When it comes to local-music coverage, the Jacksonville Music Experience team is not exactly playing the betting markets. Sure, we keep our ears to the ground. Roll the dice on new music. But we’re not really making predictions about which artist or song will soon reach the ears of listeners beyond our area code.
Among this year’s list of our favorite local songs are several artists whose work we’ve championed in the past. A few of them had a fairly monumental 2024. Sailor Goon, who made our list of artists to watch way back in 2022, dropped the Goon and re-emerged as SAILORR, scoring a viral hit with the song (and video for) “Pookie’s Requiem.” Flipturn, the ascendent Jax indie band who we’ve covered incessantly over the last couple of years, teased a forthcoming follow up to their breakout 2022 Dualtone debut while performing sold-out shows across the country. Duval drummer, and irregular JME contributor, Ulysses Owens Jr. dropped a new album with his band Generation Y, which ended up topping the Jazz Week Charts for nearly a dozen weeks.
Those splashy success stories are just a small part of 2024’s broader local-music narrative. Dozens of Jacksonville-area artists released new music this year. Few of those releases enjoyed significant streams. But you don’t have to go viral or sell out venues to make an impact. It just takes one listener.
The following list of local songs includes few “hits” in the traditional sense. But, for one JME contributor or another, they all hit. Without further ado, here’s two-dozen or so of our favorite locally-made songs released in 2024, listed in alphabetical order by artist name. (And a Spotify playlist above if you’re into that.)–Matthew Shaw
Bonnethead – “Dive”
Local trio Bonnethead describe their sound as “shark rock,” and it fits: “Dive” has all the urgency of an entity that will die if it stops moving. Nick Garcia (Lost Club, Dog Apollo, Weekend Atlas) and company deliver a propulsive shoegaze adrenaline rush that drags you inexorably out to sea.–Scott Russell
Coyboi – “Time Away”
Jacksonville indie band Coyboi had a good year – opening big shows, including supporting slots at Downtown’s River Jams and for alt-indie band Of Montreal at Intuition, while releasing a couple of singles, including “Time Away,” a funk-R&B-smooth-jazz infused track about checking in and then checking out as a way to deal with recurrent mental-health issues.–Matthew Shaw
Jacob Cummings – “Joan”
Though he can no longer claim Sunshine State residency, the New-Smyrna-bred, University of North Florida grad Jacob Cummings remains a card-carrying member of the Duval music scene, and a cadre of Jax-based musicians appear across the 11 tracks of the multi-disciplinary artist’s debut full length, Southern & Enlightened. On “Joan,” one of several subaqueous abstract works from the record, Cummings is joined by Bobby Kids’ Brian Lester on drums, Landon Gay (AKA Howdy) on pedal steel and the singer-songwriter Corey Kilgannon on melodica, among others.–MS
Ducats – “Uggo Druggo”
This springtime release from Ducats was febrile and fertile, a stumbling post-shoegaze moan of reverb-slathered guitars and cryptic vocals that somehow found perfect footing as a somber, fever-dream rocker. Producer Glenn Van Dyke (Kairos Creature Club, Winterland Presents) adds just enough gilt to the Ducats’ innate murk to add some commendable sheen, leaving the eerie romance of “Uggo Druggo” perfectly intact.–Daniel A. Brown
Dillon & Batsauce with Kool Keith – “Ready on the Left”
This summertime offering from Dillon and Batsauce is a call to arms filled with tasteful production curveballs, with added gold-plated shine courtesy of none other than Kool Keith. A hybrid blend of Jacksonville-Atlanta-NYC hip-hop, “Ready on the Left” and the remainder of What Have We Done are all comforting reminders that progressive vibes reign supreme once again.–DAB
Ebonique – “VILLE-ains”
Jax singer-songwriter Ebonique’s 2024 full length, alterEBO, showcased her singular spin on Millennium-era R&B, shining a light on her dexterous vocal ability and providing a platform for a community of local artists. Case-in-point, the trap-beat-driven “Ville-ains” glistens with local love (neighborhood references, local landmarks), and deft features by fellow Jax singer Kenzie and Spiritxiii of Duval hip-hop collective L.O.V.E. Culture.–MS
Erica Reese – “Breakfast for Dinner”
If the party never ends, then when does it cease to be a celebration? With the delicious “Breakfast for Dinner,” singer-songwriter Erica Reese (Coastal Creature) captures both the highs and lows of being locked into an unbreakable cycle of self-indulgence. –SR
Willie Evans Jr. – “Anger”
Enduring Jacksonville emcee and producer Willie Evans, Jr. started the love month off strong with…”Anger”? Released in February, the song’s energetic lyrics fit on point with Tough Junkie’s production. And the subject matter? Let’s say that it has a loving-but-firm touch to it. Evans’ Good Grief Vol. 1: Love, has even more anti-love ballads to make the lovers bop.–Mr. Al Pete
Flipturn – “Rodeo Clown”
Since their debut for Dualtone Records, 2022’s Shadowglow, Fernandina-bred, Jacksonville-based indie-rock quartet Flipturn have ridden a wave of certifiable indie rock stardom, selling out increasingly larger venues and landing on the bills of some of the biggest music festivals. Released in October, “Rodeo Clown,” the first single from the group’s follow up effort (Burnout Days, out January 24 on Dualtone) features the band’s distinctive knack for hooks and foreshadows a new swell on the horizon.–Matthew Shaw
Huan – “Finer Things”
A local artist with a reputation for breezy, well-executed indie-pop, Huan – the project of Duval singer and multi-instrumentalist Juan Mallorca – distilled his laid-back approach on his 2024 single “Finer Things.” Arriving in February, it’s a listen that begs for more temperate climes; that is to say: perfect for those random weeks of 70-to-80-degree North Florida winter days.
