Published Fall 2006 & Fall 2007.
A sunny afternoon brought the artist Jugular and myself to a café, ruminating over various aspects of his debut CD Welcome to the Universe, including its inevitability. Having had the privilege of hearing his beat-boxing performances years earlier, I can isolate and fully appreciate the evolution of talent that he showcases with this album. The beauty is his ability to apply the art form of beat-boxing into melodic song-form, and is what makes this album unique and well beyond its time. My interpretation of this project is a clear reflection of the artist I know, unmistakably multi-dimensional and distinctly self-disciplined. Considering that every aspect of this album was conceived of, produced and delivered by the Artist himself, one will only obtain a glimpse of the story he tries to reveal.
For Jugular, the path to his success was a long and arduous one. From its inception, the musical planes his journey takes sees him resolving issues with his own identity, while connecting the elements and varying degrees of his own ideas. Wanting his music to resonate with others demanded that he defeat his own personal obstacles musically, and deal with the ultimate notion of success. Overcoming these fears through his art was definitely an emotional process, but a necessary one — one which often, “brings you closer to the person you want to be.”
Which is exactly what I believe the album does.
It enlightens us to the Artist we want to know. Because what this emotional purging produced are 16 songs of raw emotion and loving sentiment. Hard work, focus and dedication yielded: a truthful & honest seduction album. From up-tempo disco tracks, to Jazz tracks with a latin undertone, to those with a lingering R&B/Soul vibe, their composition is phenomenal. Then there are those that I refer to as minimalist songs — which convey an overwhelming message, in a drastically simplistic and timeless way.
I believe we are born with a larger mission to fulfill and a talent to encourage, and it’s with our predisposition that we hope for its longevity. And so, contemplating the search for beauty in life, that is, discovering our own truths is what pilots us as human beings— as it is definitely what fuels Jugular as a musician and singer. With this constant mode of unrest and strive for longevity, he is working on a possible re-release of Welcome to the Universe in the near future, and initiating production for his second album.
For more information visit:
www.myspace.com/jugularmusic
www.jugularmusic.com
