If you’ve heard any sort of ska cover in the last few years, there’s a good chance it came out of Skatune Network, the covers project/YouTube channel of Jeremy Hunter (AKA JER). The multi-instrumentalist from Gainsville, Florida has kept busy over the past few years putting out a non-stop catalog of two-tone takes on emo hits, Christmas classics, cartoon themes and more, alongside trombone duties for We Are The Union. It’s pretty much impossible to miss Hunter’s presence in modern ska today—largely due to the fact that they’ve played a massive part in the genre’s resurgence.
Whether you know them or not, though: JER’s debut solo album Bothered / Unbothered (out May 27) is sure to please. With their first release, JER blends a masterful understanding of ska with their own special blend of hip-hop, trap, and synth sounds. The first single “Clout Chasers” perfectly showcases what the future of ska can (and should) sound like; listen below.
“‘Clout Chasers’ expresses my disdain for the ridiculousness of cool guy™ culture in the diy music scene (and industry as a whole),” JER says of the track. “We put people and platforms on pedestals for creating a cool kids club, rather than sharing people’s art because its good, and uplifting each other to create a dope community… It really feels disingenuous when people only give us the time of day because they see we have clout. I wanted this video and song to be a slap in the face to the countless people In the music industry who only build these fake relationships to advance themselves.”
The full album drops May 27; vinyl and digital pre-orders are available now via Bad Time Records. Check out the album artwork, the track list, and tour dates below (and if you like what you’re hearing, be sure to catch JER’s Chicago show with Kill Lincoln, June 2 at Reggies).
JER
BOTHERED / UNBOTHERED
Bad Time Records
Release Date: May 27, 2022
- BOTHERED
- You Got Yr —- Card Revoked!
- Clout Chasers!
- Cold Truth
- Decolonize Yr Mind
- Garden of Understanding
- Maybe…
- You Can Get It If You Really Want
- Nobody Can Dull My Sparkle
- UNBOTHERED
JER Tour Dates (w/ Kill Lincoln):
6/2 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies (w/ Dissidente)
6/3 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Stache (w/ Dissidente)
6/4 – Detroit, MI @ Smalls (w/ Dissidente)
6/5 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Funhouse (w/ Dissidente)
6/7 – Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA (w/ The Best of the Worst)
6/8 – Brooklyn, NY @ St Vitus (w/ The Best of the Worst)
6/9 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Saint (w/ The Best of the Worst)
6/10 – Boston, MA @ Crystal Ballroom (w/ The Best of the Worst & Secret Spirit)
6/11 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat (w/ Bad Operation)
Photo by Rae Mystic