Glass Chapel – “Alive”
If you wished on a monkey’s paw for love, you’d end up with “Alive”—its narrator is so enamored that nothing else in life can compare. “Because I only feel alive / I only, I only…” trails off frontman Jake Phillips (vocals, guitar, synth, drum machine), who, alongside Angela Sitzler (vocals, synth) and Nick Phitides (bass), crafts a darkly dreamy monument to obsession.–SR
The Julius Airwave – “Slow Erode”
“This is just a song, it doesn’t have to mean anything,” sang The Julius Airwave’s Rick Colado on “Tickle Me Penguin,” a song from the group’s 2004 album Dragons Are the New Pink. Nearly two decades after the group drew major label interest, Colado’s released tens-of-dozens of meaningful songs as rickoLus, and, beginning in 2023, a few new tunes with his former compatriots. Released as a single late last year and appearing on the just-released Prelude EP, “Slow Erode” is a good example of the band’s potent use of soft-loud dynamics, jangle-rock conventions and weighty, dare I say meaningful lyrics.–MS
Kairos Creature Club – “Good Company”
If dizziness and heat exhaustion could somehow be romanticized, it would sound like “Good Company,” by experimental collective, Kairos Creature Club. The track is buzzing with exquisite synths and snappy drums. I recommend listening to the whole album with some people you’re particularly fond of, or you know, good company.–Carissa Marques
KALE THAT RAPS – “READY TO WIN”
This jam from Duval-by-way-of-Daytona artist KALE THAT RAPS gives me victory feelings and makes me want to accomplish great things. As a vocalist, KALE knows how to navigate the pocket. And with “Ready To Win” from his 2024 full length, IT’S PERSONAL, he shows the audience how intentional of an artist he is.–MAP
K.UTIE – “All the Pretty Girls”
After a busy 2023 in which she released a solo album and a debut EP with Bright Purple – her soulful pop project with Jeremy Ryan – K.UTIE remained productive in 2024, dropping a half-dozen singles, including the anthemic emo-rock-leaning “All The Pretty Girls,” one of the catchiest tunes in the the singer-songwriter and violinist’s increasingly expansive catalog.–MS
Killer Larry – “Swamp Rascal”
Self-professed “swamp psych” locals Killer Larry offered up some frantic entheogenic-rock throttling with their summertime release “Swamp Rascal,” while also adding to the ever-crucial, boggy-Americana canon: Cautionary Swamp-Tale Songs.–DAB
Paten Locke – “OldWorldBlues”
Picking one song from Dance on My Grave, the posthumous 20-song collection of unreleased cuts from the vault of Duval producer, rapper and polymath, the late Paten Locke, is a fool’s errand. Pull up the tracklist on your preferred streaming platform (or better yet, purchase the album from prolific Jax/Atlanta label Full Plate’s BandCamp), close your eyes and point – your finger will land on something worth listening to. To my ears, the crackling samples, melodic flute line and Locke’s effortless flow on “OldWorldBlues” are, collectively, a fine example of Locke’s unrivaled skillset.–MS
Ulysses Owens Jr. and Generation Y – “Soulful”
Jacksonville native Ulysses Owens Jr. boasts an impressive career: Grammy Award winner, Juilliard School instructor, and musical collaborator with fellow jazz heavyweights like Christian McBride, Mulgrew Miller, Kurt Elling and Wynton Marsalis. But this year’s A New Beat features Owens Jr. guiding the next generation of jazz players through a set of reinterpretations and Owens Jr. originals, like “Soulful,” that deftly combines his roles as a musician, educator, and leader and into an impressive jazz release.–DAB
Patsy’s Daydream – “The Butterfly in the Valley”
Tianna Disalvo, Jax Beach’s #1 Patsy Cline enthusiast and lead singer of the tribute band, Patsy’s Daydream, released a single of her own in the style of the late country-music pioneer. With sweeping ethereal vocals and dreamy pedal steel guitar, “The Butterfly in the Valley” is a bittersweet tune about the love of those we’ve lost that’s still carried on after they leave the physical realm.–CM
