“BIG TINGS” marks the determined return of Polaris Music Prize nominee JayWood, joined by Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner of the Oakland, California, art-pop duo Tune-Yards. Together, they’ve crafted a meticulously produced, exponentially layered song of empowerment that fluidly navigates the blurred lines between genres such as Alternative Hip-Hop, Indie, and Neo-Soul—territory where JayWood feels entirely at home. The song was premiered this morning by FLOOD Magazine, who write that it sees JayWood "...shedding any sense of modesty, fusing together elements of hip-hop, soul, and vibrant art-pop on a recording that takes aim at any artist unable to follow-up after making a bold statement."
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Encouraging resilience in the song’s lyricism, JayWood explains: “This song switches perspective—sometimes I’m talking to myself, and sometimes I’m reaching out to the listener. Keep going, keep trying, don’t stop.” The single serves as a fitting preview of what’s to come later this year from JayWood: “I got big tings coming down the pipe, so what.”
He continues, “The amount of times I've seen or heard someone say “ayo y’all better look out big things coming” with no follow through is crazy. I kinda wrote this song to say the same thing, but god forbid If I don’t mean it. “BIG TINGS" was one of those songs that kinda made me nervous to write. I dunno when it became corny to talk about the idea of your hopes and dreams, but honestly fuck it. This track is such an alien only made weirder with the help of Tune-Yards they really helped make this beat into a proper song. But yeah, big tings comin' for me and I hope there’s some big tings comin' for you too!”
As for Tune-Yards’ contribution to the song, Garbus says “The file was named "BIG TINGS" so I sang, "big things coming, coming our way" and it felt right and good. Big things coming for JayWood! with his clear artistic vision, broad imagination, hunger for musical adventure...we were honored to be along for the ride.”
JayWood – the nom de plume of Jeremy Haywood-Smith – most recently released 2023’s Grow On EP, on Captured Tracks. The EP includes two bonus tracks from the previous year’s Slingshot sessions, an "OG" version of the album single “Thank You,” and a cover of Tyler, the Creator's “SWEET,” and the release’s lead single, “Dirk Gently (Know Yourself).”