Just Jaded Weekly

June 4th, 2021

Written By: Joanna Serrano

New Music Monday: Ocean Heights

Originating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ocean Heights is a bedroom pop artist who began his musical journey back in 2016. He is also the newest artist on the VH Management roster! Justin Wilkerson is the voice behind Ocean Heights, and his smooth, Daniel Caesar and Khalid-like vocals will have you hooked! The artist’s unique sound pulls inspiration from both new and vintage musical influences.

His newest single "PROB" dropped on May 28th of 2021. This upbeat and vibey track is the perfect new addition for your summer playlists. This is the artist’s first release of 2021, and we are glad to see his return! The story behind the new single stems from common adolescent difficulties both in love and everyday life, and the feelings that go along with it. 

Prior to this release, he has also dropped two additional singles in 2020, "Randy" and Profiled". The artist has yet to release any EP’s, but has released a debut album back in 2017, titled Flight.

Be sure to stay updated with Ocean Heights on his artist account, @ocbhts on Instagram, and VH Management, @vhmgmnt on Instagram! I am hopeful that a new album is in the card’s for this amazing artist, and can not wait to hear what new music comes along next!

Artist Rec Friday: Girl in Red

In honor of June being Pride month, we here at Jaded Productions have decided to dedicate every Artist Rec Friday, as well as New Music Monday, to artists of the LGBTQ+ community. Our entire team is supportive of all members of the community, and we are beyond excited to highlight some amazing artists!

This week, we’ve decided to highlight the young Norweign star Girl in Red, otherwise known as Marie Ulven Ringheim. The 22-year-old indie pop singer-songwriter rose to fame through the release of her debut single, “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend”, on SoundCloud in November of 2016. 

Not only did Ringheim self-write and produce her music right from her childhood bedroom at the young age of 17, but she pushed boundaries with her romantic tracks aimed towards the same sex and using female pronouns. The young star quickly became a prominent force in the LGBTQ+ community. One song in particular that skyrocketed her career is her 2018 single “Girls”, which is featured as the ending track on her debut EP, Chapter 1. This queer anthem describes the common internal conflict for those coming to terms with, and accepting, their sexuality; with lyrics such as, “But it’s too hard to resist… No, this is not a phase”.

Ringheim’s career was also positively impacted by the rise of the popular social media platform TikTok. Her 2018 single, “We Fell in Love in October”, trended on the app nearly two years after it’s release. The artist has also been deemed as a symbol of queerness on the app. The phrase, “Do you listen to Girl in Red?” became a popular way for others to communicate if they were a member of the LBGTQ+ community. I myself knew what the phrase meant before ever having listened to her music!

The artist recently released her debut album, If I Could Make it Go Quiet, on April 30th of 2021. The album holds 11 tracks, including her hit single “Serotonin”. Are you a fan of artists like Clairo, Cavetown, and Mxmtoon? Then check out Girl in Red! And be sure to stay tuned for more highlights on some amazing LGBTQ+ artists!

The Return of Live Events

Live shows. The feeling of anxiety when counting down the days until your next show. The need for choosing the perfect outfit in case you’re put on the jumbotron, or the off chance that your favorite artist actually spots you among the thousands of screaming fans. The adrenaline when the venue lights drop, and the screams fill the room as the artist makes their grand entrance onto the stage. 

These are all irreplaceable feelings when attending a live show. The feeling of being in a room full of people who get you, people who all share at least one similar interest as you, and are all there to just have a good time. I’m sure I am not the only one who is itching for the chance to stress about whether I buy my merch before or after the show, because I want to ensure I get as close as possible to the stage.

After a year and a half with no live events, it is beyond exciting to see their return! It has already been seen through awards shows such as the Grammys, the Brits, and the iHeartRadio Music Awards, which have all begun reimplementing live studio audiences. It is also exciting to see the return of popular music festivals, such as EDC Las Vegas, Chicago’s Lollapalooza, and eventually Coachella Music Festival.

There are many aspects of live events that I am sure will never be the same. One of which being general admission pit seats, for example. Anyone who has been lucky, or unlucky, enough to experience a general admission concert knows the chaos that comes along with them. This may include extreme body-to-body contact, mosh pits, claustrophobia, and dehydration. Some individuals might even experience extremities such as fainting, or other external injuries. 

However, after many conversations with fellow regular concert goers and lovers, it seems we all can not wait for the chaos to return. At the end of the day, what makes these experiences worth it is the artist we are there to see.

With the return of live events, many are still uncertain how these venues will implement their new safety regulations. How can a general admission pit be 6 feet apart? Will face masks cause a higher likelihood of an increased amount of fainting? 

Will I be there to witness it? You bet I will!

For many individuals, like myself, live events were a main source of joy and excitement. Nowhere else can you obtain those indescribable feelings of finally seeing an artist you’ve admired for years, or screaming the words to your favorite song with your best friend and being surrounded with thousands of others who are doing the same thing. There is a feeling of community at live events, which allow such a deep level of self-expression.

After what feels like a lifetime, we can finally say they are making their return, and my wallet is already suffering (in the best way). Is there a concert or event you’re looking forward to? Let us know!