Muse Chronicle

SKID MARKZ is Jean RN’s 4th EP, he describes it as an emotive Glitch pop with hints of Vaporwave, harsh textures blending with warm synths in a constantly shifting melodic structures. It’s a 15 minute journey of exploring, embracing and ultimately letting go of the past.

“‘SKID MARKZ’ features an impeccable production quality with intricately layered sonic elements, all of them distinctively giving their own impact on the listening experience, this EP is a delight for the ears, and it is not something you get to hear everyday.”

SKID MARKZ opens with “30th May 2022” which instantly grabs your attention by giving you a jolt of energy with it’s static noises and distorted vocals, along with warm synths soothing your mind, this song perfectly sets the tone for the cerebral journey that’s about to follow. The repetition of “I think you should stay” give this track a cinematic impact.

This psychedelic journey is followed by “Song for C”. Punchy drum beats welcome you into this track, and have you grooving from the get go, the hints of static sounds remains consistent throughout, there’s a riveting drum and guitar instrumental with electronic elements sprinkled all over it in the middle that will give you goosebumps, the song reaches it’s end with an acoustic outro.

The third track on the EP is “Sure”, which is my personal favourite among the four, from the first moment this song has you hooked with it’s glitchy synths and hypnotic voice, as the melody unfolds, carrying you on an emotional journey. It features dreamy melodies that transport you to an ethereal zone. The EP comes to an end with “Diarrhea,” which also boasts the longest runtime on the album. It serves as the perfect closing track for the EP, opening with smooth static noises and pulsating synths that gradually evolve into a mesmerizing sonic landscape. As the song progresses, it weaves in and out of intricate rhythms and melodies, taking the listener on a sonic journey of its own. With its gradual buildup and immersive soundscapes, “Diarrhea” leaves a lasting impression, making it a fitting conclusion to the EP’s sonic adventure.

SKID MARKZ features an impeccable production quality with intricately layered sonic elements, all of them distinctively giving their own impact on the listening experience, this EP is a delight for the ears, and it is not something you get to hear everyday. Credit for mastering this captivating project goes to Angel Marcloid (AKA Fire-Toolz). Released via Ghost Nun, a UK-based net label focused on releasing Noise-Pop music, fans of the EDM genre must not miss out on this and give this sonic odyssey a spin right away.

We had a chance to get an in interview with Jean RN and got to know more about his musical bacground, his artistic influences and his EP “SKID MARKZ”

1. What inspired you to become a musician, and how long have you been playing music? Can you tell me more about your musical background?
   
   – I’ve been messing around with music on and off for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my Mum had one CD – Shania Twain’s ‘Come On Over’ (which still SLAPS to this day). It got played to death during car rides – I think that’s the album that taught me to love pop music. Then when I was about 10 my Dad taught me how to use Cubase (which is still my DAW of choice!!), and I would spend my weekends making the WORST music imaginable. I also took guitar lessons for about 5 years.
   
2. You described “SKID MARKZ,” as an emotionally-driven Glitch-Pop with notes of Vaporwave. Could you delve deeper into the musical influences and inspirations that shaped this unique blend of genres?
   
   – It’s difficult to say because I’m generally not thinking about influences when making songs, I’m just trying to do what feels right. I guess my songwriting and guitar playing is heavily informed by various emo acts from the last couple of decades – think Owen, Into It. Over It., Oliver Houston, Death Cab for Cutie, The Appleseed Cast and Moving Mountains. Those artists had a pretty clear hand in shaping the way I approach harmony, lyricism and song structure. On the other side of the spectrum, I love the sonic worlds of SOPHIE, Oneohtrix Point Never and Giant Claw – as a producer, Arca has been my north star for a long time.
   
3. The theme of your EP revolves around exploring, embracing, and letting go of the past. Can you share more about the personal experiences or emotions that inspired this theme and how it’s reflected in your music?
   
   – The themes kind of revealed themselves once the songs were finished. I guess lyrically, the project is presented very matter-of-fact-ly, without being too coloured by how I was feeling while writing it. I just kind of wrote what happened and how it made me feel… it’s a hard question to answer, because while there’s clear emo influence here, the process itself wasn’t really influenced by it.
   
4. As an artist, what do you hope listeners will take away from “SKID MARKZ”? Are there any particular emotions or messages you want them to connect with through your music?
   
   – Holistically, I want to show people that pop music can be dressed in all kinds of ways! That underneath all the noise, I’m still participating in various pop traditions. Also getting back on the horse and stuff.
   
5. What are your plans and goals for the future as a musician?
   
   – Just to keep making whatever feels right. I don’t know what my music’s going to sound like 2 years from now, but I know it’ll still sound like me. I’ve also been having fun working with other artists on collaborative projects, so will definitely be continuing to do that!

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