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Photo By: Dev Dhunsi

After a long wait, Jimi Somewhere's debut album Nothing Gold Can Stay finally released this week. For the past few months, fans have been treated to various singles from the Norwegian artist, including "Jesus" with Kacy Hill, "In My Car," and most recently, "The World." Nothing Gold Can Stay marks the first full-length LP from Jimi Somewhere after almost five years of singles and EPs, and luckily this record is well worth the wait. Over the project's 12 tracks, Jimi Somewhere explores topics like self-doubt, love, trauma, and growing up through the lens of a very simple wisdom: that nothing lasts forever. Through Jimi's narrative, however, he takes this sentiment and makes a larger claim about what it means to move forward. Ultimately, Nothing Gold Can Stay advocates for living life in a way that is mindful, sensitive, and done with a sense of occasion.

Though only in his early-20's, Jimi Somewhere showcases an impressive set of talents and creative range on Nothing Gold Can Stay. Though Jimi has been labeled as 'indie-pop,' a term that we both agreed was limiting, it's difficult to assign his music to just one genre. Some moments are soft and acoustic, others explosive and anthemic. Certain tracks may evoke comparisons to Radiohead, others Roy Blair and Boy Pablo, or even the more vulnerable cuts from early Brockhampton records. Despite these parallels, there is no denying that Jimi Somewhere is truly an artist of his own, reflected clearly through his songwriting, vocal performances, and production. Tracks like "In My Car" and "Confidence" with Jon Waltz may seem poppy at first glance, but their infectiously catchy melodies hide complex song structures that constantly evolve to defy expectations. Jimi Somewhere's vocals function similarly, switching effortlessly between ethereal reverberation and electronic distortion at a moment’s notice. These two elements work in tandem with the record's dynamic production to produce a bevy of memorable moments, including the upbeat and abrasive “Bottle Rocket,” the washed-out and reflective guitar melodies on "Tears, 2016," and the narrative's turning point on "Wedding."

Thematically, this record sees Jimi Somewhere delving further into the topics that have dominated his music for the past few years. Nothing Gold Can Stay carries a narrative surrounding an internal identity crisis brought on by growing older, negative self-reflection, and a love reaching its expiration date. The first half of the album is full of both explicit and unspoken tension, an issue that is illuminated on "Jesus" with Kacy Hill. On the phone, Jimi told me that this track was emotionally "frustrating," equating Hill's contribution to a brief moment of peace and catharsis amongst his own emotional turmoil. This peace does not last, as Nothing Gold Can Stay is wrought with tracks full of fear of change, self-doubt, and a sense of powerlessness so metaphysical that make it almost feel claustrophobic just to be alive. Things take a turn on "Wedding," where amongst Jimi's anxiety of being a burden while life is passing him by, he finds inspiration both from those around him and within. His father's success beating cancer lets Jimi know he can do anything - he can be someone that others depend on, and he is capable of responsibility and success. Though there are still seeds of self-doubt in his writing, Jimi Somewhere lets love triumph over fear.

The final tracks of Nothing Gold Can Stay are cautiously optimistic as they look to the future, but their hopefulness culminates with the album-closer "Golden." This track opens with the line "So hold me / like it's the last / 'cause nothing gold can stay / and once the sun sets / we'll be left in the black." The very emotions that forced Jimi Somewhere to fall into his once dejected state are now the things that fuel his appreciation of life and his sense of occasion. With high-octane percussion and stadium-esque vocal layers that disappear just as quickly as they come, Jimi Somewhere celebrates his past, his present, and future. Though he knows that nothing lasts, Jimi Somewhere still feels fortunate to have experienced it at all.

Nothing Gold Can Stay is an incredible body of work from a young artist bursting with potential and wisdom beyond his years, but fans may be cautiously wondering whether or not his next record will take another 4 years to complete. Thankfully Jimi confirmed this was not the case on the phone, as he is well into production on his forthcoming sophomore record - though the release date is still TBD. In the meantime, it seems unlikely that fans will be pressuring Jimi Somewhere to hurry up, as Nothing Gold Can Stay is full of thoughtful and innovative tracks that will be sure to stay in their rotation for the foreseeable future.