Throughout 2025 in Derby backstreets and Mowanjum, SJ was carrying around a little Zoom R20 music recorder building a catalogue of songs. With signature effects used from the recorder across vocals and guitars, layered harmonies and unusual chord changes these songs are particularly unique for the region. Over the past two years, SJ has also been refining his songs at DMAC studio with more high quality mic's, instruments and session musicians, but this collection of songs have a raw charm to them that beckon them to be released together.
The feature track Down is so catchy that kids around Derby have been singing it well before its release, leaving SJ stumped. Recorded across multiple sessions in different places it features Rodney on drums, Ishmael on keys and Kallum Mungulu and Samuel Newman helping with final touches and mixing.
On Let Me Be and In Your Arms, SJ makes full use of the R20's swirling chorus effect, applied to pretty much everything, lending itself to his lyrics... "as I close my eyes I dreaaam". SJ says that Let Me Be is about "thinking and feeling of being at the sea, being home, but you've actually moved away."
The last song Best Years is his signature song in Derby and Mowanjum. With his family band Trax he's been playing this song all over the Kimberley for a decade. More production was given to this song with horns and things, giving it the big official launch it deserves!
