Jay Som and Justus Proffit | photo by Kris Kirk | courtesy of the artists
Jay Som announces new collaboration with Justus Proffit, EP Nothing’s Changed out next month
California songwriter Jay Som‘s recent move down the coast resulted in not just a new home, but a new collaborative project. When Melina Duterte, the musician behind Jay Som, relocated from the Bay Area to Los Angeles following the release of her acclaimed 2017 debut LP Everybody Works, she met singer-songwriter Justus Proffit, and a just-for-fun jam session soon turned into a new musical project entirely. The duo will release an EP, called Nothing’s Changed, on September 28 via Polyvinyl.
The two musicians approached the collaborative EP by blending their distinct styles and influences, ranging from garage rock to country to pop, and sharing guitar and vocal duties. Drawing upon the DIY nature of their previous work, the self-recorded and -produced the new release, tracking most of the songs in just one or two takes in Duterte’s home studio. Duterte said in a press release, “I think we both challenged each other with each song, forcing ourselves to either stick to an idea or move on, and accept mistakes.”
The EP’s title track is out now; listen below. Jay Som and Justus Proffit do not currently have any scheduled tour dates, but keep an eye on Polyvinyl for more news.