Artist Watch: Jungle

As 2013 becomes more and more of a distant memory and we settle into 2014, now seems a good time to start thinking about what the year has in store for new music. Which sounds will repeatedly play through our work and exams and form our summer playlists? One of the most exciting, original and downright cool bands to emerge in 2013 is Jungle. Despite still being relatively anonymous, a devoted internet following led to their London gig in December 2013 being sold out in less than twenty-four hours. Not bad for a band that has, so far, only released two singles and four songs. With their soulful and minimal yet undeniably catchy sound as well as an elusive persona, 2014 looks to be the year that this duo will move onto bigger and better things.

‘The Heat’, the second of their singles released last year, begins with the voiceover “Right on time…still gon’ bring the heat” and it’s hard to find a statement that sums up Jungle’s appeal more deftly. Their mix of danceable rhythms, neo-soul vocal narratives and funk sensibilities is not only a wholly original sound that could come to define this year but a style with an immediacy and “heat” that led me (and apparently all those who bought their tickets so quickly) to compulsively and repeatedly immerse myself in their limited discography. ‘The Heat’ and their other single, ‘Platoon’ as well as the two B-sides ‘Drops’ and ‘Lucky I Got What I Want’ are able to achieve the hard task of mixing many different genres and styles without becoming unnatural or convoluted. They are able to blend the essentials of dance, funk, soul and pop while retaining a distinctly simple and minimal tone. If that’s not to be admired, I’m not sure what is.

Despite still being relatively anonymous, a devoted internet following led to Jungle’s London gig in December 2013 being sold out in less than twenty-four hours.

So many bands nowadays are content to release a couple of singles and an album and be done with it. Jungle, on the other hand, seem intent on creating an overall artistic mood and persona to accompany and complement their sound. Their two self-directed videos easily match the duo’s sonic style and uniqueness and they are able to create a feel of simplicity while also oozing coolness. Equally important to Jungle’s image is the duo’s elusive and mysterious persona. Referring to themselves simply as J and T, their responses in interviews remain consistently vague and even comically absurd. In a recent interview with The Guardian, the two described themselves as “slim, toned, 6ft 4in and a little bit like Jude Law in Alfie”. While some might dismiss Jungle’s attempt to create an encompassing image as self-indulgent, it is hard to deny their commitment to creating something new.

Listening to Jungle, I’m hit by two separate thoughts. The first is that this sound is familiar and their incorporation of disparate genres sets off waves of nostalgia. At the same time, however, I cannot pinpoint a specific band that they echo. If a band is able to wear its influences on its sleeve while remaining completely original, then Jungle is clearly onto something.