‘I met you in another life
I loved you in a different time’.
‘Younger’ by GEMZ (2024)
Let’s start by introducing GEMZ, namely a musical duo consisting of Californian-based vocalist, Jen Wood, and musician/producer, Ted Chen. Jen released nine solo releases between 1993 and 2014, including a stint as guest vocalist with Seattle band, The Postal Service. Prior to that, in 1992 and aged only fifteen, Jen co-formed a musical duo called Tittle Tattle, releasing their first album in 1993 and another in 1995. Another single, ‘Moments’ was also released in 2021 and remixed in 2022.
Meanwhile, Ted Chen began working in music twenty years ago, starting with a band called CMYK, formed with his sister, between 2004 and 2010. Also in 2004, Ted became involved with providing bass guitar and vocals with Seattle-based based band, The Stereo Future, where he signed with Delicious Label. Together, Jen and Ted created GEMZ and, while the original single, ‘Younger’ was released back in January, the LICK Remix is a recent release. According to Jen, the creative ‘birth’ of the single arrived back in 2017, inspired by a voice memo. This initial concept was then expanded upon by Ted in 2022, who shaped and moulded it into the final, 2024 release. Talking about initially hearing the single, Ted recalls, ‘When I listened to Jen’s voice memo of ‘Younger’ for the first time [in 2017], I could practically hear its final production. The lyrics and melody inspired such a vivid image and energy in my mind. I wanted to evoke a space that felt like an infinite loop, with sounds and textures appearing in and out from the edges – like, what would happen if you were listening to this song while time traveling’.
Of their creative collboration, Jen says, ‘ She states: ‘This was a slow process of Ted and me building this song out, bit by bit, with thoughtfulness, love, and attention towards cultivating the sincerest, most epic, energetic signature. Taking our time to grow this song was a beautiful process and I really hope that people who hear it will truly enjoy the experience. The song is about “Loving life again, through the eyes and spirit of your younger self, before all the fucked-up shit happened to you. When we do the work and heal, it brings us back to the innocence and wisdom of a child. The pure heart of a younger version of yourself never dies’.
So, onward to the remix of ‘Younger’. The original single is a fascinating, melodic piece of electro, with a captivating beat, layered synths and Jen’s awesome vocals to tie everything together. It’s very addictive and has been genuinely fun to review, as it’s involved looping the song; a pleasurable experience for sure.
While the original single used short, tuneful samples of Jen’s voice for the introduction, the remix takes a new stance, introducing a gradual synth fade-in with Jen’s voice coming in much sooner; this time accompanied by a a new (and mesmerising) synth riff/arpeggio, that truly compliments the vocals, alongside a heavier, deeper bass drum tempo. The lyrics are captivating and Jen’s voice simply draws the listener into the song on both versions, but I also really like Ted’s synth additions which add a little extra punchiness to proceedings, compared to the more orchestral (yet very tight) production on the original single.
Hopefully, this new, highly-accomplished duo will produce many more musical delights in the near future.
Link to more information on GEMZ, via REYBEE INC: https://www.reybee.com/gemz/
Article by Kevin J Milsom
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