The project of singer-songwriter Justin Jay, ‘HereToFore’ is an Americana driven folk rock act that emphasizes on being raw and authentic whilst describing the simple day to day emotions we all go through. It’s sung and performed like a live album, a style that only adds to its sense of innocence. A largely acoustic dominant piece, East of It All does still incorporate a myriad of percussive elements and a dash of electric to give his folk rock a more impactful feel. It’s unabashedly old-school, in its performance and its sound.
Justin notes that the goal of “East Of It All” was to capture each song as raw and organically as possible, doing away with all the post production that detracts from the rawness of the original recording. Consequently, the recording was done live on the studio floor with all the band members playing together, and then mastered using full takes. That mimicry of a live show’s environment is abundantly clear in the EP, which feels like you’re listening to Heretofore right in front of you. On a song as seemingly mundane as ‘Dot the I’s’, Justin’s passion and verve for performance carries you through. Each track is a very complete and holistic piece, never once compromising on creativity or subtleties for duration.
Justin’s vocal style is the focal point of the record; a slick mix of a more traditional Americana artist with an alternative rock edge gives him a unique niche to settle in. That little bit of whining and swagger even gives him a flair reminiscent of classic rock singers from the 1960s. The final piece on the album is its high point. ‘Next in Line’, a six and a half minute long opus, starts subtle and solemn with a raw acoustics section. But, as the song builds, gradually and cautiously a full orchestra takes hold to create a beautifully mesmerising final two minutes that culminate in a cathartic acoustic finish.
You’d be hard pressed to find a more emotive and authentic piece of Americana than Heretofore’s ‘East of It All’. If you have an affinity for music that is stripped back from an over emphasis of post production layering, this project’s raw and pure authenticity to its performance will be a joy to hear.
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