J.R. Slayer have just released their Will Yip-produced debut EP, Not Rotten. The album is now available via Yip’s new label Memory Music (Tiger’s Jaw, Turnover), Not Rotten sounds as opposite as it can from Cody Votolato’s past work; it’s clear that the Seattle-born, LA-residing artist is at a new place in his life.

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

J.R. SLAYER arrives 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.”

“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.”

Jason Klein (Deaf Club), who plays bass on the record, introduced Votolato to Will Yip, who produced Not Rotten at his Studio 4 in Conshocken, Pennsylvania over two sessions, months apart, in 2021. Ben Walsh (Tigers Jaw) played drums on the record, and Votolato’s sister Brandi Jo Votolato sings alongside Cody on the record.

J.R. Slayer
Not Rotten
Memory Music
Tracklisting

1. Not Rotten
2. Back When
3. The Only One You’re Left With Will Be You
4. The Fade Out
5. You Will Never Be Alone

order Not Rotten by J.R. Slayer HERE