Local Spotlight: Jaylin’s ‘Twenties’ EP
Our review of the DC native’s dynamic sophomore project
Cover art for ‘Twenties’. Image property of Jaylin.
For our first Local Artist Spotlight, The Culture Crypt is featuring the multitalented DC native Jaylin. A more than capable singer, musician, and songwriter, the 22-year-old’s most recent project, Twenties, offers the listener a glimpse into the everyday realities of early adulthood. In just 20 minutes, Jaylin encounters as many quiet, lonely moments as he does bold and self-assured ones, giving us the complete, vulnerable scope of his experience as a Black 20-something in these trying times.
The EP hits the ground running with the opening track “Swerved.” We were drawn in quickly by the bouncy, controlled chaos of this opening song, as Jaylin spits deftly while playing with voice effects and varying flows. Bells, a jazzy melody on keys, and tight drums highlight his production skills, and it's impossible not to head bop along with it… Not only does it sound hard as fuck, “Swerved” immediately establishes Jaylin himself as the central character in this narrative—a “Black homebody” struggling with expectations, anxiety, racist cops, and most prominently, flaky friends.
Image property of Jaylin.
Next is “Disconnect,” a wavy, moodier song that introduces us to Jaylin’s vocal range and inter-genre versatility. Switching back and forth between a strong, sung chorus and rapping, he really starts to get into this theme of constant musical creation not only as a means of survival through times of growth and change, but as a legitimate pathway to a better life.
The EP then slows down and shifts into ballad mode with “Unless” and “Reset,” both intensely introspective and supported by raw, textured, harmonies. As the theme shifts to love, the production follows. Fully utilizing everything his keyboard offers, ballad mode Jaylin delivers sad, gorgeous stories of love, loss, and longing. This particular section of the EP shows potential for even more growth in the more R&B adjacent area of his craft.
Then comes “Patience” which acts as the thesis of the EP. It’s a lucid, four-minute journey into Jaylin’s psyche, his obstacles, his motivations, and his ultimate goal of breaking through. The drum breaks grow heavier as he gets deeper into the rhythmic pocket, musing on what success and happiness look like for him.
“I got / a problem with my patience, I know I gotta wait more but I hate when I’m in stasis / waitin’ praying for that, that perfect rhyme / that’s good enough that’ll put me through some / better times will come so I write about my placement right now.”
And later “I pray before I’m thirty / I own a house a car and have a lil boo who love me / right now I'm in my twenties.” Jaylin feels defiant here, supremely confident in his abilities regardless of who’s watching.
The EP ends with “22,” probably the catchiest of the six tracks. The production is clean, with intricate frills and drum kicks and that familiar west coast gangsta whine droning under them. This song feels like a closing statement, with Jaylin claiming greatness while acknowledging the mental and emotional struggle that will undoubtedly come with the journey. “How you think I made this instrumental? / sittin’ on my ass, waiting for a better mental? Kinda / but I wrote down all the struggles with my pencil and in the process/kind of realized that I’m better in my mental with it / but I should see about a therapist no doubt.”
It’s a very strong track to end on, and aptly named. 22 is a massive time of transition—figuring out what the hell to do with your life, friends coming and going, academic work piling up, the intense isolation of COVID-19—Jaylin takes time to ruminate on all of this in only 20 minutes.
Twenties is an excellent, well-rounded second entry in this young artist's discography. A lot of influences shine throughout this project—there’s this raw, bedroom feel to the EP (especially the ballad section) that gives shades of Tyler, The Creator, Erykah Badu, and Bon Iver. At the same time, Jaylin successfully cultivates a unique, eclectic sound in these six tracks.
The musical skill is evident, and that’s probably why Twenties feels so restless. Jaylin knows he’s nice, and he’s only getting better. He’s just waiting for the rest of the world to get hip.
Stream Jaylin on Spotify and Apple Music here.