Jagged City unveils their debut instrumental EP, ‘There Are More of Us, Always‘, a bold collection that moves between spacious, melodic guitar passages and raucous, swelling climbs. With heartfelt, melodious songwriting, a diverse range of eclectic touches buried within, and eruptions of dense, layered sound, this record delivers wonderfully balanced compositions through raw and personal production.

The project began as a cross-continental art experiment between Jake Woodruff (Defeater) and Carlos Torres (former touring member of Explosions In The Sky). What started as a simple exchange of ideas quickly found real shape through collaborative composition and thoughtful arrangement. Early sessions with David Haik helped refine the songs’ structures and drum frameworks, setting the groundwork for what would become Jagged City’s striking debut.

“We wrote with pure instinct, just tried to add something new to a genre that we love. As we traded ideas, we took some left turns and incorporated elements that may be unexpected.“ (Woodruff)

When it came time to record, scheduling issues led to an inspired change of plans. Urian Hackney joined the project both behind the kit and behind the board, engineering and performing the drum parts that propel the record. In two intense days at The Box studio in Burlington, VT, Jake and Urian captured the core of the album with an immediacy and urgency that remain audible in every take.

“We had the general drum ideas worked out before we got to Urian, but his feel and ability to internalize a song quickly is incredible. The drums on ‘Hairspring’ are a complete first take—and only the second time we ever played the song together. Incidentally, that song is in 6 but has random measures in 5, which makes getting drums on the first take really impressive. That was the vibe for the whole session—he saw our vision for the recording, and absolutely nailed his contributions.“ (Woodruff)

Carlos recorded bass in Los Angeles alongside longtime musical colleague Michael James (Explosions In The Sky), while Jake added further guitar textures from his home studio, creating layers that thread the compositions together.

“This helped a lot with the immediacy of the recording—we wanted to make something direct and gritty, while operating in the soundscape realm. Making this with friends gave us the freedom to be creative, and the quickness of the recording kept us from getting hung up on details, and just flow with the process.“ (Woodruff)

The mixing process—handled by Urian—preserves the album’s live edge while layering space for the melodies to breathe. Will Killingsworth’s mastering gives the collection a raw clarity that emphasises the dynamic peaks and fragile moments alike. The result feels immediate, deviously rough at the edges, and charged with a punk-minded intensity that keeps the momentum taut and the sound intimate.

“Both remote exchange and immediate, in-person sessions can be energizing in their own way. I love remote exchange for keeping a birds-eye view of a song/composition while writing, and jamming and recording in person gives a new kinetic quality to the ideas as they develop. For the next record we'd like to get everyone together and dig into the in-person collaboration more, but for this EP the balance really worked.“ (Woodruff)

‘There Are More of Us, Always‘ is an exploration of musical cooperation as catharsis. Through the album’s shifts—from open, reverb-swept guitar lines to tightly woven, chaotic crescendos—Jagged City invites listeners to inhabit a landscape where tension and release sit side by side. The compositions favor emotional immediacy over clinical ostentation; each passage earns its space and purpose, revealing new details on repeated listens.

“Urian's brother Jules dropped by the studio when we were tracking. We were listening to a take of ‘Minus Power‘ while snow was falling outside and clouds were enveloping the view of Lake Champlain. Jules chuckled and said "Damn...this song kinda makes me want to call my dad, tell him I love him." That's also kind of what we're going for—music that brings people together and helps us remember loved ones. That's kinda always the goal, right?“ (Woodruff)

Guest guitarist Takaakira Goto contributes haunting guitars to the closing track, while Michael James participated in the Los Angeles sessions, extending the album’s cinematic reach across cities together.

“Carlos and Taka handled Taka's guest spot—they've been good friends since Explosions In The Sky and Mono toured together years ago. When I heard it I was blown away by how much the mood changed. Taka's signature is so evident in his playing, and it really catapulted the emotional impact of the closing track. It's an honor to be on a recording with Taka—I've loved Mono for a long time and listening to that track is still pretty surreal for me.“

The album’s title and the band’s name, inspired by Hanif Adburraquib’s 2024 book, “There’s Always This Year,” reflect an ethos of shared creativity and resilience. Inspired by the celebration of communal endurance, Jagged City positions this record as a reminder that connection and artistic exchange are powerful responses to isolation. The music is meant to be experienced together, whether in the hush of focused listening or the rush of a live room.

“I absolutely love ‘Rain and Sirens‘ — Carlos started that song with a solo bass idea that made me feel...a lot of emotions, even just as a solo track. I thought he'd want a sombre arrangement but when I asked him what he pictured under it he just said "blast beats." I kinda split the difference on my contributions to that song, and Urian's blistering drumming and delicately balanced mix really pulls off what we were going for. That might be the most extreme example of a different take on post-rock that we were going for on ‘There Are More of Us, Always‘.“ (Woodruff)

This debut is both a statement of intent and an open invitation: Jagged City offers music that rewards close listening and communal experience—an instrumental journey shaped by collaboration and a fierce commitment to feeling. While still post-rock, ‘There Are More of Us, Always‘ utilises a diverse range of influence, giving a freshness to each uniquely realised track.

“This record is a product of collaboration and love and creativity—we hope it inspires people to be connected and think collaboratively and creatively together. That's the only way forward.“ (Woodruff)

FOR FANS OF

Mogwai, Do Make Say Think, Godspeed, Mono, Defeater, Explosions In The Sky