Jokyo – Houses In My Head (2022)
When we face hardships in life, we often want to connect with others who understand our feelings and what we are going through. If you are facing some hard times, Jokyo is here to let you know that you are not alone with the emo tracks of Houses In My Head. Inspired by the hardships he was facing, he twists his emotions and dark feelings into gothic rock goodness with a wonderful modern twist.
Adding a splash of punk to bring a bit of the anger and frustration many feel during hard times, Jokyo connects with every listener, whether you are going through a tough time or have made it through already. While he has only been releasing music under this moniker since 2020, he draws on skills that he has honed in various bands. Now, he is able to release his own creative ideas and is really hitting us with his emo sounds.
The EP opens with ‘Bleedin For Ya Baby’ and the heavy feeling of the piano line. There is a strong dark gothic movement to the music that sweeps you into black velvet and dark nights. The chittering beats that skitter through the low levels add a modern texture to the gothic tones. Jokyo’s vocals have a slightly airy feeling to them, like they are fog weaving through the dark streets of a city, beckoning you out into the cold night. He brings a twist of emotions, from yearning to love, to the pain of not getting the same affection in return. This is a stunning start to the EP and really sets some high expectations for the rest of the tracks.
‘Corpse Walkin’ has an eerier feeling to it, like you are walking down an empty street, hear noises behind you and turn to find the street empty. The shakeup of instrumentation gets your heart racing, while your muscles feel the urge to fling you around to the rhythm. Jokyo’s vocals also have a different feeling on this track as he brings a touch of creepiness to his performance. There is an interesting contrast between the music and the vocals that catch you and tug you in different directions. The music is packed with a shaking energy that is injected into your muscles, while the vocals are a slower amble through the single. As you are pulled in various directions, the vocals hit you with a relatable tale of emotions and emotional hurts. This is a really intriguing track that you can easily listen to again and again, as you get lost in the movement.
The distorted opening tones of ‘I’m the Beast’ instantly grab your attention as they bring a slightly retro tone that seems to filter from afar. The vocals are a dark waltz that leads you into a depressed dance soaked in dark emotions. As the chorus hits, the music gets a burst of energy with the vocals seeming to rise to match, but still carrying some of those dark emotions. The interplay between the vocals and melody is great as the push of the drums bounces the vocals down the soundscape. This all slides back into the opening tones that slow down your heart rate and bring you back to that slow dance. This cyclical movement to the melody perfectly enhances the emotional rollercoaster of the track.
‘No Glory to be Had’ gets you bopping to the roll of the drums, while an almost ambient haze floats above you. It is a really catchy opening that is much lighter than the tracks that came before. It lifts your spirits a bit. From within the softer tones, Jokyo’s vocals enter with a darker edge tugging at the back of your brain. He is joined by a rich, almost gothic, tone that acts as the wind that catches under his wings to take his performance into a dark soar. His performance takes you soaring on the musical tones with him as he considers the little parts of yourself that you lose through the years. The strings that fill the melody are wonderful in their richness as they complement the ambient tones and depth of the backing vocals.
The lighter tones continue in ‘Sweet Nostalgia’ which ripple with soft golden tones that have you sinking back into a nostalgic haze. The light touch of the synths is beautiful in their softness, which makes the rise of the darker tones more powerful. These two very distinct lines intertwine in a wonderful way, before the rap vocals hit. This brings a new vocal performance to the EP that really showcases the versatility of Jokyo’s vocal abilities. While the soft tones have you sinking into nostalgia, his performance is a splash of cold water, letting you know that people don’t stay the same. The chorus gentles the hit from the verses with a delicate wash of vocals, creating a wonderfully dynamic flow to the track.
The EP come to a close with the title track ‘Houses in My Head’ that brings back the rich gothic darkness. The chord progression of the opening draws you into the rich world of gothic tones, as a touch of darkness flows between the higher tones. There is a toe-tapping beat that brings the lightest touch of industrial sounds to the track. The vocals enter with a weary sigh and delve into feelings of loneliness. There is a lot to relate to in the vocal performance, but there is also a glimmer of hope. As Jokyo lets you know you are not alone in what you are feeling, he brings the understanding that the point of no return can be overcome.
Combining gothic tones with modern flairs and a touch of experimentalism, Jokyo considers the hard times of life, while letting you know that you are not alone in your struggles through Houses in My Head. Each track has a darkness to it that brings the emo touches of his music to life. This is delightfully contrasted with lighter notes that bring a beautiful merger of light and dark to our ears.
Find out more about Jokyo on his Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
