Album Review: SÍN SEÑAL
Although sín señal, translates to “no signal” in english, a strong connection is forged between listener and producer via primordial drum patterns, dancier grooves and mellow vocals.
SÍN SEÑAL, released in February of 2020 via Never Normal Records is JWords debut album. The nascent producer has carved out her own space in New York and New Jersey’s underground and club scenes. Although the project finds its home comfortably in electronic or dance circles, JWords makes sure to tap in with her rap friends with two tracks; there are Numb and All Caps with MIKE and Maassai, respectively.
“Hailing from Northern New Jersey, JWORDS got her start as an instrumentalist in a band Jumanji where she played keys, but soon deepened her experience after purchasing a drum machine and experimenting with it in her recordings.”
In terms of sound, SÍN SEÑAL keeps a reliable heartbeat above 100 bpm at all times. The songs chug along like an excited heartbeat layered with claps, tin-sounding slaps and busy-landline sounding rings layered on top.
Pressure Point, is a great example of the overall sound; JWords starts off with what sounds like water running in the matrix or an Coinstar rounding your total up. Immediately warm basslines envelope the track and fat drums fall into place: magic.
From making heat on Pocket Operators, to creating genre bending music, to teaching classes in the community, JWords continues to push the envelope for artists. Her music and contribution to the community is not monolithic or one-dimensional.
Her sound, much like the snippets of her life she allows fans to take in, are complex, nuanced and beautiful. There are layers to this; ring in your Women’s History Month with some Sín Señal.