Jamin O’Donovan’s indie, alt-pop sound is music for contemplation. A response to the superficiality of modern life, Jamin offers hope to the listener, inviting them to momentarily transcend the daily monotony. Jamin’s path as a musician was forged after attending a Bruce Springsteen concert at the age of 5. His music-loving father, whose own father was a trumpet player, showered all his children equally with his passion for music but it was only Jamin who took up the mantle.
Deciding at age 5 that he would either aspire to be like Bruce Springsteen or Bruce Lee, he first opted to follow in the footsteps of the martial arts master. He became a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, before picking up a guitar at age 14 and conquering all his favourite musical heroes’ songs, under the guiding influence of his guitarist father. He had to master all the Steely Dan guitar solos before he was allowed to play ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. He then bought a bass, a 4-track tape recorder and a drum machine, beginning on his journey to writing and recording music.
Jamin spent 10 years playing, writing and producing music in Irish indie pop group FRED, touring extensively on both sides of the Atlantic. The five-piece band released four albums enjoying great success in Ireland, America and Canada with highlights including the band’s song ‘Damn You Hollywood’ used in an episode of the US TV series Gossip Girl as well as being awarded iTunes Canada’s Single of the week for ‘Skyscrapers’ in 2008. Fred performed at festivals such as Oxegen, Electric Picnic and Hard Working Class Heroes and worked with notable producers including Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire) at his studio Hotel2tango.
Jamin left the band to focus on spiritual empowerment programs for youth, where he worked to uplift young people out of their surroundings and contribute to a society in a meaningful way, where superficial divisions such as race, religion and class disappear into the ether. It is this same sense of purpose, this optimism for a better life for all that called Jamin back to music and compelled him to create again. Now, living in North London, Jamin has created an album that will encourage the listener to feel contemplative, soaring above the superficiality of modern pop-culture.
Jamin releases his first solo single ‘Shores’ on 6th November.
