That one-man-band mentality has persisted, collecting instruments as he goes, though he’s never been formally trained; instead developing his own ear. Prestigious music colleges were too expensive and so he eventually moved to Paris to study the sound and film, which helped give him grounding in cinematic arrangements. He fell into the city’s nightlife scene, playing live instruments in clubs in Paris, and became known as a Soundcloud producer who blended house and jazz, as on his vibey 2013 Time For A Change EP.
But then in 2015, he played a festival in the Philippines that changed everything. There he met June, who performs as ((( O )))) and who he’d remixed a track for. Eventually they got married and moved in together on an island off the country’s south coast, where they have created a tropical studio idyll that looks out onto lush rainforest. You can see it in the live session FKJ recorded there in 2019 (over 19m views on YouTube), as he flits between piano, singing and sax.
The seeds for his more introspective sound were sown with his 2017 self-titled debut, while the track that he did with Masego that same year, ‘Tadow’, further evidenced his effortless ear for intriguing rhythms – the pair made the hip-hop-speared jazz jam out of a day-long improvisation in Paris, duelling on their saxophones, their keyboards and drums interlocking effortlessly. There’s an ease to his collaborations – nothing forced; artists who are like-minded about being guided by groove – see the meeting of minds on the track “Risk’ with the American rapper Bas or his latest remix for PinkPantheress.
But in 2019, FKJ started drawing more from within. He released the Ylang Ylang EP, the result of a tumultuous and devastating year when June miscarried. The couple cancelled their commitments and holed up together to recuperate and make music. The sweepingly romantic jazz of the title track is the EP’s centrepiece, encircled by crisp R&B beats, acoustic guitar flourishes and ambitious sax instrumentals on the other songs. The making of it soothed them as much as it did his growing international fanbase. “With music, I feel safe,” he says. “So when I hear that my music is healing for people, it’s the best compliment.”
Back in the Philippines, with no wifi and an impending global lockdown, FKJ was quite literally cut off from the world, able to explore music’s endless possibilities. “Sometimes I would get into it for the whole night and go to bed when the sun came up.” Out of this freedom comes an expressionistic, touching album that’s impossible to pin down. There’s no more hiding behind a branch of leaves, as he did on the cover of his 2017 debut: V I N C E N T marks FKJ out as a crucial new voice. He’s redefining chillout music with his bursts of late-night jazz sax and piano, coupled with his wood-cabin whispery vocals, recalling Bon Iver’s early work, and those Santana-styled guitar flourishes.
V I N C E N T is a marvel – and testament to the magic that can happen when you dig deep. “This was a challenging record,” he says. “I’m a perfectionist and it’s hard to shake that off. But once I did, and I let the music take over, I felt totally free.”
SKYLINE
FKJ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I mean to ride this ocean
Travelling in slow motion
Paddling with no question
Early morning with the sun
Not yet burning, innocent
I try to be a good son
Oh
Oh
I feel it inside
I wanna reach that
It's somewhere in sight
I wish I'd reach that
Skyline, skyline
I wanna reach that skyline, skyline
I wish I'd reach that skyline, skyline
I'm gonna reach that skyline, skyline
Endless troubles to go through
They are strewn in the city
Daily struggle to be true
Betrayed authenticity
Poison world around but still
I will take another round
Or another ride until
We take off from the ground
I feel it inside
I wanna reach that
It's somewhere in sight
I wish I'd reach that
Reach that skyline, skyline
I wanna reach that skyline, skyline
I wish I'd reach that skyline, skyline
I wanna reach that skyline, skyline
Skyline inside
Skyline inside
Skyline inside
Skyline inside
Skyline inside
Skyline inside
Skyline inside
Skyline inside
The lyrics "I'm in the right direction, I mean to ride this ocean, travelling in slow motion, paddling with no question" suggest a sense of purpose and direction. The singer seems to know where they're going and is taking their time to get there. The imagery of paddling without question suggests a level of confidence and determination. In the next verse, the singer describes an early morning scene with the sun just rising, and describes their desire to be a good son and remain true to themselves. The chorus repeats the phrase "I wanna reach that skyline," which could represent reaching a goal or reaching a higher level of success.
The second verse turns towards the challenges faced in the city and the struggle to remain authentic in a world filled with toxicity. The phrase "endless troubles to go through, they are strewn in the city" suggests the many obstacles that one can face in life, while the phrase "betrayed authenticity" suggests the difficulty in staying true to oneself. Despite the challenges, the singer chooses to continue on, taking "another ride" until they can take off from the ground and reach their desired skyline.
