CRAFT:2H-001

Congratulations by Jacob Ungerleider, out today!

The very first 2 Heads release—Congratulations by Jacob Ungerleider— is out today! Thank you to everyone who has listened, pre-ordered, and sent messages of support and encouragement.

And if you’re in LA, please come to our record release show this Sunday, 6/28 at Healing Force of the Universe. It’ll likely be the last time we get to play these songs as a band. Make sure to come early for Rose Droll, who is phenomenal, one of my absolute favorite artists working right now.

It’s obvious when someone is obsessed with their craft. Or at least, it should be—often, our culture’s various obsessions (youth, money, fame, a very narrow sort of conventional attractiveness) succeed in distracting from a lack of substance in the work itself.

The first time I heard Jacob’s songs I could tell that his dedication to his craft was complete, and seemingly effortless in a way that I think is truly rare. Musically, it was enough to turn my head, but it was the words—aching, full of pathos and humor and self-deprecation and yearning—that won my heart. I elbowed my way into the making of this record with all of the subtlety of a bull in a china shop, and I became obsessed with the goal of seeing this project to the finish line, no matter what.

I think Jacob’s songs are absolutely some of the finest and most affecting that I will ever work on; it’s possible that they will also be some of the least visible. Frankly, who cares?

External validation is cold and fleeting, and pales in comparison to finding a song that makes you smile, that makes you cry, that gives you the feeling that maybe you might just have it in you to keep on fighting for just one more day. That kind of song is worth its weight in gold. This record is full of them. I know because they worked for me—and now, even after hundreds, if not thousands of listens, they still are.

I don’t think many of my favorite artists of ages past would have stood much of a chance in this current landscape—and likewise many of my favorite contemporary artists hone their craft in relative obscurity. I don’t feel the same level of righteous anger about this fact as I used to—the game is not for everyone, and over the years I’ve learned exactly how much time, effort and energy the myth-building part of being a capital-P Professional artist requires. Does it come at the expense of the creative process, of one’s relationship to the work? Maybe not for everyone, but for me, at least—it does. Maybe this is one reason getting a chance to help bring these songs to life brought me so much comfort. For me, it’s been a reminder of a place I can always return to when I need it most: up late, losing track of time in a kind of ecstatic mania, eventually texting a rough demo to a few friends who you know will get it, will understand. Is it enough? As it turns out, it’s everything.

Congratulations, Jacob. In my book, you’re as real as it gets.

Produced by me + Jacob

Additional production, engineering and mixing by Adrian Olsen

Mastered by Jack Doutt

Featuring:

Alan Good Parker

Devonne Harris

Sam K-S

Nico Osbourne

Macie Stewart

Rose Droll

Cover photo by Ryan Richter

Sleeve photos by Francesca Blanchard

Layout and Design by Daniel Murphy

Videos by Otium and Francesca Blanchard

Overall support and guidance from Mike Caulo