Author: Ella Rustin
There is nothing better than finding a new album that you can’t put down no matter how hard you try. It is very rare for me to come across a record that I find flawless from front to back, and I can confidently say that I Love You Jennifer B is one of them. The long-awaited debut album by Jockstrap took tens of thousands of listeners by heart immediately following its release, gaining praise from music critics such as Pitchfork, The Needle Drop, and Stereogum.
Jockstrap is an electro-pop duo from London that is on the rise to becoming one of the most influential groups around. After meeting at London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2016, Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye formed “Jockstrap”, blending elements of electronic music, pop, and at times, jazz. Ellery, a trained classical violinist, is also a part of one of London’s up-and-coming experimental bands Black Country, New Road. Jockstrap has also collaborated with a few cult-followed artists including Dean Blunt and Injury Reserve.
In 2018, after their first year at the Guildhall conservatory, Ellery and Skye released their first set of material under “Jockstrap” titled Love is the Key to the City. The project, featuring a 21-piece orchestra, showcases the beautiful combination of Ellery’s soft, melodic voice and Skye’s noisy and freeing production. The album follows the storyline of multiple female characters, including poetry from Ellery regarding her own personal experiences.
After gaining traction following their first release, Jockstrap signed with Warp Records in early 2020. The London-based label is home to other influential electronic artists like Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, and Stereolab. Shortly after signing, Jockstrap released their third EP, Wicked City, in June 2020. The energetic and theatrical EP includes some of their most profound work. The first track, “Robert”, opens the album with intensity, full of speedy rhythmic percussion and monotone vocals, and features a verse from experimental rap group Injury Reserve. As the project progresses, they play around with different jazz styles, classical instrumentation, and profound lyricism.
My personal favorite track, “The City” is one that really stands out. The first half of the track is soft and beautiful, with Ellery’s soft voice at the forefront. Halfway through the song, Skye’s electronic beat swallows the vocals, creating one of the hardest and most refreshing beats within their discography.
With multiple solid projects under their belt, Jockstrap released a few singles followed by the announcement of their first album I Love You Jennifer B, which came out on September 9th. Front to back, the album is a journey that submerges you into the world of experimental electronic pop music, with vulnerable lyricism from Ellery and flawless production from Skye.
In my opinion, there is not a single bad track on this album and is one of the strongest debut albums I have seen a group put out. Jockstrap has set themselves up for an exciting future, as they just wrapped up a European tour and are heading to the United States this winter.
Jockstrap has constructed a solid discography within the past four years, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store.
Ella Rustin | She’s Fifty/Fifty! | KXSU Promotions/Music Director and Music Reporter