Wayback with Juto
Born in Missouri but raised in Georgia, Jarius Gay, best known as Juto, is now conquering the streets of LA. In 2017, Juto released his first song, “Apple”. The track carries an honest spoken tone filled with harmonies, giving us a preview of what we could expect next from the artist. In 2018, Juto put out his first four-track pop-inspired EP, Text Talk. The concept behind the EP is very well thought out, the four songs tackle matters of the heart and the titles are all acronyms, doing justice to the name of the EP. In 2019, Juto gifted us not one but two ambitious EPs, “Velvet” and “Wool”. I know what you are thinking, why are we talking about fabrics? Well turns out “Velvet” is a seductive R&B EP full of vibrant chords and colorful harmonies.
“Wayback” is one of my favorite songs from this EP, the lyrics are super relatable, the swinging bass is intoxicating and it is extremely catchy, so good luck getting it out of your head. The meaning behind “Homebody” is so impactful, I found myself connecting so much with this song and I am sure everyone has felt like that at least once in their life. “Options” and “Scarlett” are both love anthems. The first is in relation to giving reassurance and trusting your partner, the last focus on that special person that got away and you just can’t stop thinking about. Overall it is a very cleverly written piece of work filled with smooth sounds and amazing details.
“Wool” is a soul-inspired inviting EP filled with memorable hooks and mellow instrumentation. ”Night Text” starts us off with a strong captivating bassline that follows throughout the song. The message behind this song is clear but is something so common and talked about among people it is just mesmerizing how well Juto transforms it into a song. The 23-year-old musician has the talent to use a spoken-word tone in his songs, “FAF” is no different. Once again the singer delivers an infectious bassline that conducts the song and the message behind it. “Move RN” starts with a synth that intends to take us to another dimension, it is unexpected and harmonically rich with a warm yet flirty tone to Juto’s voice. The EP comes to a term with “Ceremony”, an effortless attempt at a more relaxing track with fluid instrumentation that makes us feel happy and at peace with the world.
Right before the end of 2021, Juto surprised us with one more emotionally rich EP, “Fleece”. In “Riduh” we can sense the desperation in Juto’s voice, he knows what he wants just not how to get it, the instrumentation perfectly conveys the sensual vibe the lyrics are transmitting. “Honor” is a testimony to what love is, filled with harmonies that embrace us and take us slowly floating throughout the song. It is noticeable how Juto grew along with his Eps, from the quality of the production to the refinement in his songwriting. Let’s hope Juto keeps experimenting with sounds, keeping his unpredictability and playfulness that we enjoy so much.