MORE MUSIC TO COME SOON
Grammy-nominated songwriter and singer JRM’s video for his debut single, “America,” is out now. The video, which premiered yesterday on Brightest Young Things, uses striking animated visuals to depict the experience of being a Black man in America. “This video captures a lot of the ideas and thoughts going through my head while writing the lyrics. This particular visual, complements the very essence of America,” notes JRM. Watch/share the song here: https://youtu.be/TpCObfxsQjs
“America” is a protest song written at 5A.M. at the beginning of Trump’s Presidency. Even though the song pre-dates the widespread conversation about race and police brutality taking place in 2020, its messages ring out like a premonition of the united rage that was on the horizon. More music from JRM to come soon as he’s set to release an EP later this year via his own label, Short Weeks.
JRM is Jaramye Daniels, a Los Angeles-based Philadelphia native who has become a Grammy-nominated songwriter and vocalist for the likes of Beyoncé (“All Night”), Martin Garrix (“Summer Days”), Jessie Reyez (“Imported”), Teyana Taylor, Kygo and Lukas Graham. The child of Jamaican immigrants, he grew up in a traditional Jamaican home in Philadelphia. The house was one of celebration, music and gatherings where JRM remembers being surrounded by vinyl records: classic reggae (Bob Marley, The Skatalites, Beres Hammond) and soul (Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire). JRM would sing in church, but always felt too shy to perform in front of his classmates or fellow Howard University students.
After earning his undergraduate degree, JRM returned to Philadelphia and started to tour as a backing vocalist for artists such as Marsha Ambrosius from Floetry and Lil’ Kim. In search of another creative outlet he went to culinary school for a year, but the idea of being a musician never left him. Shortly after his stint at culinary school he fell in love, moved to New York City and began to develop his songwriting craft.
