J.Bernardt shares new track "Remedy" | new album out 13/11

J.Bernardt, the alter ego of Jinte Deprez, has today released Remedy, the latest track from his forthcoming third studio album Wild Swim which is out on November 13, via Play It Again Sam.

Talking about the track, he said:

"‘Remedy’ was written in several episodes over the years, just like the ongoing search for a quick solution to fix something, the shortcuts to feel better, they quickly wear out, but on to the next you go... The dialogue between the prominent backing vocals and the lead vocal feel like they’re trying to convince each other, till the outro kicks in like a bad trip, just before you hit the wall, ending in a one note trance of dependency."

Listen to Remedy: jbernardt.lnk.to/remedy

Pre-order the new album Wild Swim: jbernardt.lnk.to/wild-swim

In contrast to his previous albums, Jinte chose to step outside of anything familiar in his creative process. He travelled alone to Los Angeles, where he leaned into a caricature of himself: the washed-up European musician landing in America to reinvent his life. This time, it wasn’t the musical all-rounder but the singer in J.Bernardt who boarded the plane.

At 64 Sound Studio, he worked with producer Paul Butler (Michael Kiwanuka, Devendra Banhart), who created an intuitive environment in which Jinte found his most liberated vocal performance. “On my third solo record, I truly felt for the first time what singing can feel like.” Los Angeles itself also left its mark. The city’s uncompromising energy collided head-on with Jinte’s West Flemish instinct for restraint. “In the US, there is no time for subtlety. You surrender to your impulses.”

Many of the songs were recorded live, in fiery one-take performances with drummer Lewis Wright (Alabama Shakes), bassist Peter Randall (Adele), and keyboardist Mitchell Yoshida (Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros). The result is a more open and expansive sound. J.Bernardt’s recognisable signature remains, but expands into a retro-modernist sound, smouldering rhythms, and sprawling melodies. The Motown-like backing vocals of Lex Noblitt, Isabel Whelan and Dasha Chadwick weave throughout the record, forming a thrilling counterpoint to his vibrato. Butler's kaleidoscopic production makes it feel as if every window in J.Bernardt’s mind has been thrown open at once. The record is euphoric and reckless.

Thematically, too, J.Bernardt takes a new direction. Where his previous records were strongly autobiographical, he now opts for a more universal perspective, embracing a manic celebration of the randomness of life. The songs don’t anchor themselves in reason, but in feeling. A balancing act between lust for life and a kind of euphoric nihilism. “After the wreckage of a breakup, eventually you reach the point where you can see the humour in life again.”

Within a caricatured dream world, J.Bernardt has crafted a layered record that pulls the listener into a disorienting yet liberating trip.

TRACKLISTING

1. Four In The Morning
2. Remedy
3. Big Fat Moon
4. Children
5. Big Hopes
6. Love Is On My Mind
7. Wild Place To Start
8. Echo Chamber
9. Favorite Song