Jeezel Petes “Missed It”
“Missed It“ captures some haunting feelings: coldness; the creeping of time and the inevitable change; the flashing moments of mental glitch; loneliness; nostalgia; and perhaps, loss. Like all songs, Jeezel Petes tells his story by starting with a cold, almost unemotional riff. At times, it gives you that deep and hollow haunted feeling with a sense of spookiness. Then there’s a hint of nostalgia and the past intertwined with it. As well as painting a vibe. Atmospheric and hypnotic. It’s in-between and somehow obscure, but it can also be stirring and disturbing. It’s fascinating how few notes can hold so many different shades of color, but that’s one of the good things about Petes’ music.
There are all sorts of fleeting flairs that flash through the song, and they oftentimes give you an unreal feeling. Like a glitch in the reality that makes you question the nature of things, In “Missed It,” it almost feels like insanity or perhaps, self-doubt, coming in pair with shoe gazing reverberant guitarscape. It makes sense. The song flies in a distant mental space. Almost cinematic. Epic but still witnessing. Noticing the subtle and drastic changes that take place in time.
In direct confrontation, a bombastic, blooming bass-drum texture is being dropped into the sonic equation. The kind of war-zone aggression and classic, energetic rock allure in the percussion and bass paints a completely different picture—like the foundation, the walls, the roots of the tree. It represents these darker themed constance. “Missed It” is black and white with an occasional gray.
Petes’ vocal is moody and poignant, but moreover, he’s in the clouds. There’s the artistic explosive and expressionistic vagueness about him that makes him a little mysterious and hard to describe. If you were to ask what “Missed It” reminds you of, then it’s probably Radiohead—art in its highest aesthetic, at the same time, spiritually free.
Punk Head: I love how "Missed It" takes listeners on an immersive and profound sonic experience. What is the inspiration behind it?
Jeezel Petes: It's about, well, missing it:
“And the garden leaves us some
Only some
But it’s picked clean”
Missed It is about being born after cracks have started to appear, where everything is still standing, but the garden’s been picked clean.
PH: What did you enjoy most about making this EP?
Petes: I really loved working with Eric (Dissonant Dessert). They play bass and sing. I think the whispery, cacophonous thing they do towards the end really encapsulates the creeping feeling of unease present throughout the song. The layering feels spooky and surrounds you almost like an inner monologue.
PH: How is the music scene is Chicago?
Petes: I love the music scene in Chicago. I have been involved in the DIY scene for a minute here with my other band Cordoba. I think the city also has a real thriving post punk and weirdo rock scene with bands like Stuck and Spread Joy
