Alternative rock artist Jakke is back with his newest release “Shallow Mold”, which was produced in collaboration with fellow artist matty co. In this track, they blend alternative rock/pop with electronic music to create a unique piece that explores themes of personal transformation. This is the first release from his upcoming EP.
The song starts off with slow, airy, lightly distorted vocals over a deep and subtle drum hit. The background gets louder underneath the vocals as the song progresses with the addition of background vocals and electronic swells. We hear the beginnings of a beat reminiscent of the drum and bass genre as the music fully fades in and picks up the pace. The vocals are less distorted now, although they maintain a slower speed than the music, creating an intriguing contrast.
The drums stop to let the electronic swells and vocals take center stage for the beginning of the chorus. A decisive hit brings them back in as the chorus gains momentum. The instrumentals flow smooth and cool underneath the vocals like liquid silver. As he sings “can I break these walls”, the listener is reminded of the vocal style of Linkin Park, with a rock-driven sound and a muffled but bold background vocal.
The flowing musical background drives the song forward as the lyrics “in the shallow” are repeated, creating an ambient musical break. The drums disappear again and the beat gets slower and more intense. The vocals have taken on an almost underwater sound as Jakke sings “told lies I couldn’t fake”.
The tempo changes yet again as the music builds. “Break these walls” is repeated more and more urgently, and the listener can feel the tension of Jakke wanting to break out of his “shallow mold”. We get another subtle taste of Jakke’s signature style with very subtle harsh vocals in the background—they’re almost inaudible but they add the perfect touch of intensity.
The music finally strips down to some ambient swells and some plucked guitar strings. As the music fades out and is replaced by a slow and somber violin, the repetition of the lyrics “in the shallow” carries us to the end.
With “Shallow Mold”, Jakke and matty co. have perfectly blended their genres together to create a relatable, ambient, and catchy single. Fans of bands like Linkin Park and Pendulum will love this track, so be sure to keep an eye out for Jakke’s upcoming EP.
