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NOT ROTTEN

by J.R. SLAYER

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1.
NOT ROTTEN 03:35
I think the world is gonna die before I do and if that’s true I just wanna spend the rest of my time, right here, sitting next to you All of the things we thought were rotten Are suddenly just forgotten Your hands they are so soft in mine It makes me wanna cry The thought of this all ending And if we’re running out of time Please don’t be shy, cuz we can never die All of the things we thought were rotten (let’s find them out) Are suddenly just forgotten in the view that come with you and me This feeling, came so quick The kind of heartache that you won’t soon forget This feeling, played its trick Who knew this love it would stick All of the things we thought were rotten (let's find them out) Are suddenly just forgotten (then chase them down) This feeling, came so quick The kind of heartache that you won’t soon forget This feeling, played its trick Who knew this love it would stick (We came so close, and now we know) All of the things we thought were rotten Are suddenly just forgotten in the view that come with you and me
2.
BACK WHEN 02:51
I want to stay this young I don’t want to be done Sometimes I feel like that I know it sounds so dumb Do you remember when We got down way back then No reason to begin Every day had no end We’re running round, not feeling down, We’re going out we’re never growing old I know in time it fades But I keep my fears at bay They are not serving me That's one thing I can see I’m watching the sunrise (Sunrise) Not as gorgeous as your eyes (Your eyes) No reason to begin Every day has no end We’re running round, not feeling down, We’re going out we’re never growing old Please put your hands in mine We’ll walk the stretch of time Here with me, be with me now And then you’ll find out why…. I want to stay this young I don’t want to be done Sometimes I feel like that I know it sounds so dumb Do you remember when (Sunrise) We got down way back then (Your eyes) No reason to begin Every day had no end We’re running round, not feeling down, We’re going out we’re never growing old
3.
I know that my mistakes they are all mine I swear that this will be the last time Cuz if you are the sum of all you do Make sure that what you say is what you do This will take its toll, but I won't know until I’ve lost all my control Im spinning out, Im freaking out, now my knuckles turned inside out Inside out, inside out, I’m freaking out I’m spinning out Time will not arrange itself for you Make sure that what you say is what you do Cuz in the end if all you’ve got is you You’ll be the only one that’s left with you This will take its toll, but I won't know until I’ve lost all my control Im spinning out, Im freaking out, now my knuckles turned inside out Inside out, inside out, I’m freaking out I’m spinning out
4.
THE FADE OUT 03:50
The future's holding all our doubt I always wanna know it so bad I never want to wait around, to find out about it But I’m living in the present now I know I gotta ease up somehow I'm thinking I should try it now, to find out if I'm down If you fade out, I’ll fade out Won’t trade down, what we found All time moves slow Don’t let the tortured days behind you grow Anytime you spiral Clutching on to all your pain Just know I got your back now What's it gonna take to finally walk away? I didn’t see you coming now Is everything you’re wanting so bad? I'm thinking we should wait around, to find out about it If you fade out, I’ll fade out Won’t trade down, what we found x2 All time moves slow Don’t let the tortured days behind you grow Anytime you spiral Clutching on to all your pain Just know I got your back now What's it gonna take to finally walk away? Just lay here, lay here right now Please stay here, stay here right now I’m dimming down I’m so scared It's so real now You said dare I played this out We both fade out… All time moves slow Don’t let the tortured days behind you grow Anytime you spiral Clutching on to all your pain Just know I got your back now What's it gonna take to finally walk away?
5.
I promise not to let you down I’ll be here anytime you come around I know sometimes that you might get scared And I know that you don’t always feel prepared For how real all this is You will never be alone I’ll be right by your side (Be right by your side) Take your time to feel it out I’ll stay right by your side (Be right by your side) Resigned myself to staying alone But then you appeared And it all came clear That I was never ever gonna let you go That we were never ever gonna be alone We'll never go back to the place that we were before we were... You will never be alone I’ll be right by your side (Be right by your side) Take your time to feel it out I’ll stay right by your side I promise not to let you down I’ll be there anytime you come around (Right by your side) I’m never gonna let you go now You’re never gonna be alone I’ll be there anytime (Right by your side)

about

Cody Votolato first created J.R. SLAYER as a character and an illustration, a simple, aimless piece of imagination. Over the years, J.R. SLAYER grew to become more and more, a part-time creative catch-all for Votolato after decades of working full-time in the music industry. Now, Votolato is proud to present Not Rotten, J.R. SLAYER’s debut release on Memory Music.

