James K & Addison Rae: Building Community Through Pop Music

james K: From Art School Abstraction to Heart-First Pop

Ridgewood,Queens – In a sun-drenched bedroom in Ridgewood,Queens,Jamie Krasner,the artist known as james K,sits cross-legged,a black-and-white cat named Pingu nestled in her lap. She’s recounting her time at the Rhode Island School of Design, a period of intense artistic exploration that ultimately led her to a new, more direct approach to music.

For nearly a decade, Krasner has been crafting avant-garde electronic soundscapes under the moniker james K. But her latest album, friend, released September 5th, marks a turning point. It’s not a complete reinvention, but compared to her previous work, it’s a collection of songs that aim straight for the heart.

“People were really pushing more abstraction,” Krasner explains, leaning back on a plush ottoman. “I had to take a step back and think, Where do I want to go moving forward? I wanted to be more direct.”

Tracks like “Hypersoft Lovejinx Junkdream” and “Blinkmoth (July Mix)” are vivid sonic tapestries, weaving together trip hop, dream pop, and shoegaze to create scenes of purple-hued breakups, longing, and cryptic dreams. The album’s standout track, “Play,” is an exhilarating rush of jungle energy, anchored by a simple, chant-worthy lyric: “Hold on for life.”

Krasner, who grew up in upstate New York and has been a fixture in the NYC underground scene for years, sees her music as a “wave of emotion,” a portal for connection and community. friend, a collaborative effort with artists from Montreal and New York City, is the moast fully realized expression of this vision. It’s a testament to the power of music to build bridges, both on the dance floor and beyond.

Krasner’s journey from art school abstraction to heart-first pop is a compelling one. With friend, she’s not just pushing the boundaries of electronic music, she’s reminding us of the power of directness, vulnerability, and the importance of holding on for life.