Jesse Werkman
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2015
Music
Press
Album: All You’ve Lost
Artist: Jesse Werkman (independent)
4 stars out of 5
Jesse Werkman’s (http://jessewerkman.bandcamp.com) All You’ve Lost EP offers a gently mesmerizing, ultimately optimistic 20 minutes, announcing the debut of a serious, new local talent.
Werkman plays everything — guitar, piano, violin and spare percussion — but it’s a pool of synthesizer and echoing guitar that sets the tone on the brief opening Seasons, like watching ripples radiate in a placid mountain lake at dawn. The subtle but effective crystalline ambience on the four songs that follow shows an uncommon touch for mixing acoustic and electronic textures.
The singer’s bio notes his upbringing in central Alberta and those origins had to include a proximity to nature, suggested in the folksong Snow. His reedy voice and occasional falsetto croons, measured use of repetition and smart pop hooks bring a thoughtful tenderness to Take My Heart and All You’ve Lost. The closing Circles uses layered vocals and simple repeating guitar riffs to create a deeper phantom groove, hinting at mighty things to come.
Recent university grad Werkman has been writing songs for most of a decade, so the maturity of his tunes is no accident, but the sensitive sophistication of the whole sonic package leaves you wanting more. Werkman performs Thursday, Dec. 3 at Bohemia and Dec. 17 at the Mercury Room - Edmonton Journal
It is that time of year where we look back on what the Edmonton music scene has released in 2015. Narrowing down each of our lists (videos, albums and singles) were all difficult as there was a lot of great music released this past year.
Disclaimer: Musicians who have called Edmonton home at some point, or have recorded here are part of the Edmonton music scene, and while we try not to be subjective with our top lists, it will still be subjective in some way based on our personal musical preferences.
So without further ado, here is our list of top 10 albums of 2015!
10 . Da Golden Retreiver Chroniclez – Stevie Raikou
9. Self Titled – Terrian
8. All You’ve Lost – Jesse Werkman
7. Cold Hands – Fire Next Time
6. If Not For You – Post Script
5. Say Hello To Goodbye – Alee
4. 1979 – White Lightning
3. Self Titled – The Provincial Archive
2. Self Titled – Knyte
1. Self Titled – Whale And The Wolf - YEG Music Magazine
It is that time of year where we look back on what the Edmonton music scene has released in 2015. Narrowing down each of our lists (videos, albums and singles) were all difficult as there was a lot of great music released this past year.
Disclaimer: Musicians who have called Edmonton home at some point, or have recorded here are part of the Edmonton music scene, and while we try not to be subjective with our top lists, it will still be subjective in some way based on our personal musical preferences.
So without further ado, here is our list of top 25 songs of 2015!
25. Vanilla – Arkavello
24. Dusk – The Gear Seabastian
23. Infatuation – Savage Playground
22. Ain’t Wuwwied – Stevie Raikou
21. I’ve Been Waiting For Her – Mac Demarco
20. Hark – Diamond Mind
19. Shining Soul – Marystown
18. Run This Town – Corb Lund
17. Love Sick Summer – Asim Chin
16. Beautiful World – Tennyson
15. Worlds On Fire – Zerbin
14. Mercy – Stone Iris
13. I Can Swing A Hammer – The Wet Secrets
12. Control – Matt Machete
11. Antidote – Lexi Strate
10. Hounds of Belgravia – Fire Next Time
9. Oblivion – Terrian
8. Bad Connection – The Provincial Archive
7. Cut Me Open – Knyte
6. Take My Heart – Jesse Werkman
5. One Last Time – White Lightning
4. Burn This Disco – Sister Gray
3. Earthquake – Disco Fries Feat. The Command Sisters
2. Running Away – The Royal Foundry
1. Shiver – Whale And The Wolf - YEG Music Magazine
All You’ve Lost – Jesse Werkman
Release Date: September 8th, 2015
Track Listing:
1. Seasons (Prelude)
2. Snow
3. Take My Heart
4. All You’ve Lost
5. Circles
It is a rare feat to achieve an appropriated balance of warmth, honesty and reflection, but Jesse Werkman checks off all of the sweet spots in his debut release – an EP shining by the strengths of its introspective and thoughtful lyricism, simplistic cinematic elements and striking instrumentals. Written during a difficult personal time in his life, Werkman captures the vivid personality of transition, sorrow and new found exploration.
