We love it when folks take a stab at a solo project, especially anyone who’s coming from previous band-oriented experiences. There’s something incredibly liberating and self-affirming in taking sole rein of one’s artistic expression. Take Jaguar TV: after militancy in Public Health and Northern Breaks, the Philly-based musician and songwriter is now taking matters into his own hands, penning material that feels expansive and pensive, certainly melodic. ‘Teenage Dream’ is the perfect evidence of that.
Taken from a three-song debut EP, ‘Empty My Heart’, ‘Teenage Dreams’ is here put on lead single duties. As such, it provides a wonderful introduction to Jaguar TV. Oscillating between jungly guitars and more polished dream-pop tones, the piece feels vibrant and brooding, a fever-dream carried by Matt Paparone’s tender, quiet vocals. The talented artist has produced and written the record himself, with drums performed in California by Kevin Kearney.
Delving deeper into the meaningful lyrical ethos that informs the single, Jaguar TV explains: “It traces the act of letting go: of the past, of weighty emotional baggage, and of the urge to live out other people’s dreams while fighting to keep your sense of self intact.” We love the hazy, hypnotic character that underpins the record, the perfect match for its introspective and overachieving songwriting. It’s a track that will instil a great deal of nostalgia into the attentive listeners; it certainly did so for us.
Recommended! Discover ‘Teenage Dream’ now: