Jam City
Jack Latham is a British electronic music producer and DJ who performs under the alias Jam City. He has been active since 2010 and records on the label Night Slugs. He has released four full-length albums: 2012's Classical Curves, 2015's Dream a Garden, 2020's Pillowland, and 2023's EFM. He has also produced for artists such as Kelela, Troye Sivan, Gaika, and Olivia Rodrigo.
Recordings
''Classical Curves''
Jam City's debut album, Classical Curves, was released in 2012 to positive reception. Sonically, the album featured glossy, alien-sounding post-dubstep and club music and established his reputation for creating instrumentals from club music tropes. The Quietus called it "one of the most interesting album-length listens to come from a UK club producer in a while."''Dream a Garden''
Latham's follow-up album, Dream a Garden, was released in 2015. Inspired by the 2011 England riots and the work of bell hooks, the album further developed the sociopolitical conscience of his debut, engaging particularly with the effects of neoliberalism. Latham said the album "is about the personal effects of living under capitalism. Why do I feel shit and why do the people I love feel shit when they look at billboards?" The first single from the album, Unhappy, critiques corruptive elements of online porn.''Pillowland''
After the more explicitly political Dream a Garden, Latham initially attempted to continue in this path by reacting musically to then-current world events. When this process did not lead to music he was satisfied with, he turned in a more personal direction, which led to the 2020 album Pillowland, inspired by California and focused on themes such as "a desire for a better life." Resident Advisor referred to it as vibrant, distorted, kaleidoscopic, and self-assured. Dan Barrow, writing for Tribune, described it as both dream-like and anti-dream, realistic and psychedelic, and argues that it showcases the way politics and music are connected "at every level". Similarly, Joe Creely wrote for The Line of Best Fit that Pillowland "interrogate escapism while it embraced it."''EFM''
In 2023, EFM was released, with more of a club-centered focus, inspired by his experience at Liquid and Envy. Pitchfork referred to it as "an effervescent blend of rattling garage, glitzy disco, and thumping house," The Line of Best Fit referred to it as "unabashed giddy fun" in contrast to Dream a GardenWork with others
Latham has also written songs and produced for Kelela, producing "Keep It Cool" and "Cherry Coffee" on her mixtape Cut 4 Me, providing a remix of "Keep It Cool" on the deluxe edition, and acting as one of three executive producers for her 2017 album Take Me Apart. He also produced multiple songs on Lil Yachty's 2023 album Let's Start Here, implementing music from Pillowland along with other original productions.Personal life
Latham grew up in Redhill. He later worked as a fashion designer.Discography
Albums
- Classical Curves
- Dream a Garden
- Pillowland
- ''Jam City Presents EFM''
Singles and EPs
- Refixes 12"
- "Magic Drops"
- Waterworx EP
- "Glide"
- Classical Club Mixes
- Club Constructions Vol 6
- "Unhappy"
- "Proud"
- Earthly Versions
- ''Trouble Mixtape''
Songwriting and production credits
| Title | Year | Artist | Album | Credits | Written with | Produced with |
| "Keep It Cool" | 2013 | Kelela | Cut 4 Me | Producer | - | - |
| "Cherry Coffee" | 2013 | Kelela | Cut 4 Me | Producer | - | - |
| "INTRLD" | 2016 | Rosie Lowe | Control | Co-writer/Producer | Rosie Lowe | - |
| "I'll Be Gone" | 2016 | Rosie Lowe | Control | Co-writer/Co-producer | Rosie Lowe | Dave Okumu |
| "LMK" | 2017 | Kelela | Take Me Apart | Producer | - | Kwes |
| "Frontline" | 2017 | Kelela | Take Me Apart | Producer | - | - |
| "Waitin'" | 2017 | Kelela | Take Me Apart | Producer | - | Ariel Rechtshaid, Kwes |
| "Take Me Apart" | 2017 | Kelela | Take Me Apart | Producer | - | Al Shux, Ariel Rechtshaid, Arca, Loric Sih, Kwes |
| "Truth or Dare" | 2017 | Kelela | Take Me Apart | Producer | - | Kwes |
| "Turn to Dust" | 2017 | Kelela | Take Me Apart | Co-writer | Kelela Mizanekristos, Alejandra Ghersi, Romy Madley Croft | - |
| "Bluff" | 2017 | Kelela | Take Me Apart | Producer | - | - |
| "Altadena" | 2017 | Kelela | Take Me Apart | Producer | - | Ariel Rechtshaid, Kwes |
| "Intro" | 2018 | Bad Gyal | Worldwide Angel | Producer, songwriter | Alba Farelo | El Guincho |
| "Internationally" | 2018 | Bad Gyal | Worldwide Angel | Producer, songwriter | Alba Farelo, Joaquín Bartra, Marc Glasser | El Guincho, Dubbel Dutch |
| "The Good Side" | 2018 | Troye Sivan | Bloom | Co-writer/Additional producer | Troye Sivan, Brett McLaughlin, Bram Inscore, Alexandra Hughes, Ariel Rechtshaid | Ariel Rechtshaid, Bram Inscore |
| "Animal" | 2018 | Troye Sivan | Bloom | Co-writer/Co-producer | Troye Sivan, Brett McLaughlin, Bram Inscore, Alexandra Hughes, Ariel Rechtshaid | Ariel Rechtshaid, Bram Inscore, Buddy Ross, The Haxan Cloak |
| "No Fun" | 2018 | Joji | Ballads 1 | Producer | George Miller | - |
| "Life of the Party" | 2020 | Allie X | Cape God | Producer, co-writer | Alexandra Hughes, Oscar Görres | - |
| "Heather" | 2020 | Conan Gray | Kid Krow | Co-producer | - | Dan Nigro |
| "Phonecall" | 2020 | La Zowi | Élite | Co-producer | Zoe Jeanneau | Zora Jones, Sinjin Hawke |
| "A Ballet" | 2020 | Sébastien Tellier | Domesticated | Producer | - | Corentin "nit" Kerdraon |
| "Won" | 2020 | Sébastien Tellier | Domesticated | Producer | - | Corentin "nit" Kerdraon |
| "jealousy, jealousy" | 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | SOUR | Co-producer | - | Dan Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo |
| "Top Picks for You" | 2021 | Injury Reserve | By the Time I Get to Phoenix | Co-producer, songwriter | Nathaniel Ritchie, Jordan Alexander Groggs, Parker Corey, Jeremiah Raisen | Parker Corey, Jeremiah Raisen |
| "The Ride" | 2023 | Lil Yachty | Let's Start Here | Producer, co-writer | Miles McCollum, Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Miles Robinson, Aaron Thomas, Patrick Wimberly | Miles McCollum, Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Patrick Wimberly |
| "Pretty" | 2023 | Lil Yachty | Let's Start Here | Producer, co-writer | Miles McCollum, Fousheé, Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Patrick Wimberly | Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Patrick Wimberly |
| "Say Something" | 2023 | Lil Yachty | Let's Start Here | Producer, co-writer | Miles McCollum, Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Patrick Wimberly | Jeremiah Raisen, Justin Raisen, Patrick Wimberly |