Prelude “Seasons” is a sound introduction to the release, an instrumentally stunning piece that plays on the use of keys, guitar plucks, and sleep-inducing bell-like chimes to create an aura of nostalgia. Transitioning into “Snow,” Werkman uses light reverb to enhance the warm, twinkling aesthetics, as he recounts a dispelling relationship. “I spin slow / lost in these moments / And I fall with the stones you’re throwing,” he sings, voice frail yet tender and serene.
My favourite song on the release, “Take My Heart,” shines by way of its overlapping harmonies, sharp pop hooks and tranquil soundscape. There is no shortage of loss and despair, but once again, Werkman is able to craft a soulful and genuine interpretation that is willful and strong. “All You’ve Lost” uses a gentle piano melody as a setting for the regretful, understanding song: “Your heart I hold / Your heart I’ve stolen.”
“Circles” is themed around self-reflection, and is up to the challenge of matching its predecessors’ bright electronic-folk dynamics. The fluid guitar lines and layered vocals create a moving, poignant piece as listeners revel in the realization that peace is never fully reached. While the spirit of the release is quite disheartening, its lush aspects through production and instrumentals, vivid and open lyricism are gems to listen to. Werkman has perfectly mixed acoustic and electronic textures, with All You’ve Lost prompting sentiment in the best mild and meaningful way. - The Permanent Rain Press
Unlike a lot of other cover art out there, the cover of Jesse Werkman’s All You’ve Lost EP does well to reveal the contents within. The light brushstrokes of the watercolour background mirrors the light reverb of Werkman’s vocals and the gentle electronic elements that sweep along the EP’s own background. Its muted colours match those of Werkman’s heart, a part of him that he has no qualms about sharing. And the hand, disjointed, curled in an effort to grasp at something that remains too far away, summarizes the disheartened spirit of the EP as a whole.
These emotions that Werkman paints in his EP are potent. The Edmonton songwriter curls his electro-folk soundscape around his soulful and fragile stories of love and loss. The love here though is one-sided, only Werkman and his emotions are in focus while the counterpart remains unseen and unnamed amongst the shroud of instrumentals. “Snow,” with its very subtle twinkling backdrop, centres on the personal (“I fall with the stones you’re throwing”) before residing to be completely “lost in these moments.” Closer “Circles” is of similar company, weaving a blanket of various guitar and vocal sections to form a poignant and self-reflective track.
EP highlight, and the strongest showing of Werkman’s dynamic vocals, “Take My Heart” begins with delicately picked guitar, before its own mighty heart (the percussion section) encourages it to swell into a lush track. This sprawling quality of “Take My Heart” is mirrored in the title track as Werkman tries to grapple with his loss and regret amongst a soulful soundscapes. Like all of All You’ve Lost though, Werkman seems comfortable to stay under his warm sonic layers rather than face his demons. - Grayowl Point
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
After learning the violin as a child growing up in Central Alberta, Jesse first picked up the guitar and piano at the age of 15 and began experimenting and writing simple songs shortly thereafter. Since then, Jesse has developed his writing style and sound, delving into his other passion of filmmaking by creating music videos for the few songs he recorded. Notably, In 2012, a video for his reverse piano piece "Reflections" was screened at the Montreal World Film Festival.
Released in September 2015, Jesse's debut EP, All You've Lost, has received positive reviews from critics, including the Edmonton Journal, and was named to YEG Music Magazine's Top 10 Albums of 2015 list. Having written, produced, recorded, and played every instrument on the EP, it not only showcases Jesse's various creative abilities, but also reflects his feelings during a large transition in his life, conveyed by vivid, poetic lyrics. Writing the album as his parents were separating, the music presents a feeling of introspection, intimacy and sentiment, inspired strongly by the nature and climate of living in the northern city of Edmonton, Alberta. Jesse has been developing a following in his hometown since the release of All You've Lost, and plans to release a follow-up EP in autumn 2016. One of his most notable gigs was performed in a castle made entirely of snow as part of the Snowking Winter Festival in Yellowknife, NWT, in March 2016, opening for Juno Award Winner Quique Escamilla.
Band Members
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