Listen: Jamaican Queens - "Water"

If you were to take some sort of weird inventory of all the things I've spoken highly about you'll notice a common thread; sure they're all GOOD but they also have an added link of me not really knowing what is happening. That's not bad. My favorite music just happens to be the type that manages to deftly dodge any labels that you try to stick on to it. The latest being Jamaican Queens, borne from the experimental chamber pop remnants of Prussia, the Detroit trio had pretty much shed all of that and chameleoned itself into a different beast entirely. Even going from single to single (we've heard three so far) there's not really a definitive clear concise way to label what it is Jamaican Queens are going for. Which is fine. Instead you have to actual listen to them.

Their latest single "Water", begins with a rather sludgy synth-intensive deluge that gives way for the entrance of Ryan Spencer's vocals. That's the only break you get before layers upon layers are stacked and the waves of poppy synth goodness gather more and more intensity. It's intricate as hell while managing to be utterly engaging and catchy as all hell.

Jamaican Queens are prepping to release their debut full length Wormfood and it'll certainly be an unpredictable and interesting thrill ride. I know I'm looking forward to it. It'll be out March 5th. 

Watch: Jamaican Queens - "Kids Get Away"

Earlier this year we got our first taste of what Detroit synth-pop trio and former Prussia bandmembers Jamaican Queens were brewing up with a two song release. One of them (and the best of the two, in my opinion) was "Kids Get Away" and Jamaican Queens were nice enough to give us a video for it. The video, directed by Andrew Miller, finds a diner patron becoming more and more infatuated with his regular waitress. From his nervous tick to low-intensity stalking and mannequin decoration, the groundwork is laid to have you absolutely creeped out by the guy. And yet one thing Jamaican Queens are not is predictable and the video takes a pretty unexpected twist. I won't ruin it because it's pretty damn clever. So watch the video.



Jamaican Queens are also going on tour early next year so stay tuned for that.

Listen: Jamaican Queens - "Kids Get Away"

At the far beginning of this year, Detroit art-pop quintet Prussia went on an indefinite hiatus right after releasing their "Girl Cops" single and turns out about half of the band went on to form Jamaican Queens. I wasn't too sure what to expect from the trio, formed from Prussia singer Ryan Spencer and bassist Adam Pressley along with newcomer Ryan Clancy, but after they dropped two new songs today I have slightly more of an idea for better or worse. Their first track called "When You Sleep" is a samples-mashup and is pretty hit or miss unless you're incredibly into that sort of thing while the second track "Kids Get Away" is definitely something to write home about.

Considering that Spencer's quirky vocals formed the backbone of what I'd call Prussia's characteristic sound, it's tough to separate the two. But Jamaican Queens are far more than another outlet for Prussia to get its wonderfully artfully crafted quirky chamber pop rock out into the world. Far from it. On "Kids Get Away", Jamaican Queens do more to distance themselves from Prussia while also distinguish themselves as a band to watch. There's some samples a la "When You Sleep" but it's more managed and paired with crackling synth lines and Spencer's unique vocals. It's synth-pop goodness and I'd certainly pay to see this happen in front of my very eyes and emotionally invest myself in a record of this catchy a magnitude. Here's hoping there's more to come from Jamaican Queens in this vein.