NotJustJake is an indie rock band from Philadelphia that weaves together beautiful melodies, darkly playful lyrics, and a love being like super chill. Led by singer/songwriter Jake Margolis, the band initially started crafting songs in Baltimore, Maryland, before returning to their roots in Philadelphia in 2022. Their debut EP, Things to Carry, released in 2023, set the stage for their latest project, the highly anticipated debut album Knock.
Upon returning to Philly, they teamed up with musician and engineer Charley Coin and recorded Knock at SoundChild Studio. The album showcases their unique sound and love for the avant-garde. It is available now.
NotJustJake’s “Lorraine” is a highlight from the band’s recently released Knock LP. The single is a jangly anthem that lands between jovial and sentimental, using nuanced sonic risks that pull the listener in while the songwriting keeps them attentive. Not that you could be easily distracted once “Lorraine” starts to play. From the first note, you are thrown into a whirlpool of pop melodies and rock tones, spinning you around in a haze of subtle fusion work. The sun-drenched melodies become clouded with the band’s shoegaze influences, giving the song an ethereal sensation while the relatable songwriting anchors everything down to Earth. The vague imagery is lined with palpable emotions as Margolis croons with a longing undertone. NotJustJake’s imaginative “Lorraine” is an infectious single bursting with brightness as the band nimbly navigates the line between nostalgic and modern.
“‘Lorraine’ was the first song I wrote where I immediately was like, ‘Okay, I need to find a band to do this justice,’ explains Margolis. “I recorded demo after demo alone in my basement in Baltimore a few feet from Lorraine Avenue, but it wasn’t until I made it back to Philly that I really found the sound I was looking for. The song itself is about trying to keep a hold of long-distance friendships and relationships. And just generally trying to keep up with all the people you care about while you feel like you are quietly falling away into your own abyss.”
