Atlantic Records showcased newcomer Jake Troth and his short film Double Black Diamond at Nighty Night on Nov. 4.
Troth premiered his film to start off the night which accompanies his upcoming album titled Double Black Diamond as well. Troth is seen in the short with a woman in his apartment. He shows her exactly what he does in every area of his place while she records him on an old school tape recorder, setting up the love story of the short. After a failed talk show interview with absurd questions like ‘how many drums are on the album,’ Troth is faced with the question he can’t answer: what is his album is about?
Though he finds comfort in his lover, they are torn apart when she leaves for South Korea. Through his mourning period Troth finds the theme of his album: the dangers of falling in love. In the end they’re reunited through his album. The snippets of his upcoming tracks range from recounting the intensity and bliss of getting together to missing what was lost. Each scene of the film includes a motif of dense, floral patterns, also displayed on the suit and background of his album artwork.
Following the viewing of the film, guests were treated to a short performance by Troth. Decked out in head to toe floral print, the artist kicked of the set with “Vacay,” aptly about craving the bliss of vacation. Troth’s pure joy was infectious and embraced by the intimate crowd. While performing “Material Things” he wasn’t able to whistle because he was smiling so much. He was so ecstatic about being signed to Atlantic and being in NYC. Troth’s older songs that made up most of his set are upbeat. They aim to get people moving or create a relaxed island vacation atmosphere. With everything Troth performed he had fun, dedicating songs to artists including Lil Wayne and Stevie Wonder.
Beyond his older work, listeners should look out for the soft, heartfelt ballads about love featured in his short film. Latching on to a solid theme seems to have benefitted him in creating a more focused and cohesive project. His older songs span several genres without anything connecting them all. The date for his album release has not been set yet, but fans can purchase Troth’s single “Everybody Loves You” now.
