By John-Paul Shiver
Los Angeles recording artist Ramona Gonzalez, who produces and performs under the moniker Nite Jewel, was at one time labeled as a member of the whole “chillwave” movement of recording artists. The lazy term was primarily used as a way to describe music that does not easily fit into one category. Hence, it’s not disposable or immediately identifiable upon a first listen.
With her recent self-produced release, Liquid Cool, out on Gloriette Records, Gonzalez manufactures a nine-track left field pop record that soars somewhere near the ephemeral synth royalty of Yaz, while packing the lyrical snark of Morrissey during his Suedehead era.
The lead track “Kiss The Screen” is a satirical observation of how society has become so enamored of cell phone activity via apps, likes and retweets. That it rules out any possibility of actual intimacy with a human being. A sentiment that the video for “Kiss The Screen” portrays in playful fashion.
It would be safe to say that the track “Boo-Hoo” would fit right at home on a playlist somewhere between the cold wave chill of the group Teen and and the slick r&b of Startchild & The New Romantic.
Nite Jewel has collaborated with E-40’s son, Droop-E for the 2013 single “N in the Traffic”, and this years’s Euphoria EP as AMTHST.
The track “Can You Read Me”, released in 2015, is a mid-tempo crusher with proper Janet Jackson vibes in tact. Look for a Nite-Funk EP to be released in July.
https://play.spotify.com/album/7hkC66iggqfMBbsJE8dE0F
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/liquid-cool/id1081054526
https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Cool-Nite-Jewel/dp/B01BG511AK
or your local record store
Tour Dates
US:
6/29 El Cid (Los Angeles, CA)
7/6 BAR (New Haven, CT)
7/7 Baby’s All Right (Brooklyn, NY)
7/8 The Garrison (Toronto, ON)
7/28 Soda Bar (San Diego, CA)
7/30 Brick & Mortar Music Hall (San Francisco, CA)
EU: September-October (announcing soon)
