JATK floats along with a ‘Conscious Wonder’
The latest single from Matt Jatkola’s power-pop project arrives Friday, July 16
‘Conscious Wonder’ is a melodic jangle-pop reminder to slow down and appreciate life
PRE-SAVE: ‘CONSCIOUS WONDER’ VIA LEVEL MUSIC
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Photo Credit: Aneleise Ruggles
BOSTON, MASS. [July 16, 2021] -- A year’s midway point is a good time to slow down, look around, and reflect more on where we are than where we’ve been or where we’re going. This holds true for JATK, the power-pop project from Boston songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Jatkola, who on July 16 releases a new maxi-single in “Conscious Wonder” that’s a melodic reminder to appreciate life.
On his previous two singles released this year -- April’s “When Tomorrow Comes” and last month’s “Japanese Butterfly” -- JATK was rocking out through bold and infectious power-pop, feeling a burst of momentum and creativity sparked by a cancer journey that began with a Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis in early 2020.
Jatkola now boasts a clean bill of health and a wealth of stories to tell, and while those prior singles powered through with a bold sense of urgency, coming to terms with and then confronting his cancer diagnosis, “Conscious Wonder” finds the artist slowing his roll and observing the world around him, and doing so with a bit of alt-country jangle-pop twang and college rock thrust -- and Jatkola’s uncanny ability to craft pitch-perfect pop songs that lodge in your head long after first listen.
“Lyrically, ‘Conscious Wonder’ is about existence and non-existence; being and death; but it's wrapped up in such a happy sounding package that you might not pick up on that upon first listen,” Jatkola says. “And it's not actually a sad or dark feeling I'm exploring in the song -- it's just a feeling of what it is to exist, mortality, immortality... ‘My baby says you don't die / My baby says it's all right / I'm chillin in the sunshine / Freezin in the sunshine.’ There's a happiness you hear in the music, which is real, but it's not simple.”
The song takes its title from a term that compounds the two ideas of consciousness and wonder, and was inspired by Jatkola hearing Jenny Lewis’ “Wasted Youth” for the first time. There’s a spaciousness and casual propulsion that carries the track through its glimmering melody; where the first two JATK singles this year were riff-heavy songs that went places in a hurry, “Conscious Wonder” enlists some longing and melancholy into the track’s upbeat demeanor.
“The lyrics are about hugging the line between existence and non-existence, and they touch on some heavy subjects about death and struggle,” Jatkola admits. “I wanted the sound of the track to encompass the feelings of joy and grief at once. Not an easy task, but I think we captured something special. You can tap your foot to it or dance to it, but there's some twangy country lap steel longing away in the background too. Nothing is ever just happy and that's ok. There's a comfort in thinking that, in some way, you're going to live forever. You won't in a real sense, but you will in a philosophical sense. And at the very least, you're alive today. These are all truly wonderful things to contemplate and write about. They're especially poignant topics for me right now.”
Aided on the maxi-single by an instrumental version and The Difference Engine’s synthy V8 Mix, “Conscious Wonder” is a song made for summer, adding a sparkle to seasonal playlists and a sound fit for a day spent outdoors. It’s also one of the more collaborative tracks of the forthcoming JATK album, as Jatkola enlisted his former Bynars bandmate Kiel Szivos (also appearing on “When Tomorrow Comes”) to play bass and STRANGEPRIDE’s Anthony Hoey (“Japanese Butterfly”) to provide additional backing vocals. Tim Wright and Anthony Savino fill out the track on drums and lap steel, respectively. Summer is all about companionship, and though the track was recorded remotely, it finds Jatkola among friendly creative company.
“It's probably one of the most upbeat new songs from the LP and I feel like it's a fitting song for everyone as we enter the summer of 2021,” he adds. “We've all gone through all sorts of crazy stuff this past year - I know I have! - mostly alone and constantly thinking about what the past was or what the future might be, with very little regard for the present and how special that is. People even have a new appreciation for simply being outside and around other human beings. This song is a reminder to never take anything for granted. Be in awe of the fact that you even exist right now -- that alone is amazing!”
Contact michael@publisist.co or jatktheband@gmail.com for more information.
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JATK short bio:
JATK (pronounced “Jack”), the power-pop project from Boston-based songwriter Matt Jatkola, cranks up an arsenal of hooks and riffs with affecting jolts of guitar-rock reflected through his knack for pop melody. After a string of singles turn up the volume in 2021, his debut full-length album is set for release next year.
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Appearing on ‘Conscious Wonder’:
Matt Jatkola: Vocals, guitar
Anthony Hoey: Additional vocals
Anthony Savino: Lap steel
Kiel Szivos: Bass
Tim Wright: Drums
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Credits on ‘Conscious Wonder’:
Written and produced by Matt Jatkola
Recorded by Matt Jatkola at Peace & Love Laboratories, Arlington, MA; Anthony Hoey at The Wallpaper Room, Brooklyn, NY; Anthony Savino in Northridge, CA; Kiel Szivos at Parker's Room, Auburn, MA; Tim Wright at Trainsong Studio, Arlington, MA
Mixed by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios, Allston, MA
"Conscious Wonder (The Difference Engine V8 Mix)" mixed by Christopher G. Brown at Heima, Derry, NH.
Mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East, Somerville, MA
Cover photography by Niki Fandel
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JATK press photos [all credits to Aneleise Ruggles]:
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The music of JATK has been heard and featured on:
idobi Radio, BumbleBee Radio, WZBC’s Virtual Detention; Christian's Cosmic Corner on Mark Skin Radio, Your First Listen on KNNZ 89.1 FM (Fargo, ND), Sweet Sunday Sounds on Banks Radio (Australia), Garagerocktopia with Robert Kreutzer, POP! The Beat Bubble Burst on KDHX (St. Louis); Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood, Rising with Skybar and On The Town with Mikey D on WMFO Tufts University, Bay State Rock, Tinnitist, Lonely Oak Radio, The Menace’s House of Indies, Blood Makes Noise, and other fine radio stations, outlets, and programs.
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‘Conscious Wonder’ art:
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Media praise for JATK:
“There's a garage rock jangle and an indie rock vibrancy to the song, all framing some surprisingly delicate songwriting... In short, the song's a brisk, uplifting joy.” _Worcester Magazine
“The track’s constant battle between fuzz and melody combined with an optimistic outlook deserves to bring JATK new fans.” _Real Gone Rocks
“Such poppy magic” _Boston Emissions
“‘Japanese Butterfly’ is a burst of mid-’90s style power pop with some T-Rex style glam thrown in. It's all buzzy guitars swirling with some of the catchiest vocals around... [it's] one of the most positive songs about cancer out there."_If It’s Too Loud
"Opening with a wall of feedback... the song announces its arrival with a dark undertone, but barely thirty seconds in, its thinly disguised sunny alt-pop melody calls out with real confidence, while Matt's distorted guitar cranks through the riffs as if it's 1993 and he's an aspiring Bob Mould." _Real Gone Rocks
“The guitar riffs sound straight out of a Dinosaur Jr. or Superdrag track from the ‘90s. On this maxi-single the great guitar work is even more apparent on the instrumental version. I don’t usually give grades or bullshit like that but this gets an A in my book, this student of music was paying attention in class.” _Blood Makes Noise
"’When Tomorrow Comes’ is a fresh blast of indie rock/power-pop... that hits you with ferocity, yet also brings vocals filled with melodies that are super catchy and lyrically relevant. [It’s] a killer rock song for us to sing along with, as endearing and contemplative as it is simply rocking.” _Rebel Noise
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Media contact and all press/radio inquiries: michael@publisist.coor jatktheband@gmail.com
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