JW Paris – “Who Are You” single review

Over the last three years we have been writing extensively about JW Paris. We interviewed them three times for Indieterria, conducted a fan led AMA (“ask me anything”) session and composed ten articles. Every single they released was almost vivisected, every reference or inspiration looked up, every clue carefully inspected. We have seen the band live several times. At this stage we could possibly publish a zine with our coverage. Maybe that`s not a bad idea if anyone`s interested.

But we have noticed something else in the process. We know band members’ birthdays and a ton of small details about them that you normally know about close friends. Somewhere along the lines Daniel, Gemma and Aaron became quite a big part of our musical lives. We witnessed JW Paris going from being a duo to recruiting one of UK`s best drummers, from playing small gigs to being on the poster of BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend festival. Just a blink of an eye ago they were launching their debut EP (Stuck in a Video) and now they are about to deliver a new one.

Cover of Who Are You single

It is a strange thing to admit that after all this, I am still not even close to answering a question: who are JW Paris? The Luton trio is pretty much an enigma wrapped in a riddle.

I have been binge watching “Lucifer” recently and it crossed my mind that all three members of the band may be Celestials. You know immortal beings with wings and halos, who reside in the Silver City and watch over mortals. That would explain the insane amounts of talent that JW Paris display, the range of emotions they are able to squeeze into their songs, all the knowledge about art and cinema they seem to possess, the superhuman sensibility and ability to see positivity of being involved in the music business (aka an industry where you need to have patience of a saint).

It would take an entire L.A.P.D police squad if one wanted to document the sheer brilliance of JW Paris. Their dedication to music is so strong they`d be still writing songs even if they were the last band on Earth. Or maybe they are this good because they were the first ones to pick up guitars and crank the amps up to eleven? They also have a rebellious side that can only match that of Samael himself.

The irony is, dear reader, that I am sitting here pondering who JW Paris are, while the band`s new single is called “Who Are You”? And it is a superb study of defiance and believing in oneself.

Recorded with JB Pilon (Royel Otis, Barbican Estate) and mastered by Cicely Balston (Witch Fever, Jamiroquai) at the Bufallo Studios, the single heralds a complete reinvention of the band`s sound. JW Paris may have started out by mashing Britpop with college rock aesthetics, and maybe a bit of Seattle sound to spice things up but they have now emerged as a fully grown alternative rock act, bordering with post-punk and even crossing into psychobilly territories. If that sounds like a word salad to you, then imagine a heavier, dirtier sound, with fury and unpolished vocal deliveries, that take over radio friendly melodies and polished production. More Ramones than Oasis, more The Stooges than Three Colours Red. With a bit of Chris Isaak for inspiration.

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A post shared by JW PARIS (@jwparismusic)

JW Paris covered “Wicked Game” last year and they do not hide their admiration for the leading crooner of contemporary rock. They also took Isaak`s advice to heart to treat songs like cinematic scores. “Who Are You” would make a perfect addiction to a soundtrack to any episode of “Lucifer”, most likely for a fight scene where Mazikeen takes on scores of burly dudes only to emerge victorious, or where the main character shows his true nature to criminals and murderers and delivers one of his signature punishments. The dynamic beat, the distorted guitars, the chants in the chorus – all this was just made for a good fist-meets-face screen action.

There is a popular misconception that if a band plays punk their lyrics don’t really make sense or must be strictly political. And I understand some people may regard JW Paris’ new single in that light. But if there is one thing I`ve learned about the band over the years I have been covering them is that you can’t take the trio at a face value. JW Paris excels at hiding various meanings, often several of them at the same time. They demand the listeners to dig deep to find clues and references. These are deeply artistic folks; their knowledge of culture is enormous. Obviously, you are not required to play a detective to enjoy their songs, but don’t undervalue the band.

“Who Are You” lyrics may look like they have been written on the back of a cigarette pack and you can interpret them as a simple call for having respect for other human beings. But then you look at certain lines and you begin to realize it is much more than that: strip searches, bathroom bills, drug addiction – suddenly the song gets a lot more actual and terrifyingly accurate regarding what is happening in the world. And here comes the question: who are you if you think you are better than me?

JW Paris does not like to preach. But that doesn’t mean they will be silent in the face of injustice and dehumanization. They will speak up in their own way and let the listeners find the message.

JW Paris live – photo by C24 Photography

Another thing I want to highlight in this review is the single cover. Because it is another wonderful example how multilayered every release of the band is. To date the singles were illustrated by bands own photography or photos taken by the members themselves. “Who Are You” is different. The mysterious young person on the cover comes from a roll of 35mm film found in a second hand camera (more shots were published by the band here) and developed. They give incredible insight into the lives of people we have no knowledge about, probably from 1950’s England. You can only imagine who they were, what happened to them. The single cover is also a reference to Vivian Maier, one of the most important street photographers of the last century, whose work was discovered in a pawn shop, after her death. As I said, JW Paris are hellishly well versed in hiding gens where you least expect it. But if you have time and willingness to look for them, you will be rewarded beyond measure.

So, who are the JW Paris? If not one of the most impressive bands on the independent circuit, then maybe we need to really have a word with Neil Gaiman and ask him if his comics aren’t a documentary. We may have Celestials living among us and making heavenly rock.

You can follow the band on socials:
https://www.facebook.com/jwparismusic
https://www.instagram.com/jwparismusic
https://www.tiktok.com/@jwparismusic
https://www.youtube.com/@JWPARIS
https://twitter.com/jwparismusic
https://soundcloud.com/jwparis-music
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Eh8L6V40D5B70XCOucwE3

Malicia Dabrowicz

JW Paris – “Who Are You” single review

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JW Paris – “Who Are You” single review

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