Rising from their origins as Grouptherapy, the dynamic duo PartyOf2—comprising Jadagrace and SWIM—have launched into a daring new chapter of their music journey. Their newest EP, “We Owe You An Clarification,” launched on March 14, showcases a extra eccentric and high-fashion aesthetic, reflecting their evolution as artists. This mission marks a big departure from their earlier work, providing a sonically various but decisive sound that hints on the potential of their forthcoming debut studio album.
The EP opens with “Mad Love,” a monitor that experiments with New Jack Swing rhythms in its first half earlier than transitioning into an upbeat dembow-inspired vibe, all whereas sustaining a constant, punchy power. In “Poser,” PartyOf2 delivers a marching band sonic backdrop that seamlessly glides into grunge rap, showcasing the duo at their most braggadocious. The reflective and somber “all 4 the very best” finds them taking a tough look within the mirror, processing their emotions following the departure of their buddy and former bandmate, TJOnline (Tyrel Jackson Williams).
This EP serves as a coming-of-age mission for Jadagrace and SWIM, who initially bonded over their distinctive experiences as younger actors and entertainers navigating Hollywood—a journey few can relate to. Regardless of these unusual beginnings, their evolution, the lack of friendships, and the necessity to pivot in life are common themes that resonate with many.
In a current dialog with EBONY, Jadagrace and SWIM mentioned their transformation and the themes explored of their new music. They mirrored on how their private development and shared historical past have influenced their inventive route, emphasizing the significance of authenticity and resilience of their artistic course of.
EBONY: That is your first mission as PartyOf2 what’s your mindset proper now?
JADAGRACE: Proper now, we’re experimenting so much within the studio. We’ve had a yr to faucet into the sound as a duo, however now we’re making an attempt to push ourselves and go into lanes we’ve by no means explored earlier than. That’s one thing we’ve achieved on this EP that’s arising, and we’re excited to get into extra of that for the album. We’re always pushing ourselves and making an attempt to prime the final album.
SWIM: We’re in a very attention-grabbing place that I’ve by no means skilled earlier than creatively. This mission that’s popping out is our most weak ever, and it has unlocked a brand new degree of creativity. We’ve been engaged on these songs since round February of final yr. It’s good to have them on the best way out—it’s cathartic, and it opens up area to proceed being extraordinarily trustworthy in our music.
For people who aren’t acquainted, how did you get your begin in leisure?
JADAGRACE: I began in music actually younger—I used to be about eight. It was after my first appearing position in Terminator. I had a variety of free time on set as a result of I didn’t have any strains, so I began singing, and my mother stated we must always do a music video. I acquired signed very younger—at 12—to Epic Information. I used to be mentored by Berry Gordy, so I used to be working like an grownup at a younger age, however I beloved it.
As I acquired older, I began to determine who I used to be and what I needed to speak about. That modified my relationship with music, which is after we began our former Grouptherapy. We made music collectively and poured our feelings into it, and I developed a brand new relationship with music—making it with my finest mates. PartyOf2 has been a blessing to do it with somebody who is aware of me and shares the identical imaginative and prescient. I really feel actually fortunate. I’ve been on this recreation a very long time.
SWIM: Similar right here—Jada and I’ve that in widespread. I’m initially from South Carolina and did some appearing on the East Coast in New York, then booked a present that moved me to L.A. That’s the place I met Jada. We had been on the Youngsters’ Selection Awards. It’s a novel place to be in as a child—particularly being Black and sometimes the one particular person of coloration on set. It may be isolating at that age, so we related on that early and had been weak with one another in a means we couldn’t be with anybody else. Jada was the primary particular person I met who was making music, and that was inspiring. We’re like two peas in a bizarre little working-children pod.
You talked about you’ve been engaged on these songs for a few yr. What stored you loving them as an alternative of going stale?
SWIM: “All For The Greatest” began early, however yeah, the others are a bit newer. Particularly, for “All For The Greatest,” we began writing it actually early on—within the thick of the whole lot taking place. I believe it was the phrases that held us. We modified the beat so much, nevertheless it was so trustworthy {that a} yr later, it nonetheless felt proper, so we needed to put it out.
