Music magnifies human emotions, highlighting both the weight of daily struggles and the uplift of personal triumphs with the same sensitivity and sympathy. Portland-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jay Cobb Anderson accepts the responsibility of capturing that dichotomy via his solo output. Moreover, he distills these universal experiences into hummable, hypnotic, and heartfelt anthems steeped in storytelling folk tradition and amplified by unabashed rock ‘n’ roll energy. His seven-song 2019 EP immediately strikes an emotional chord. “I’ve always felt like I had a duty to be a voice for the average person— mostly for their frustrations, loneliness, and struggles,” he affirms. “The plight of the human condition is very confusing at times. We live in the age of information, and we’re still so much like animals. I often feel like a pendulum swinging hard between intellect and sensitivity to complete primal instincts and animal passion. I feel like my songs can be a great voice for that.”