By: Bulelwa Mthombothi
Soon after releasing his new EP, titled Falling Inside, I had the honour of
asking Jarry Pitboi a few questions for OutsideRadio’s #newmusicfriday and
here’s what he had to say:
BM: So, what is your musical origin story? How did it all start?
JP: So my musical journey began at the beginning my high school, I've
always been into music but I started taking a deeper interest in it when my
friends and I used to get together and listen to the latest albums and
basically share our opinions on them, when that wasn't enough anymore, we started downloading type beats/instrumentals & just freestyling over them. At the time, we just competed to see who could say the funniest lines to be
honest *chuckles* Then after high school is when I started taking music
more seriously, I did a year of business studies & failed miserably then
decided to put my all into music. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to do a
sound engineering degree at SAE institute, Cape Town & through my 3
years there I started professionally releasing music as well as visuals.
BM: Describe your music and what it is influenced by?
JP: I would describe my music as a blend between my emotions, my
experiences and my intellect. There is also a clear lo-fi influence in my
sound because of the type of beats we would download to freestyle on so I
always gravitate to sounds/music that don't sound too perfect. Growing up I would always want to listen to the deepest of rappers (Kendrick Lamar, Ab-
Soul, J Cole, Earl Sweatshirt, Saba) because I felt the more you knew, the
easier life would be I guess but the older I got I started really getting into
music that made me want to feel something like dance or cry or anything
that didn't make me think really lol (Smino, Baby Keem, Koffee). I also
produce, mix & master so production wise there are quite a few producers
that I look to for inspiration being Pyrex whippa, monte booker & Wheezy.
For mixing & mastering I would say my main influences would be Alex
Tumay & Mike Dean.
BM: What story are you telling on this EP?
JP: The story of my EP is basically my reflection of being forced into an
introspective state. I didn't intentionally plan for this but being in lock
down, you kind of were forced to face yourself which I feel is a very
necessary thing so I wanted to convey that through my music. It's like me
coming to terms with myself, who I am, where I'm at etc.
BM: Do you think there’s room for someone with your sound in the
industry?
JP: Sonically I feel like there is room for someone like me because I see
myself as quite versatile so I can genre bend quite easily & create a lane for
myself that nobody else is really on. And I feel that there will always be room
in any industry for someone who is promoting staying true to one's self.
BM: What is the best outcome for you, in terms of your music?
JP: I feel like all the accolades like money and awards are good things
because they make your life and the people around you’s lives more
comfortable so I need those but I'm way more concerned with opening doors for the ones that come after me. Making it easier for them.
Read on for a review of the EP, Falling Inside by Jarry Pitboi.
Jarry Pitboi a resident of Zeekoevlei in Cape Town has just released an EP
entitled Falling Inside. If you’re not familiar with Jarry’s sound then this EP
would be an awesome way to get acquainted. Short and defiantly sweet, in
that it encapsulates Jarry’s persona which is more introspective and
contemplative than some of his peers whose subject matter is more about
trapping and flexing. No offense to them but Jarry’s honesty is refreshing,
and indication that there is room for and quite frankly, a need for music that
helps us connect to our feelings, and rationalise our existence.
Sonically Jarry is involved in every part of the recording process from
recording to beat making, mixing and mastering (with help from friend and
Executive-Producer Garth Ross) which gives the EP an authenticity not
easily manufactured.
From his voice that sounds like it’s surrounded by an echo to his flow that is
him singing seemingly into an abyss, you are transported into his mind, as
though you are walking around in his thoughts for those 14 minutes.
Just as the EP starts the interlude is of someone heaving running up or down some steps and it’s obvious the person is nervous but the next song (For Life)
contains the lyrics “I’m not wasting more time.” Which is a sign of him feeling
like he has let himself down or that he is not doing enough to realise his
dreams. These are all very relatable anxieties we all have, or have had at
some point. It is a welcome change, for a male hip-hop artist to veer away
from the usually shallow version of vulnerability which is customarily centred
around being rejected by women, Jarry’s vulnerability is all about him and
his own shortcomings. Revealing his fears and vulnerability and him not
being afraid to do so is the paradox of this EP and is essentially a skill we all
wish we had as it would help us navigate this awful existence.
“All I See” his most revelatory track on which he boasts his hopes and
dreams and how he wants to purge these anxieties, has one of the quirkiest
beats that elicits serious head bopping and swaying. The last track is a
testament to Jarry’s musicality, as the only up-tempo song it should feel
misplaced among all the lo-fi, grungy, smooth bass mid-tempo tracks but it
fits right in. Jarry fits right in, because there is always space for emoting.