Jacob Cummings is an LA-based producer, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter, who is set to release his highly anticipated solo debut album, ‘Southern & Enlightened’. The record marks Cummings’ first project to feature his vocals, building upon his previous instrumental work in 2020’s Slow Paradise and 2021’s Fishing from Heaven.
Drawing inspiration from his upbringing in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and the cherished memories of his grandmother’s home, Southern & Enlightened is a journey through time, family, and the coastal soundscapes of his youth. He then spent a month in his late grandmother’s home before it was set to be demolished, recording the album in full. That intimate setting, paired with the sombre task of going through her belongings, created the emotional foundation for the album. The music, much like the house itself, feels timeless and worn, with textures that evoke old wood, sea breezes, and the Atlantic waves lapping at the shore.
‘Southern & Enlightened’ blends indie folk with experimental, genre-blurring arrangements, reminiscent of LA’s storied psychedelic scene. Yet, there’s a unique Atlantic influence running through the record that fans of Real Estate and Beach House will immediately recognise. Cummings’ songs are lush with intricate instrumentals and rich with nostalgia, evoking both the personal and the universal. The album explores heavy themes like family, loss, and the passage of time, but balances them with Jacob’s deeply thoughtful arrangements and atmospheric sensibilities.
The lead single, ‘Big Ol’ Deer’, serves as a stunning introduction to Cummings’ melancholic yet experimental sound. The track is an acoustically driven indie folk gem that’s both intimate and expansive, conjuring comparisons to Bon Iver and Pinegrove. Written and recorded during his time at his grandmother’s home, the song captures both the sadness of the past and the beauty of transformation. It’s a deeply personal piece, brought to life with Cummings’ signature blend of lush instrumentation and evocative melodies.
Other highlights from ‘Southern & Enlightened’ include ‘Incarnations’, an upbeat indie folk track that leans more into Cummings’ experimental side, and ‘Joan’, a dreamy and wistful reflective journey that encapsulates the album’s themes of home, memory, and impermanence.
Adding to the album’s unique impact, ‘Southern & Enlightened’ is accompanied by a full video, shot and directed by Cummings in Florida. The visuals mirror the music’s tactile nature, bringing the record’s themes of place and memory to life on screen for what promises to be a special record.
