The Answer Is is out now!
Image: Supplied.
Maitland-based Wiradjuri producer and DJ, Just A Gent has dropped his new album, The Answer Is. To celebrate, the musician is taking us through the collection of songs track-by-track.
THE ANSWER IS
The Answer Is is more than just an album, it's a reflection of my journey through life, a translation of my emotions and ideas into sound. It all began with one question, and as I embraced creative freedom, that question unfolded into countless meanings. Each track represents a step along the way, offering a unique perspective on my path and the answers I’ve discovered. This album is my story, told through sound, with every note and frequency containing a piece of the puzzle I've been trying to unfold.
EXISTENCE
Each of us experience such a wildly different reality, but how many times have we existed? could it just be a loop that keeps on spinning? Is it all a test? Georgie and I were just getting deep, getting a bit spiritual before we started making music that day and this was the result.
STILL SEARCHING
I definitely don't have all the answers and the exciting part of life is not knowing everything, it means we get to seek out and learn whatever knowledge for the first time. I will be forever curious and questioning the nature of all things as should anyone. Should have called this one Yhprum's Law. Like with most of the record I let it just this one flow and become what it wanted, it basically wrote itself.
3
This was the first tune that bloomed the album. The album was gonna be called 3, it's my third album (in my mind because technically stories to tell was an EP). It's been the magic number for me for quite a few years so it just felt special. To me it just means go with the flow, It wasn't until I got deep into the album idea that I realised all the songs were coming from this curiosity and yearning for more understanding and The Answer Is was born. The whole concept of just going with the flow was really the initial root idea and this song 3 was the first creation. Pure flow vibes
A WORLD OF MY OWN
I love this track, originally made this with my friends Jeremy & Loren in LA at Pirate Studios in 2022. I was sitting on this chord progression and melody (bit different to the one here) and Jeremy and I were kinda building that out and just from hearing what we were doing Loren wrote the entire vocal in like an hour and then just threw it down and it was just the most perfect take ever. I ended up making a whole new beat when I was feeling some type of way last year, a super inspiring thing I called hope. Was just listening back one day and started singing this on top so I combined the two and I loved it.
LOOK THE OTHER WAY
Plotz & I started this original demo years and years back. I really loved it but just never got around to polishing it up. It was a completely different song sonically but the core vibe was the same. I gave it the flowy production and a proper mixdown and it sounded brand new. The inspiration came from a place of curiosity and a longing to belong somewhere we don't really belong anymore.
TAKE A LOOK
One of the hardest things for me is accurately translating what I'm feeling/thinking. I wish the people I care about could just experience things from my perspective or alternatively just read my mind just for a second so they know what I'm trying to say. I always intended for the lyrics to be taken a look through my eyes but I used this placeholder sample and got too used to it.
EVERYTHING WILL BE OK
I wrote this for me, I tend to overthink and let single thoughts spiral out of control and can sometimes let in that overwhelming sense of dread we are all too familiar with come creeping in. I just wanted something to remind me that it's all going to be ok, no matter what happens the earth always keeps spinning. Somehow the tune grounds me, hopefully it does the same for some other people too. Subwoofer and max volume recommended for maximum grounding effectiveness.
CHANGES
Changes is a track born out of a period of intense transformation in my life. I initially wrote it while navigating a ton of shifts, and I truly believe change is the key to growth. It’s incredible how it can completely alter your perception of everything. But what’s interesting is that the lyrics seem to contradict this perspective, specifically with the line "don’t ever change." It’s a nod to the societal pressures and expectations we all face to stay the same, and a reminder to trust your gut and embrace the flow of life, no matter what others might say. OddKidOut helped bring the idea to life, and I love how the track captures that tension between change and the urge to remain true to yourself.
IN MY HEAD
This track is a raw expression of my ongoing 1v1 with anxiety, something I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember. Over time, I’ve learned to channel that anxious energy into something more positive, and this tune is a reflection of that journey. It’s built on two completely contrasting moods, capturing both the chaos of anxiety and the peace that comes with turning it into fuel for something greater. The high energy and fast pace are a way for me to convert that nervous tension, and I hope that others can feel that release too, using the track as a tool to channel their own chaotic energy in a positive direction.
STARGAZING
This one was an insane collaborative effort between a bunch of mates all around the globe. Kiss the moon and I originally had this instrumental idea that was just so powerful and I would always come back to it to feel some type of way. Always planned to finish it but never really had the moment. I sent the demo to Carlie along with a few others but she really connected with the beat and stargazing was born. We brought in the Stutters boys to get some fresh ideas and it really came together. The track always gave us this vision of a romance through multiple dimensions.
