Jimkata Set The Past Ablaze On New Single “Bonfires”
Back from a 2 and a half year hiatus, indie rock three-piece Jimkata are back with the title track off their upcoming 2021 album, “Bonfires”. Highlighting themes of uncertainty and nostalgia and coupled with their signature electro-rock sound, the single is aptly tuned into the times we’re currently living through.
Based out of Ithaca and LA, their distinct sound resonates with listeners across the country through a mix all of their own – somehow sounding organic while their music features a swirl of electronic instrumentation. Add in infectious pop hooks, candid lyrics, and a music video that catapults you back a few decades, and you have the perfect combination for a stellar release.
“Bonfires” is all about the vulnerability that comes with facing uncertain times and the reflexive tendency to latch onto the comfort of nostalgia to see you through. As the song opens with the lyrics “you could see all of the stars from the hood of my old car / and I could tell you I knew my direction,” the sense of longing for the ‘good old days’ is quickly conveyed. The uplifting sense of reminiscing carries through the chorus, with lyrics such as “we were as sure as the bonfires that we sparked in the open fields,” and “though I want to back away, I’m moving closer to the flame.” Backed by modern, cinematic synths and alt rock guitar, the song feels like a slice of home to listeners who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s.
Frontman Even Friedell admits that the past few years have inevitably led to a longing “for simpler times where you felt more sure of things,” even if that idea of simplicity is an illusion in itself. “We find ourselves having to find the courage to face the flames, move through the ugliness, and hope it’s just a painful transition towards a better world,” something “Bonfires” captures almost effortlessly.
Accompanied by a music video that gives off classic movie vibes to the likes of E.T., Danny Darko and Stand By Me, its imagery adds to the nostalgic tone of the single. As past and present intertwine, viewers are left with a sense of home and being young, with what seems like the whole world right in front of you. You can watch the video below:
