Genre-bending artist Kent Jamz, formerly of Overdoz, has released his new EP FEARvia Epic Records.
The project was born from his time at a rehabilitation facility in Ojai, a small town located in Southern California. He spent two years recording it while he was trekking his way to sobriety. It includes production by K. Roosevelt, Jarius Mozee, Gwen Bunn, James Earl and Esai.
FEARis introspective, vulnerable and triumphant. Opening with “Demon Days,” Jamz is trapped in a well of darkness after the demise of a relationship. He tries to grapple with the reality of his ex moving on while enduring the ache of longing. “Shouldn’t have let you walk away / Nothing but, demon days since you went away,” he croons.
“Renegade” glides on a breeze of possibility, as Jamz manifests an unconditional love. “I wanted to write about how I wanted to be love,” he explained. “Renegade’ represents a person loving me, standing up for my character, and investing in my growth. No matter what mistakes I’ve made.”
“Renegade” was the first song Jamz wrote after completing his 60-day stay at the addiction treatment center. “I finally found a sense of peace, and after I left rehab in Ojai, I went to the studio!” he noted. “I knew that people’s perception of me was most likely not accurate, and when I thought about finally loving myself, I knew this was the type of love I wanted and deserved.”
The desire to love and be loved continues throughout “Affirmation”: “I got used to putting me first / I got used to loving myself, but now I want a girlfriend.”
The penultimate title track gradually builds from airy acoustics to gritty electric guitar. On the six-minute confessional, Jamz sorts through lingering feelings from a past love, wondering if she shares the same ache. “Wonder if you cried in your sleep, wonder if you ever let me go,” he sings.
Closing with “Mi Sombra,” which means “my shadow,” Jamz steps into the light, overcoming fear and finding comfort in solitude.
Speaking on FEAR, Jamz exclusively tells Rated R&B, “I was raised on rhythm and blues, on the kind of music that teaches you to feel everything. Heartbreak taught me who I was, solitude taught me who I could be and FEAR is what it sounds like when I fell back in love with myself.”
FEARfollows Jamz’s 2022 album,Fanclub, which featured collaborations with A$AP Ferg, Buddy, and GoodJoon.
Stream Kent Jamz’s new EP FEAR below.