The American South has its own way of imprinting itself on someone’s soul level. Its vibrant stories and its very air create a fair setup of a complex yet beautiful story. As a musician, JR Wicker’s southern lineage echoes louder on his musicality as it greatly influenced the power of his written words.
JR Wicker, a Memphis-born, now Atlanta-based artist, started his fascination with words early on. From his early days in high school to college, he has sought connections with different artists who shared the same interests in language as a means to exercise and widen his expertise and experience. Over time, music has become his outlet with collaboration as his way. He has forged great connections with fellow musicians making his journey worthwhile as he gathers and takes everything in; as these people gave him a sense of belonging as his creative allies.
Wicker started his experiments in music with the band Imagination Head – which navigated within the boundaries of indie rock. This band was influenced by the music giants such as The Kinks, Wilco, and Neutral Milk Hotel. During these times, the artist had all his creative freedom and embraced music that defied easy categorization. This only proves how expressive the type of music that Wicker is.
Moreover, the core of these all were words. As main influences, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, who were masters with emotions filtered into poetic verse, Wicker learned to use language as a tool to express his own struggles and create verses that are universally acceptable and relatable, and that is done through music.
“Creativity is how I cope,” Wicker admits. “Through heartbreak, doubt, all of those messy chapters…it’s there for me. And the best part? There’s no judgment, no need to pretend.”
Personal experience + Power of words and language + Southern roots = to the masterfully crafted album, “Weird Magic”. This is JR Wicker’s debut album that is solely under his name. The release of this album marked a shift from his earlier roots in indie rock to bolder and more experimental territory in his musicality. Digital Phantoms, the producer of this album, did a great job of capturing the essence of what Wicker was as an artist and as a musician.
“Burnt” serves as a great opener for this album. It has themes of evolution. Of how sometimes some of us love fires and we get allured by its heat catching it. It is dreamy and packed with some rock and electronic bits that somehow remind me of 80s retro sound. Explosive and heavy is the song “Darkness” which is a stark contrast to the first track. It is a track that demands attention through its vocals and intensified guitar riffs. On the other hand “Telepathy”, is spatial. It is packed with synths and guitar creating a unique sound that offers good intensity that once couldn’t really explain.
“Oh How It Shined” sounds different from the rest. It is loaded with these easy-to-remember beats that somehow make it sound like it’s pop. It’s fun! Kudos to the great vocals on this track too! To follow that up, the song “Window” comes in with this amazing instrumentation of guitars and keyboards. It honestly gave me an Air Supply-kinda-vibe which is really classic! The lyrics were also catchy as well as its sounds and synths.
“Glass” is my personal favorite. Although it is short, it offers a moment of break from all the intensity that is happening in the album. The strings were skillfully done and the vocals echoing in the back tracks were really theatrical. “Curse” comes next. Chaotic is the best word to describe it. It is a track that feels like something wants to break free by just listening to it. But I wouldn’t complain because it’s seriously just good. Lastly, “World in Me”, closes this musical ride. This personally sounds like classic indie country music that discusses themes of self-reflection that circle back to where it all started (Burnt).
“Weird Magic” is more than everything that I want in an album – it is calm, it is eccentric, and it holds a level of mysteriousness that really held my attention. Although some of its tracks fit within the alternative rock side, this album has an incredible range, going from mellow, calm, and dreamy to explosive intense moments – and I seriously loved the variety! Not only that, but it is worth noting that the lyrics for this album are both thought-provoking and truly relatable which makes it easier to connect to on a personal level. Overall, this is definitely an “A” for Awesome listen!
Check out this album “Weird Magic”, the debut album of the artist JR Wicker. Don’t miss this great music! Available on all streaming platforms now!
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About the Author
Tine Quirino, also known as Kristine, is a writer (frustrated one), a dreamer (serial sleeper), an INFJ (also INTP/J), a (professional) fangirl, and a good listener (‘literally and figuratively,’ she states).
She is just here, lurking somewhere, enjoying all your music. Music of any kind is still music, after all.