CREATION
Creation is a tune that dives deep into the core of why I believe I’m here. To me, creation is the ultimate answer to our existence. As humans, we’re gifted with the ability not just to create life, but also to craft art, sound, and ideas,and that, to me, is what gives life meaning. It’s what brings me the most happiness and a true sense of purpose. This track is a celebration of that power to make something out of nothing. Making things, whether it’s music, art, or anything else, is what drives me, and through this song, I wanted to capture that feeling of fulfilment and the pure joy that comes with creation itself.
SENSELESS
With Senseless I tried to capture the essence of life’s unpredictability and how, in the grand scheme of things, most things don’t really matter. It’s a reminder that sometimes you just need to let go, and in this case, the song itself offers that escape. Working with Georgie once again on this was a blast, and we really leaned into a vibe that’s sexy, alluring, and carefree. The energy of the track mirrors the message: let everything fade away, and just be in the moment. It’s the perfect anthem for those times when you just need to let go and let life unfold as it is.
KEEP ON DREAMING
Keep On Dreaming is the intro to the 'B-side' of the record. I wanted this one to inspire that unthinkable idea type energy. No idea is too big or small and this is a 90 second sound bite kinda sets the stage for an even more experimental set of ideas to follow.
FORGOTTEN
I believe there is so much history and knowledge we have just forgotten about. Not just of our ancient and modern histories but also our own lives, we look back and remember false memories and have so many gaps in our timelines. We learn crazy lessons just to forget them and have to learn again until we finally remember. I wanted this to feel nostalgic, like the beat itself lost in time, because it in fact was. The track was lost in a big data loss on my end but I loved it so much that I remastered the mp3 and that's why it sounds slightly shit lol.
MAYBE
I made this a few weeks before I sent off the album. I was messing around on the keys and sampling the invisible vocal. I only worked on it for 2 sessions it was the least f***s given track but I ended up vibing with it and titled it maybe because I thought I might put it out one day.
INVISIBLE
Invisible is a track that taps into that deep yearning to be seen and heard. I created this one with Solomon France & McCall and the vibe really took shape around that feeling of wanting to break through. McCall’s vocals and lyrics truly bring that energy to life. It's unfortunately the only drum and bass track on the album, but it packs everything you need.
INFINITE
Another one of the earlier beats I created for the project. I set out to make something quite powerful and epic but it ended up a little chaotic and all over the place but it felt raw and I decided to leave it as is after the 3rd session which is crazy cause some of these tunes I worked on for 30, 40 sessions + The title of infinite just came to me early on, I guess it was just an infinity type beat.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
More Than Meets The Eye is all about the layers we often overlook in life, the idea that there’s always more beneath the surface. The answer to everything is never as simple as it seems, and this track reflects that curiosity and drive to explore beyond what's obvious. It was created with the intention of pushing sonic boundaries, layering sound upon sound until it hits a wall of intensity. But that’s what makes it so powerful, the complexity, the depth, and the sense that there’s always more to discover, no matter how much you think you know.
UNITY
I look toward the future with optimism, despite the challenges we face. In a world where artificial intelligence is on the rise and spirituality and religion seem to be in decline, I believe the key to moving forward lies in coming together. This track is a call to embrace the potential of what’s ahead, knowing that our creations and humanity itself will thrive if we unite. It’s a message of hope and collaboration, because the only way to truly prosper in the future is through unity.
CYCLES
I originally titled this one Cogito, Ergo sum which translates to I think therefore I am. I landed on Cycles coming from a similar place as with existence but basically a reminder that I'm alive and we are flowing through the cycles. Also just really liked this jam sesh and thought it was thought provoking
LEVEL 99
Level 99 is a playful yet introspective track inspired by my love for gaming. In most games, you hit the cap for different skills and ranks at level 99, and I couldn’t help but ask myself, “Am I approaching my cap in this whole computer music thing after almost 20 years?” But the more I worked on this track and reflected, the more I realized that there’s no cap on skill. Since writing it, I’ve grown and learned so much, and the journey continues. There are always new avenues to explore and new skills to develop, no limits, just endless growth. This track is a reminder that the quest for improvement is ongoing, and there’s always something new to level up in.
As proud as I am of this record, I'm even more excited for whatever is next.
Thanks for having me on legends :D
The Answer Is is out now!
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