After the release of their highly praised 2014 album Word Got Out, folk-noir duo Jep & Dep (Jessica Cassar and Darren Cross) are following up with their latest full-length THEY'VEBEENCALLED. Recorded at Cross' Bernstein Studios, the album tackles a hearty number of obscure though oft relevant social issues.
"There are a few themes running throughout the album," Cassar asserts, "the utter disapproval of gentrification, missing rich kids in reservoirs, tumultuous relationships ending with euphoric sadness, the passing of loved ones." She adds that the album is also "dark, romantic, real and seeps into the room like a familiar haunting ghost."
Gentrification appears to be a pressing topic for Jep & Dep, so much so that most of the recording of their most recent LP "took place between 12am to 5am to avoid the aircraft noise and gentrification of Newtown."
Of their latest single Helpless City, Cassar goes so far as to label it an "anti-gentrification song". "We just completed the film clip and it looks spectacular," tells Cassar. "We used drones to film ourselves amongst these environments. It looks amazing, like a noir version of Breaking Bad without the drugs."
With their album launch just around the corner, expect to see a slight twist added to their live shows. "When we perform live we also use a traditional folk set-up, two vocals and one guitar," Cassar enthuses, "if the crowd are attentive this can be a very powerful experience… the words and nuances can be very moving."
