Former Howler member and France Camp frontman Jay Simonson returns as JJ Sweetheart, bringing fresh surfy vibes to Minneapolis. After a transformative 1,000-mile solo hike through Arizona’s desert that nearly ended fatally at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, Simonson emerges with an intimate new solo project. His sound blends twangy Americana with ’60s psychedelic rock, featuring heartfelt vocals and balmy instrumentation. The lo-fi aesthetic adds raw authenticity to tracks like “Heart Medal,” where mellow psychedelia meets catchy hooks.
JJ Sweetheart is all set to release his new EP “Big Things” soon. It opens with “This World,” a track that immediately establishes a distinct atmosphere through its echoing vocals and shimmering bell-like tones. The emotive riffs create a gentle sway, evoking images of a nighttime forest campfire session. The twangy guitar work particularly stands out, adding authentic character to the overall composition.
“Cinnamon” by JJ Sweetheart follows as a masterful second track, featuring layered vocals that maintain a more carefree approach while still carrying emotional weight. The steady rhythmic foundation is expertly punctuated by electric guitar flourishes that elevate the entire arrangement. Thematically, the song delves deep into the human psyche, exploring various facets of modern anxiety and existence.
The lyrics traverse through complex emotional territories, from profound anxiety (“oh how my heart seems to worry like all the time”) to existential fears of irrelevance (“I don’t want my face to be irrelevant”). What makes the song particularly powerful is its ability to balance these heavier themes with moments of hope and connection, especially in lines like “I’m not afraid of being with you.” The exploration of the weight of time and life’s struggles feels deeply personal yet universally relatable.
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The production maintains a delicate balance between introspective melancholy and hopeful searching, with the music perfectly complementing the emotional complexity of the lyrics. JJ Sweetheart demonstrates skilled songwriting in his ability to address heavy themes while maintaining musical accessibility.
The EP by JJ Sweetheart concludes masterfully with “Heart Medal,” where echoing vocals blend with summery riffs and lo-fi-influenced beats to create an irresistibly introspective atmosphere. JJ Sweetheart’s vocal performance here deserves special recognition – it’s both technically impressive and emotionally engaging, drawing listeners in completely. The track serves as a perfect closer, synthesizing the EP’s sonic elements while maintaining its own distinct identity.
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Throughout “Big Things,” JJ Sweetheart demonstrates remarkable range in both songwriting and vocal ability. The EP moves seamlessly from contemplative moments to more uplifting passages, all while maintaining a cohesive sound that blends contemporary production with authentic emotional expression. Each track builds upon the last, creating a complete journey.
We had an opportunity to talk to JJ Sweetheart about his new release and more. If you are curious about his journey, then keep reading.
1. Hey JJ Sweetheart. Welcome to Sinusoidal! Your upcoming EP “Big Things” has a deeply intimate feel. What’s the story behind the title and the themes that run through it?
A: I am very glad you say that because that is exactly what I was hoping to achieve! All the songs on this record are deeply personal to me and have a lot of lore. Usually I am very hands off on the mixing process because if I am given the controls I will just soak everything in reverb, turn up the gain and play 15 guitar solos in the background. That’s really what happened here. Cinnamom is the one exception on the record because that’s my baby and I wanted it to sound larger. So I put that one in Coleman from Coast Moderns hands to produce and he made it sound great while staying true to the vibe of the other tracks. I named the record Big Things because I am in a really good headspace right now and I just keep trying to manifest things. So if I call my record Big Things. Live laugh love, it’s only up from here baby?
2. This World” opens the EP with shimmering textures and immersive riffs. What emotions were you channeling when you wrote and composed it?
A: I was in the TRENCHES. This song I wrote after I managed to convince myself there was a romantic relationship developing out of what I now realize was absolutely nothing. But IT FELT REAL. I am actually impressed with my talent as a yearner looking back on that. I feel like my life needs drama and passion at all times and if there is none I will just make it out of thin air. Sorry to all my friends who experienced that side of me. I was pretty insufferable.
3. “Cinnamom” feels like it straddles melancholy and hope. How do you approach balancing heavy themes with an uplifting vibe?
A: So that song has a really cool story and it might explain some of those themes. Cinnamom was the first song I had written in a four year drought of creativity where I was investing 100% of my energy in my job at the time which was Wildlife Rehabilitation. Which isn’t always as cute as it sounds. You deal with A LOT of sad cases and just in general the success rates of saving an injured animal is not great. So you meet a lot of cute critters but it doesn’t always go the way you would hope. All of my emotions and energy were invested into this and it led me to get so burned out that I had to quit my job and do the most drastic thing I could think of. Which was basically just “Into The Wild” desert edition. I bought a ticket to Arizona from Minnesota to solo hike this 1,000 mile long trail called the Arizona Trail. It took me almost four months and I came real close to dying a couple times. That’s where I wrote This World, Feral Feelings, and Too the Grave. But Cinnamom I wrote before leaving when I was filled with a lot of different emotions and there definitely was some hope in there. But I named it Cinnamom because there was a really cute cinnamon colored opossum that came into my work that happened to be a mom that I called Cinnamom. So that’s that story. Are people usually so dramatic in these interviews I feel like I’m being very extra. If you want to get an idea of some of the scenery from this adventure I have two music videos on youtube right now.
4. There’s a deep sense of contemplation in “Cinnamom,” exploring themes of anxiety, existential doubt, and self-worth. What inspired you to delve into these topics? Were there any personal experiences that shaped the narrative?
A: I guess to continue on my rant about the Arizona Trail and preparing to leave and do it. There was a lot of self doubt. I had very little self worth before leaving but I proved a lot to myself by doing it. You also nailed the anxiety part! I get really bad panic attacks and I was diagnosed with agoraphobia when I was in my early twenties. Mental health is a really important thing to me, and I have also been in therapy for a long time so it feels natural to talk openly about it. So by default I like to write about it.
5. Did any of the songs undergo significant changes from their original concept to the final version we hear on “Big Things?”
A: Yes!! A Lot of the lyrics and vocals were recorded on my phone… like in my tent. Coyotes screaming in the background. It was kind of a nightmare to mix! Heart Medal was actually the first song I ever wrote. I decided to re-record that one because Big Things is really just about this self resurrection and the reemergence of my desire to create music again. So I wanted to just totally restart from the beginning and see if I could rework some songs I wrote when I was just a pup, now that I am a big dawg.
6. What do you hope listeners take away from “Big Things”—both musically and emotionally?
A: I just want everyone to know that I went like three days eating only mashed up acorns and pine nuts with hot sauce. I mean I was really was out there living feral. All for you. I will do anything for you.
7. After years in the scene with Howler and France Camp, you’re now stepping into the spotlight as JJ Sweetheart. What inspired this reinvention?
A: I guess just exploring my ability to record my own stuff. I think creating with other musicians will always be the most fulfilling art form for me so I appreciate both those projects for what they were. The drummer from France Camp Tom Mandery (AKA Kyle) played drums on Cinnamom and will be playing live with me. I am currently still getting my creative outlet fix with other musicians from this project called Prim Woes. Me and two lovely little lambs write and perform together in that. We have a little EP that is in the finishing touches phase.
8. What’s next for JJ Sweetheart?
A: I really like this process of songwriting. Throw myself into an insane sink or swim man vs wild situation and see what crazy ass songs my brain writes to cope with the trauma. So if 1,000 miles got me an EP, I will have to do 2,000 miles to get a full album. I am looking at the Appalachian trail for this next adventure. Some deep south haunted hillbilly folk will be channeled. Also, PRIM WOES 2025.
Enjoy listening to “Big Things” by JJ Sweetheart here.
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