The NYC-based trio Hi-Lo Jack released their debut EP Old New Clothes on November 17.
The perfect blend of a wide variety of influences, Old New Clothes fuses indie, hip hop, and pop together in a pleasant and intriguing sound.
Hi-Lo Jack is a collaboration between Dolapo Akinkugbe (rapper/producer DAP The Contract), Clyde Lawrence (from soul-pop band Lawrence), and Cody Fitzgerald (from indie-rock band Stolen Jars). The trio joined together in their last year together at Brown University in an attempt to synthesize their distinct individual sounds into an exciting and unique project.
With so many different sources contributing to their sound, Hi-Lo Jack cannot be defined by a single genre. As Earmilk wrote, “These young artists are giving genre boundaries the metaphorical middle finger and making music that they think is dope, and they’re doing a great job.”
The EP features the band’s first single “So It Goes,” which highlights Akinkugbe’s precise rap skills. The beginning rap dissipates quickly into a calm and mysterious chorus in a push-and-pull that continues throughout the song. With jazzy guitar hooks and soul-influenced keyboard sounds, the song is the perfect demonstration of shaping many different influences into a song that really grooves.
“Wasted Time,” a song about the transition from college to the real world, is as much for the band themselves as it is for their audience.
It’s catchy and smooth, but above all, it is a reminder that pursuing music is not a waste of time.
Old New Clothes is a Shared Vision for Hi-Lo Jack
Though each of the three members of Hi-Lo Jack approach music so differently, from sound to production to creative process, they were able to work well together.
According to the band, “As it turns out, we realized that we had a shared vision for what this indie/soul-pop/hip-hop three-headed monster could look like, and it was music that centered around warmth and nostalgia.”
Hi-Lo Jack is an exciting new collaboration with a fresh sound. Old New Clothes demonstrates the fruits of their labor with six songs that are catchy, unique, and truly enjoyable.