearing youth, and the ripple effects on the rest of your life. The song never wavers, only picking up strength and momentum with fuzzy, rib-tickling guitars and live drums bolstering the drum computer and sparse piano flourishes. It never goes into full-blown pop transcendence like a Cher or Celine Dion, obviously, and that feels part of the point. “Lydia Wears A Cross” remains grounded in the very scene it sets: a girl in a Christian school imagining this big world waiting for her, savouring the wide-eyed rebellion of listening to Jesus Christ Superstar.

Jacklin’s buoyant sense of humor is peppered all over these songs. Just spelling out PRE PLEASURE in all caps plainly expresses the DNA of this record. It rekindles with the foreplay, the imagining, the dreaming that compels us to keep going. As she does on all her songs, Jacklin gracefully leapfrogs the pitfall of navel gazing in asking the Big Questions. On “Love, Try Not To Let Go”, she longs for love as if it’s a sentient entity listening on the other side of the line. “I’ll give you time to figure some things out,” slowing down the pace of her voice, almost letting the syllables melt away.

That woozy reverie is briefly underpinned by musings of her hometown and unresolved courtships, and the song promptly unfolds like one of those collapsing dreams in Inception, bursting with volatile guitars and drums as Jacklin belts out the main hook. It expresses the perseverance and fragility of believing in love, and how that fortitude can be swept away by even the smallest of invading insecurities. Jacklin has quipped that she made her band watch the running-up-the-stairs scene from Rocky before recording this song, just to illustrate.

On PRE PLEASURE we hear Jacklin emerging from the other side of strife with newfound lucidity. On “Body” – one of the more gripping moments on Crushing – she captured the shell-shocking experience of physical intimacy as something invasive. With “Ignore Tenderness” she examines the root of that stressor with a playful disposition, perusing how the innate confusion of religious upbringing informed her notions of sexuality. It unfolds as a sweet, sweeping unraveling of Jacklin’s own sexual agency and acquired wisdom, bolstered by open-the-blinders string flourishes.

PRE PLEASURE is not a record that screams ambition sonically, and that’s a big part of why the songs feel so soothing and accessible. Our psyches are already saturated with luxury villas and exotic holiday destinations, whereas these tunes enwrap you like a charming, relatively quotidian apartment space. One reckons the grounded, relaxed atmosphere helped Jacklin unravel some of her most elemental songwriting.

Guided by a sparse organ, “Too In Love To Die” is one of the most naked admonishments of love through song, approximating Joni Mitchell’s “A Case Of You” in its emotional breadth. Spellbound by love as some sort of plot armor, Jacklin imagines the ground softening as her plane crashes, and cars on the highway magically stopping on the highway like Disney effigies. “I’m too in love to die / God couldn’t take me now / Surely the love I feel for him / Would save my life somehow”; in less capable hands, such a line would feel either cheesy or naive, but through the prism of Jacklin’s piercing affection, even the most ardent atheïst has to feel something.

Sparked by the Australian songsmith’s wit, PRE PLEASURE is an express lane on how to achieve compassion for yourself and your direct surroundings, even as things inevitably turn south. The closing track “The End Of A Friendship” documents at face value the exact breaking point between two once-close individuals, dovetailing noisy guitar textures with a big Hollywood crescendo (courtesy of Owen Pallett). It’s beautifully executed, hard-won and teeming with heart.

Though her debut album told us there’s virtue to having some miles on the soul, PRE PLEASURE kind of does the inverse: a more seasoned, matured artist letting the kid in herself win and giving herself permission to swing away at life. “Can I give my love to everyone somehow?” Jacklin muses out loud on “Love, Try Not To Let Go”. She may have answered her own question.

https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-julia-jacklin-pre-pleasure/