Not Rotten is a five-track indie rock EP that tracks the experience of falling into earth-shattering love—the sort that safeguards its participants from the cruelty and cold of the world around them—and the simultaneous elation and fear that come from inhabiting such bliss. It’s about the possibilities that are unlocked when we care about and show up for others and ourselves in equal measure. Opener and title track “Not Rotten” celebrates this possibility on its bubblegum guitar-pop chorus: “All of the things we thought were rotten/Are suddenly just forgotten,” Votolato croons over a soaring guitar lead.

“There’s so much bad shit in the world, there’s a lot of bad things happening,” says Votolato. “But when you fall in love with someone, you have this feeling that all that stuff can disappear momentarily. Everything goes away but you and this person, and your feelings about them and yourself.”

J.R. SLAYER comes years after Votolato’s pivot away from full-time music work, on the tail end of decades between bands including beloved Seattle post-hardcore outfit The Blood Brothers, Jaguar Love, Head Wound City, Telekinesis, and Cold Cave. Blood Brothers began when Votolato was 15, and at the time was his main and only source of income. “I got fairly burnt out trying to make money as a musician,” says Votolato. “I was struggling for a very long time to have music make me money and be my career. It turned into this very toxic relationship with music.”

He vowed to leave music industry life behind, but continued to write and play music at his own pace after moving to Los Angeles in 2016. Soon, friend and collaborator Andrew Martin pushed him to solidify J.R. SLAYER. Another friend booked a show for JR SLAYER at the Hi Hat in LA, and Votolato started performing again. The process solidified the desire to record and release his work. “I really wanted to reconnect with music in the way that I did when I first started playing music, which was more about just needing it to survive in an artistic and soulful way, as opposed to needing it to survive financially,” says Votolato.

J.R. SLAYER’s bass player, Jason Klein (Deaf Club) introduced Votolato to Will Yip, who produced Not Rotten at his Studio 4 in Conshocken, Pennsylvania over two sessions, months apart, in 2021. Votolato credits Yip with many of the album’s melodies, which Yip would hum and Votolato would learn and record. “It was a very traditional producer and artist relationship and process,” says Votolato. Ben Walsh (Tigers Jaw) played drums on the record, and Votolato’s sister Brandi Jo Votolato sings alongside Cody on the record.

After the bright, semi-sweet introduction of “Not Rotten” (“I think the world is gonna die before I do, and if that’s true/I just wanna spend the rest of my time, right here, sitting next to you,” goes Votolato’s opening statements) comes the driving radio rock of “Back When,” soaked with washes of power chords and peaceful nostalgia. “Please put your hands in mine, we’ll walk the stretch of time,” Votolato invites.

“The Only One You Are Left With Will Be You” ratchets up the tempo on a mid-Oughts indie rock banger that wrestles with the difficult work of self-acceptance. “The Fade Out” doubles down with a thrill of Hot Fuss-ready synth-and-guitar rock underneath Votolato’s pleas to keep outrunning the past and old fears: “All time moves slow/Don’t let the tortured days behind you grow,” his voice soars on the chorus.

The piano and acoustic ballad “You Will Never Be Alone” closes the EP with an earnest, desperate pledge to see things through for the long-haul, even as things feel overwhelming: “Take your time to feel it out/I’ll stay right by your side.”

Not Rotten from J.R. SLAYER is a celebration of the feelings, words and music that give life color and energy to break through the bleakness. It’s due out Sept 9th, 2022 on Memory Music.

credits

released September 9, 2022

Cody Votolato: Vocals, Guitar, Synth, Piano
Jason Klein: Bass
Benjamin Walsh: Drums
Brandi Votolato: Vocals

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J.R. SLAYER Los Angeles, California

Jason Klein
Cody Votolato
Alex Oñate
Brandi Votolato
Mike O'Toole

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