Each Measure Feature: Jake Vera
FEATURE
Jake Vera is, first and foremost, an artist with something to say. His latest full-length release, titled Lost, positions him as the potential voice of generation. Blending raw sonic textures with poetic lyricism, Vera asks what it means to hold on to our humanity in an increasingly automated world, and most importantly, he proves that music, when used correctly, is still the best tool we have for speaking our minds.
As a Dallas-based DIY artist with a growing following, Jake Vera represents a Gen-Z take on the post-grunge alternative rock pioneered by acts like Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Amira Elfeky, and Thirty Seconds to Mars. Like all of these artists, his music captures heavy, dramatic soundscapes tempered with a dose of sensitivity and introspection.
Lost opens with a short instrumental intro piece called “Welcome.” Unique among Vera’s catalogue, “Welcome” is a gentle, moody acoustic melody without the distorted electric guitars or aggressive percussion that characterizes the rest of the album. Yet in my mind, it’s the perfect way to open an album that above all, demands to be heard. If Vera’s intent is to speak his mind for anyone who will listen, he has to set a welcoming tone, one that ushers us in slowly and prepares us for the emotional journey that’s about to unfold.
The remainder of the album takes on a more dynamic hard rock tone. Vera is careful not to let any of his musical elements outshine the others. His arrangements reflect a balance of skillful musicianship and raw passion that gives equal attention to each instrument. Guitar, bass, piano, and percussion all seem to share the spotlight in turns, creating a sweeping, cinematic atmosphere that sustains itself throughout the album.
Yet on nearly every track, it’s Vera’s soaring and appropriately angsty vocals that take center stage. Despite his heavy sound, he’s careful not to let his lyrics be drowned out, and he obviously takes his poetry very seriously, choosing each word with care. Many tracks, such as “Haunted” and “Burn,” are deeply personal, and Vera shows the willingness to confront his own pain that separates an artist from a content creator. Other tracks (specifically “Collapse” and “Forsaken”), offer a more general perspective on the state of the world, and in Vera’s case, it’s not optimistic. Instead, Vera gives vent to the anxieties of a generation that feels betrayed, reckoning with the false bills they were sold by their parents.
Overall, Lost is a strikingly honest and painful album. When Vera sings, he sings not just for himself, but for everyone who feels lost in the chaos of today’s world and is ready to reclaim their humanity.
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