JJ (Swedish band)

JJ, styled as jj, is a Swedish band who has released music through the Gothenburg-based independent label Sincerely Yours and the Bloomington, Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian.[1][2] The band consists of Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander.[3]

This article is about the Swedish band. For the 1990s band featuring Jan Johnston, see JJ (band). For other uses, see JJ.
JJ
OriginVallentuna, Stockholm county, Sweden
GenresIndie pop, dream pop, Balearic beat, hip hop
Years active2009–present
LabelsSincerely Yours
Secretly Canadian
MembersJoakim Benon
Elin Kastlander

History

jj met in their hometown of Vallentuna, outside of Stockholm, and began playing together at a local youth center.[4] They released their debut jj n° 1 in early 2009 and a couple of months later they released their debut album jj n° 2.[5] Both the debut single and the debut album received a Best New Music inclusion from Pitchfork Media with ratings of 8 and 8.6 respectively.[6]

On December 24, 2008, it was announced that the American record label Secretly Canadian had signed jj to their roster. At the same time, the release date for jj's second full-length album was slated. The album, named jj n° 3, was released in the United States and Sweden on March 9, 2010.[7] jj works with both Sincerely Yours and Secretly Canadian, depending on the location, and hence didn't leave Sincerely Yours for Secretly Canadian.

Aside from their official releases, jj has also done several covers and new takes on contemporary songs. For example, they've recorded covers of Akon's "Troublemaker", Jeremih's "Birthday Sex" and the "Theme Song" for the Welcome Back, Kotter TV-series. All of these were released for free on the internet, making it similar to a mixtape.[8]

From March to April 2010, jj was on a nationwide tour in the United States with the British band The xx.[9] Following the US tour, jj went on a minor tour through Europe with dates in Italy, France and Belgium among others.[10]

jj's next release, following jj n° 3, was a mixtape named Kills.[11] It was released as a free download on Christmas Eve 2010, at Sincerely Yours website.[12][13]

In late March 2011, jj collaborated with fellow Swedish artist Yves Saint Lorentz to make an official remix of Rebecca & Fiona's single "Bullets". The remix was named "The End of the World".[14]

jj's song "My Life" from jj n° 3 was featured in an official trailer for Battlefield 3 that was released in April 2011.[15]

In summer 2011, jj collaborated with the American R&B singer Ne-Yo and released the song "We Can't Stop" as part of the Adult Swim Singles Program 2011.[16] Later in 2011, they were involved in another collaboration with American rapper Don Trip to make the song "Cheers (jj’s Save Our Souls Remix)" for the magazine The Fader.[17]

In September 2013 they collaborated with Adrian Lux on the song "Wild Child".[18]

In May 2014, jj announced their third studio album entitled V, as in jj n° 5. At the same time they released the single "All White Everything" from the album. V was released on August 19, 2014.[19]

On August 12, 2015, jj released the EP "Death" consisting of five new songs.[20]

Discography

Studio albums

Mixtapes

Singles and EPs
  • "jj n° 1" (2009)
  • a jj 12" (2009)
  • "jj n° 4" (2012)
  • High Summer (2012)
  • Death (2015)

References
  1. Pitchfork The Playlist: jj "my life, my swag" Archived 2009-04-16 at the Wayback Machine
  2. jj n° 2 (Sincerely Yours 2009) Archived 2009-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
  3. jj let them
  4. Kramer, Kyle (2014-09-15). "JJ's Having a Sad but Fun Party in the Middle of Nowhere". Vice. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  5. FACT magazine: Music and art
  6. Pitchfork: Album Review: jj n° 2
  7. Exclaim News: JJ Sign with Secretly Canadian, Ready New LP for Spring Release
  8. Sincerely Yours Archived 2009-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Pitchfork: xx to Tour With jj
  10. "jj Tours Europe This May News : Secretly Canadian". Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  11. jj Back with Mixtape and Fourth LP Archived 2010-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Gorilla vs. Bear - jj releases Kills
  13. jj Kills (Sincerely Yours 2010) Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "Rebecca & Fiona – Bullets (Jj's the End of the World Remix) | HipHopCube". Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  15. jj My Life - Battlefield 3 Trailer Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Listen: Jj Collaborate with Ne-Yo". Pitchfork. 2 August 2011.
  17. "Don Trip – "Cheers (Jj's Save Our Souls Remix)"". 6 December 2011.
  18. "Buy Anabolic Steroids Online - USA Steroids for Sale".
  19. "WATCH // JJ – 'V' Trailer, Album Out 8/19 on Secretly Canadian/Sincerely Yours Blog :: Secretly Canadian". Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  20. "Listen to jj's DEATH EP".
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