Overall, "Skyline" is a song about determination and the desire to reach one's goals, even in the face of challenges and obstacles. The ocean metaphor and repeated chorus of wanting to reach the skyline suggest a longing for something greater and a determination to get there.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the right direction
I am currently moving towards my desired goal
I mean to ride this ocean
I intend to navigate through life with purpose and determination
Travelling in slow motion
Taking life one day at a time, enjoying the journey and not just the destination
Paddling with no question
I am confident in my decisions and actions, not second-guessing myself
Early morning with the sun
Starting the day with a fresh perspective and open mind
Not yet burning, innocent
Still untouched by the stress and negativity of the day, feeling pure and untouched
I try to be a good son
I strive to be a responsible and respectable individual to those who raised me
Myself one hundred per cent
I am fully committed to being my authentic self, not swayed by outside influences
I feel it inside
I have a strong desire within me
I wanna reach that
I want to achieve my goal
It's somewhere in sight
My desired destination, or goal, is close by and visible
I wish I'd reach that
I hope that I am able to achieve my goal
Skyline, skyline
The skyline represents my ultimate goal or aspiration
I'm gonna reach that skyline, skyline
I am determined to attain my goal
Endless troubles to go through
There will be obstacles and hardships to encounter along the way
They are strewn in the city
The struggles and difficulties may be found in everyday life
Daily struggle to be true
It can be challenging to remain honest and authentic in a world that can betray one's values
Betrayed authenticity
Feeling like one's true self is not accepted or appreciated by the world around them
Poison world around but still
Despite the negativity and toxicity of the world, I will persevere
I will take another round
I will keep pushing forward and not give up
Or another ride until
I will persist until I achieve my desired outcome
We take off from the ground
Metaphorically, reaching my goal will feel like taking flight, soaring above previous limits
Skyline inside
The aspiration towards greatness is within me
Skyline inside
The desire to achieve my ultimate goal is a strong part of my being
Skyline inside
The aspiration towards greatness is internal, not contingent on external factors
Skyline inside
My ultimate goal is a driving force within me
Skyline inside
I constantly push myself towards my aspirations
Skyline inside
My dreams and aspirations are always present within me
Skyline inside
My ultimate goal is an integral part of who I am
Skyline inside
The pursuit of my aspirations is a constant presence in my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Vincent Julien Fenton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RelaxandTravel
Thanks FKJ. Hard times for everyone and you make us feel humans with your music.
to everyone who is doing homework, leave the chat, breathe slowly, take a sip of water, and focus
to everyone who is trying to sleep, leave the chat, grab a blanket, and get the rest you deserve.
to everyone who is feeling sad, grab a snack, get some water, get a blanket, and write down your thoughts. when you're done, lay down, and get some rest, no matter the time.
to everyone who is drawing, you got this. you're art is amazing. keep your head up (or down, depends on where your paper is) and remember that you matter.
i love you all
@rose4mvp2012
The best songs are the ones you randomly discover at random times.
@zee-ct7ex
Jared Banks exactly. I heard this song while i was shopping in South Korea.
@destinyjohnson3038
Jared Banks honestly
@lolwhataloser
Donna Mun Wow.. that's amazing lmao.. I was just walking around. I entered a coffee shop and the song was playing. Instantly falled in love 😁
@wibern1000
true, man
@AgentNRk
That is so exact
@megaslice23
I'll never forget the first time hearing this song and album. I had heard of FKJ before because of the numerous remixes he was putting out. Went down to NYC to meet up with my mom and cousin for summer '17. Ended up in this Afro-Asian fusion restaurant in Harlem. While waiting for our food, I heard this song playing. So I went over to the speakers and shazammed it. Next song, shazammed again. Realized he probably had the album on shuffle. I can't even remember what the food tasted like, but I don't think I had ever been more musically satisfied than I was listening to his album for the first time. It encapsulated what was one of my favorite vacations ever and hearing this song just takes me back. A lot of times we throw around the phrase, "He/she was born to do this or that." FKJ was born to make music that touches your soul. He is the easiest artist recommendation to make to someone looking for some new music.
@randomcollegeboy9525
That is one of the most accurate description of FKJ's music I have ever heard, the back ground story just makes it even more wholesome, Have a nice day my man.
@christylouis2611
Bro nobody cares-
@michealhoward2803
Im glad i found this one