Amid the varied rhythms and echoed lyrics that fill our contemporary soundscape, one soundtrack has steadily emerged. It’s the characteristic pulse of Vancouver-based trio The Jins and their album, “It’s a Life,” now available through 604 Records. This collection, with its sturdy grasp on rock ‘n roll, has left a firm impression on the scene, announcing the band’s continued presence. Ready for the next phase of their journey, The Jins prepare to move forward with an air of contained excitement and a practiced professionalism.
Formed in 2015, The Jins are a force to be reckoned with. Comprised of Ben Larsen (vocals, guitar), Hudson Partridge (bass), and Jamie Warnock (drums, vocals), the band has not only headlined a North American tour but also shared stages with luminaries such as Hockey Dad, Rare Americans, and Buckcherry.
The release of “It’s a Life” sets a new standard for The Jins. “We’re more than just a grunge revival band, which is what a lot of people peg us as online,” asserts Larsen. “We want to display more influences and styles of music, we’ve been listening to rock music our whole lives and there’s so much to explore in the genre. We want to free ourselves from any preconceptions of what the band should sound like and see where that takes us.”
Bursting with vibrant, layered textures, “It’s a Life” marks a noticeable evolution in The Jins’ sound, building upon the ’90s-inspired guitar rock from their 2019 “Death Wish” EP. “The EP was a very concentrated sound that worked great for a five-song tracklist, but LPs get boring if it’s just the same song over and over,” Larsen notes, adding that “It’s a Life” offered them the opportunity to challenge themselves and explore new sounds.
The result? An album filled with greater substance and a deeper sense of identity.
Fans used to the old sound can be assured there’s still some angst with songs like “A Clue”. Larsen notes, “It felt like there’s been a lot of fans asking for ‘A Clue’ to be officially released for a while, so it was an easy choice for us. We actually recorded ‘A Clue’ way back in 2019, so it sounds a lot like our older stuff and it’s a good introduction to the new record if you’re only familiar with our EP.”
The band also explores new genres with tracks like “Clementine” and “Jin Sabbath”, drawing from softer, acoustic influences and heavier, thrashier ones respectively. Moreover, songs like “Crossroads” display an introspective, contemplative side of the band, painting a poignant picture of the passing nature of relationships.
Instrumental in bringing this nuanced, expansive vision to life was producer Dave Genn. Larsen lauds his contributions, stating, “Dave has been really important to the band since we joined 604 records…He’s a real get-the-job-done kind of guy in the studio, which is great because I am typically a really disorganized person.”
Additionally, having Adam Kasper mix the album brought a distinctive flair. According to Larsen, Kasper was contacted by Jonathan Simkin, their record label owner, and the band was instantly blown away by his preliminary mixes.
Even though their interaction was limited to online correspondence due to the constraints of the pandemic, Larsen expressed a desire to delve deeper into Kasper’s experiences with stalwarts such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Given the chance, he admits, “Those would be the first things I would love to talk to him about…Hopefully in the future we’ll all get a beer together or something.”
Discussing their signature ’90s-inspired sound, Larsen acknowledges that the band’s evolution doesn’t mean completely abandoning their roots. “I think we just sound like the 90’s not because we’re trying to, but because it is a very basic, easy to learn/easy reward kind of rock music…But that pop/grunge style will always be at the heart of the band.” This authentic balance between honoring their origins and embracing progression is the musical crux of “It’s a Life”.
Creating the album was not without its challenges. Recording in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic meant navigating a labyrinth of uncertainty. However, facing this adversity only made The Jins more resilient and excited for future studio sessions.
When it came to the recording process for “It’s a Life”, the band prioritized spontaneity and creativity. They rented out Hipposonic, a big studio space, for the initial stages and later moved to producer Dave Genn’s space. Surrounded by a treasury of vintage guitars, they relished in the opportunity to experiment with different sounds and create an expansive sonic landscape. “It’s really where we had the most fun making the record…mostly we were just having fun and hanging out, trying to make the songs sound as cool as they could be,” Larsen shares.
The buzz around the song “Metro” testifies to the band’s ever-growing popularity, partly credited to their newfound TikTok audience. This raw and robust track was written just three weeks before being recorded, illustrating the band’s ability to capture the electricity of the moment.
Writing lyrics for the album, Larsen reveals, was a cathartic process, guided by personal frustrations and a need for authenticity. This approach mirrored the band’s growth since its inception in 2015, with an increased willingness to explore new avenues without losing sight of their fundamental ethos.
The emotional depth of “It’s a Life” reflects a level of personal vulnerability unprecedented for The Jins. Larsen candidly states, “It’s pretty scary pouring your heart out over your lyrics and putting it all out on a record.” This courage to expose their emotional core has resulted in a record that resonates profoundly with their listeners.
In terms of hidden ‘easter eggs’ in “It’s a Life”, Larsen jestingly suggests, “If you play the record backwards, it plays It’s a Life in reverse.”
The intriguing album artwork, a collective effort by Larsen and Hudson, encapsulates their love for live performances and travels. It illustrates their life on tour through a whimsical, Sim City-style representation of North America.
Looking to the future, Larsen notes a keen interest in devoting more time to the songwriting process for their next record. While he acknowledges the benefits of quick composition — it lends a certain rawness and urgency to their music — he sees value in a more calculated approach as well.
Wrapping up the conversation about “It’s a Life”, Larsen clarifies that their intention was never to teach a life lesson to listeners. Rather, they hope to provide a sonic universe that fans can vibe with, relate to, and find solace in. Their invitation is simple and profound: “We’re inviting you into our world, come and hang out, we’re all experiencing this crazy existence together, it’s a life!”
Visit The Jins online at thejins.ca.
