Ricky Jamaraz – Arrogant CDs (2022)
Ricky Jamaraz is an artist whose independence shines through in his music and his two-track EP Arrogant CDs is no different. Using an engaging blast of indie rock and shoegaze tones, he brings forth the summer vibes while tackling self-consciousness. Moving from punk instrumentation to anthemic anxiety, he showcases just what he can do while letting you rock out to the high-octane energy of his music.
Created with just his two guitars, a laptop and his creativity, the tracks offer a fast-paced burst that will get you ready to face the world. His DIY musical journey started in 2021 with his debut single, which ultimately led to months spent recording his debut album. Now, he is gearing up for another album with a masterful musicality that belies his age.
The instrumental track ’CDs! NOODLES’ opens the EP with an engaging roll of guitars. This rises into a blast of punk-rock instrumentation that makes you want to really rock out to the sound. Woven into the blasts of the guitars is a summer vibe that fills your senses with warm weather and carefree happiness. As the drums and guitars converge, they shake up your insides, furthering the need to move to the music. While completely instrumental, you can easily understand what Jamaraz is trying to convey through the melodic movements. It is a wonderful showcase of what he has to offer, while getting you ready to head out for some fun in the sun. As you get lost in the instrumentation, you are filled with the sense that this would be an outstanding road trip single that you can blare from your speakers as you cruise down the open road.
The second track is ‘am I arrogant?’ which opens with a more lo-fi vibe as Jamaraz’s vocals hit. There is a self-conscious edge to the questions that fill the lyrics as the vocals warble and echo through the soundscape. There are a lot of things that we can all connect with and relate to woven into the single that edges it toward anthemic. While it misses the pace of the opening track, it is still a wonderful track that has you bopping around and smiling to the flow. The self-consciousness of the vocals is enhanced by a concern about what other people think about you. The guitar bridge later in the track is a pleasure to listen to and will put a smile on your face.
Ricky Jamaraz brings a blast of summer, only to drop into self-consciousness across the two tracks of Arrogant CDs, while highlighting his musical abilities. The two tracks are quite different from each other, as one brings punk-rock summer sun and the other the anxious worrying of modern life. Across both tracks, he shows that his musicality has a sophistication far beyond his years.
Find out more about Ricky Jamaraz on his website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
