The Twitch star poured his heart into an ode to late friend and fellow Twitch streamer, Reckful.
Having gained notable traction in the Twitch community over the years, Mitch Jones is transitioning from streams to songwriting with the forthcoming release of his debut EP, If I Could Go Back. Whether it was World of Warcraft, Pokemon Go, or Just Chatting content, Mitch dominated Twitch with natural decorum and has since accumulated over half a million dedicated followers on the platform. Now, the gamer-turned-artist unveils six heartfelt tracks on If I Could Go Back, many of which allude to the passing of his best friend Byron “Reckful” Bernstein.
In April, Mitch took to YouTube to explain why he’s retiring from the streaming empire he’d built over a decade. Titled ‘Treading new waters,’ Mitch speaks on the devastating impact Reckful’s death continues to have on him a year after the fact, and why he feels it is time to explore other avenues. “Truly I had some magical moments as a streamer, and those days are over,” Mitch says. “Every day that I continue just feels like me trying to relive something that I’ve already reached the peak of.”
I’ve been a full-time streamer for the past 10 years. I became a person that everyone who watched me wanted to see, and it slowly broke down my mental health over time. I lost some of the best people in my life, to death, or just having them leave me for all of my poor choices. In early 2021, Kala and I connected and we started making music together and it has helped me more than any therapy could. I want to write songs to save people who are struggling, just like I’ve been. Thank you to all of the real ones from Twitch who have supported me in this journey into music. I hope the music can help at least one other person.”
– Mitch Jones
Shortly following ‘Treading new waters,’ Mitch released his first original song with corresponding music video “Now That You’re Gone,” a tribute to Reckful. The track amassed hundreds of thousands of views and avid support from fans and Twitch streamers such as XQC, Pokimane, Mizkif, and many more. A revamped version of “Now That You’re Gone” is featured on the EP alongside lead single “Time Machine” and several other tunes emanating nostalgia and raw emotion. With the help of friend and producer Kurtis “Kala” Lloyd, If I Could Go Back is a sentimental exploration into Mitch’s innermost thoughts on heartbreak, loss, and love.
I found Mitch through the internet, and when we got together the first day we wrote ‘Now that you’re gone’ – and the rest is history. Music has been my life for so long, and I’m so stoked to be part of this project. I hope our songs find you wherever you are, and help you find peace.”
– Kala
If I Could Go Back is not only a pivotal debut for Mitch but also an opportunity to help bridge the widely-criticized gap between Twitch users and the platform’s music streaming rules. Though several Twitch streamers have begun venturing into music, Mitch is one of the few to directly streamline the process, making this EP an exciting release on various fronts.
MITCH JONES: TWITCH | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SPOTIFY
KALA: TWITCH | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
