Jake's second single, 'Crave'.

'Crave' was written, arranged and produced by Jake.

'Crave', backed with 'Pleasure Past', is released on August 19th 2013 on 7" translucent vinyl and digital download. 

Order the vinyl here: http://voxhumanarecords.bandcamp.com/album/crave.


℗ Vox Humana Records 2013 © Vox Humana Records 2013


Jake Downs - vocals, upright piano
Cherif Hashizume - programming 
Sam Thomas - drums
David Coulter - musical saw 
Shelley Britton - violin I 
Sarah Crisp - violin II 
Rachel Steadman - viola 
Sally Alexander - violoncello 
Katya Herman - concert harp

String and harp arrangements by Jake Downs

Engineered and mixed by Cherif Hashizume at Café Music Studios, London

Mastered by Mandy Parnell at Black Saloon Studios, London

Photography by Christina Webber

Crave

'Pleasure Past' is the B-side to Jake's second single, 'Crave'.

'Pleasure Past' was written, arranged and produced by Jake.

Opening lyrics adapted from Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market'.

'Crave', backed with 'Pleasure Past', is released on August 19th 2013 on 7" translucent vinyl and digital download. 

Order the vinyl here: http://voxhumanarecords.bandcamp.com/album/crave.


℗ Vox Humana Records 2013 © Vox Humana Records 2013


Jake Downs - vocals, upright piano
Cherif Hashizume - programming 
Shelley Britton - violin I 
Sarah Crisp - violin II 
Rachel Steadman - viola 
Sally Alexander - violoncello 
Luke Howarth - bass vocal
Katya Herman - concert harp

String and harp arrangements by Jake Downs

Engineered and mixed by Cherif Hashizume at Café Music Studios, London

Mastered by Mandy Parnell at Black Saloon Studios, London

Photography by Christina Webber

Pleasure Past

Merry Christmas from Jake! Here's a live version of his first single, 'Seize the Water', recorded on location at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford on November 14th 2013.

FREE DOWNLOAD, TOO!

Piano, vocals, and editing by Jake Downs
Viola by Anna Hughes
Recording assisted by Benjamin Leggett
Photography by Tori McKenna

Have a wonderful start to 2014!

Seize the Water (Live at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford)

Happy New Year! Thank you for all of your continued support as we journey into 2014.

Thank you also for the kind words I received in response to the live version of 'Seize the Water'. As a little mid-hangover treat, here's a live cover version of one of my favourite songs in the world, Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill'. 

Recorded on location at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford on November 14th 2013.

FREE DOWNLOAD (AGAIN), TOO!

Piano, vocals, and editing by Jake Downs
Recording assisted by Benjamin Leggett
Photography by Tori McKenna

Tons of love x

Running Up That Hill [Kate Bush] (Live at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford)

I've been debating whether to upload this one, and I've given in. A live version of my favourite Beyoncé song. It's not perfect, but it's a bit of fun. See what you think.

Jake Downs — piano, vocals
Makoto Nakata — violin I
Sean Dunn — violin II
Anna Hughes — viola
Hettie Burn — double bass

Recorded on location at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, 26th November 2014

I love you like...
Jake x

XO [Beyoncé] (Live at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford)

'Chrysalis' explores the emotional and embodied connection of family, using the chrysalis as a metaphor for protection and growth. With his powerful and idiosyncratic vocals bound together with stirring rock-inspired beats and warm string harmonies, Jake paints an image of the pain that is shared when a family member is in times of difficulty.

Though there is an inherent darkness to the track, there is also a message of positivity. For Jake, 'Chrysalis' represents “a kind of pulse or heartbeat—a gentle reminder that life goes on”.

-- FOR SOPHIE --

:: PERSONNEL ::
Jake Downs: vocals, piano
Cherif Hashizume: programming, field recordings
Gawain Erland Cooper: Moog
Sam Thomas: drums, percussion
Makoto Nakata: violin I
Sean Dunn: violin II
Anna Hughes: viola
Sarah Hughes: violoncello

:: PRODUCTION INFO ::
Written, produced, and arranged by Jake Downs
Recorded at Café Music Studios by Cherif Hashizume
Mixed at Coronet Studios by Gawain Erland Cooper
Mastered at Black Saloon Studios by Mandy Parnell
Artwork by Jessica Poole

Chrysalis – Single

Fracture

Chrysalis

The radio edit of 'Wild', the second single from Jake Downs's forthcoming album, Fracture.

The song was recently featured on Drowned in Sound's Independent Music Monday playlist.

Wild (Radio Edit)

Jake's first single, 'Seize the Water'.

'Seize the Water' was written, arranged and produced entirely by Jake.

'Seize the Water', backed with 'The Prince', was released on September 10th 2012 on 7" translucent sea-coloured vinyl and digital download. 

Order the vinyl here: http://voxhumanarecords.bandcamp.com/album/seize-the-water.


℗ Vox Humana Records 2012 © Vox Humana Records 2012


Jake Downs - vocals, upright and grand pianos, synthesizer, timpani, glockenspiel, wine glass
Stef Hambrook - drums
Sophie Downs - backing vocals
Joanna Walters - violin I
Andrew Walters - violin II 
Carly Stone - viola 
Nathan Stone - violoncello

Choral and string arrangements by Jake Downs

Engineered and mixed by Stef Hambrook at Toybox Studios, Bristol

Photography by Christina Webber

Seize the Water

Hello! Here's a live version of Kate Bush's beautiful 'Oh England My Lionheart', my very favourite song of hers. I've wanted to cover this song since I started making music, so I'm glad I've now had the opportunity! Hopefully soon I'll be able to record it with my sister, whose vocals are staggeringly beautiful.

I recorded it with the help of Ben and George Leggett at their house in Abbotskerswell, Devon, on a wonderfully shiny piano.

A special gift to my mother, who adores this song, as I'm moving away to university on Sunday!

Please feel free to download a version if you like it.

Tons of love,
Jake x

Oh England My Lionheart [Kate Bush]

Jake Downs is a singer-songwriter, composer, and aspiring academic. Originally from Devon, he now lives in Cambridge. His debut album Fracture is released on 2nd December 2016.

Jake Downs

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