ROADIE – “Ball of String”
The debut solo single from ROADIE, aka Bad Madonna’s Alexis Rhode, “Ball of String” is what growth looks—and sounds—like. Rather than looking to lay blame for a love gone wrong, Rhode seizes the opportunity to know herself better, with deliberate, surprising instrumentation to match her refusal to accept easy answers.–SR
Jeremy Ryan & Culture School – “Showtime”
Prolific local musician Jeremy Ryan stays with the work and the busy, uptempo jam “Showtime” is pure heat. The song from Ryan’s collaborative 2024 release with Culture School, Kobeshaq, is a regular on The Neighborhood show and was a heavy rotation during the spring and summer seasons. Even heavier when the seasons changed.–MAP
SAILORR – “Pookie’s Requiem”
As Sailor Goon, Duval-based singer-songwriter and artist Kayla Le seemed to emerge fully formed, with a singular sound and visual presentation. It was only a matter of time, and perhaps a name change, but Le struck viral gold as SAILORR with the song (and video for) “Pookie’s Requiem,” an inventive and swaggering R&B jam on which Le packs an unfathomable amount of creative flourishes into the song’s less-than-two-minute runtime. Sparked by a potent algorithmic brew – TikTok inserts, YouTube reaction videos – “Pookie’s” racked up nearly seven million streams on Spotify in the two months since its release.–MS
Sawpaw – “Different Sound”
A standout from St. Augustine alt-country trio Sawpaw’s self-titled debut album, “Different Sound” feels lived in and at ease, like a Southern-comfortable ode to taking it all in stride. Guitarist Andrew Virga, bassist Hunter Miller and drummer Jacob Hamilton have a sonic bond you can’t teach.–SR
Siichaq – “Shame”
Hypnotic, electric and captivating, the second track off of My Dog Ate My Patriotism, the debut album from ‘90s-grunge inspired band, Siichaq, is sure to lure you in. The track is best experienced live where you can feel the reverberating chorus bouncing back and forth through the room, but if you can’t catch a show, volume up in the car always works.–CM
Severed+Said – “Diminished Eternal”
After a decade plus of toiling away in the often-hermetic world of electronic music, Jax musician John Touchton released his most confident work as Severed+Said, the smoky ten-song End Time Loop. Of the many evocative, meditative gems, “Diminished Eternal” captures the certain anomalous atmospherics of Touchton’s compositions.–MS
Sun Child – “Waves”
The title-track from Jax-beaches-based indie-folk artist Brooke Garwood’s forthcoming new album as Sun Child expands on the evolution of the project, as well as the collaborative spirit of the neo-folk ensemble she’s assembled. “Waves” explores the process of self discovery, incorporating the ambience of healing sound bowls to tighten the track’s meditative, inward-looking focus.–MS
Jamison Williams – “Part I: Mysticism”
Duval denizen and firebrand free jazz saxophonist Jamison Williams is a longtime expat and peripatetic wanderer both musically and geographically (Williams currently calls Luxembourg home) who spent years decoding and deconstructing the music of the films of Walt Disney. In recent years he has focused solely on the Western Esoteric traditions of grimoire evocation and the occult: “Part I: Mysticism” finds Williams and bass guitarist Patrizia Finzi evoking some potent sonic crackle and roar, inspired by the teachings of mystical polymath Aleister Crowley.–DAB
More Local Songs (in no particular order): “Everything, All the Time” by The Loving Arms Race; “I Like” by Jordan Blackburn; “Juno” by Andre Gruber Trio; “Carver’s Gap” by Chris Rudasill; “The Fisher King” by Roy Peak; “Blank Page” by Souvenir & Light The Moon; “Tear My Arms Off” by Carmen; “Dog Bite” by Seagate; “Wild Remedy” by Babe Honey; “DuntSeeHerMuch” by Luci Lind
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