With “Mad Love” and “Poser,” we had been experimenting round six months in the past. They stood out sonically and didn’t sound like something we’d completed earlier than. We’re rapping—we’ve by no means actually rapped [like this] earlier than—and producing, so it felt plain.
Listening to the lyrics of “All For The Greatest,” there’s pressure and disappointment round your former bandmate leaving, but in addition a optimistic “want you effectively” vibe. When that was all taking place, was your deal with the friendship and connection, or had been you additionally fascinated with the group you’d put your lives into? The place was most of your power?
SWIM: I believe it was the friendship. That’s why the file is so necessary to us. Outdoors of artistic endeavors, everybody has misplaced a buddy or grown aside from somebody they cared about. That’s scary, and it’s positively a part of being in your twenties.
JADAGRACE: And we needed to undergo it publicly. Navigating our emotions personally, whereas realizing it was our complete profession, was so much. It simply felt proper to be trustworthy about the place we had been.
SWIM: We realized the one means we’d heal was by making music—whether or not we put it out or not. Then as soon as we made it, it felt like the proper angle: trustworthy however not shady or disrespectful to anybody. There’s disappointment, however there’s additionally acceptance and development. The EP as an entire exhibits the ups and downs of being human—one minute you’re low, the following you get up feeling unstoppable. That’s what our yr was like: going by doubt, questioning if we may do it as simply two, and determining our identification.
It’s refreshing that you just didn’t crash out on the web. You stored it to at least one assertion after which moved on. Lots of your followers are in your age group, additionally dropping mates and pivoting. Can we anticipate that to be a seamless narrative—fixed pivot and evolution?
JADAGRACE: I believe so. You by no means cease experiencing these cycles as a human. You’ll hear extra of that material but in addition see the place we’re popping out of it. I’m excited to get into the brighter facet of issues on the album, nevertheless it’s actual: we’ve misplaced a variety of friendships over time. Folks develop aside. Now it’s the 2 of us locked in, however that’s life.
SWIM: Precisely. The upcoming album will actually discover being in your twenties. It’s scary, however a few of it’s thrilling: determining who you’re, deciding which relationships are necessary, studying how you can dwell your life, watching your dad and mom become old and taking good care of them.
For the reason that rebrand, there’s extra individuality in your aesthetic. Earlier than, folks thought you had been siblings. Now there’s nonetheless a cohesive vibe, however extra room for every of you to have your individual expression. Is that intentional?
JADAGRACE: Sure, that was all the time a aim. Now, with simply the 2 of us, there’s extra room for every of us to shine. We do loopy stuff collectively, however our particular person sides are loopy too, so we wish followers to know us extra personally—individually—by the music.
SWIM: It’s actually more room on the canvas. When you’ve gotten many individuals, it’s tougher to suit everybody’s ingredient. With simply two, there’s a lot extra room for individuality. We didn’t even plan it that means.
“Mad Love” that tune is loopy—the beat, the bars, and the tune’s construction. I sense a little bit of baile funk and even dembow affect. The place did that come from?
SWIM: That was a enjoyable file. We’re all the time making an attempt to do an excessive amount of [laughs]. We had been watching a variety of Martin within the studio. I needed a New Jack Swing vibe for that first half. Later, I used to be cleansing the home, listening to a Zach Fox DJ set that went from gospel to baile funk. I took that to the studio and stated, “Let’s change this into baile funk.” Jada and our engineer checked out me like I used to be loopy, however that’s the fantastic thing about what we do—making an attempt one thing that is senseless and making it work.
It’s additionally the primary file I took the lead on manufacturing for. Jada got here in and performed keys and synth. We realized how you can work collectively as producers. She’s nice with melodies; I really like drums. It’s in all probability my favourite file we’ve ever completed.
PartyOf2. How did you provide you with the brand new identify?
JADAGRACE: Folks could be mad at our reply, however we actually don’t know precisely how we landed on it.
SWIM: We wrote down round 200 names and threw them on the wall. We despatched an inventory to our staff and mates, and PartyOf2 stood out. At a sure level, it was about trusting our intestine. Grouptherapy was a powerful identify, and we felt strain to prime it, however PartyOf2 match the whole lot we needed to do.