Dora Jar Sets the World Ablaze in Debut Album, ‘No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire’
In 40 minutes of experimental production and personifying lyrics, indie-pop artist Dora Jar takes listeners on a journey through the electrifyingly mystical landscape of her debut album, No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire.
Watch the music video for "She Loves Me" on YouTube.
The project comes after a summer of single releases from the California-raised singer-songwriter, born Dora Jarkowski, who invited fans into the otherworldly sound of the record in May with “She Loves Me.” Jarkowski’s vocal flips, backed by an incessant drum beat in the song, paint the hypnotic landscape for the rest of No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire.
The record opens with “This Is Why,” a track marked by chromatic guitar plucking and a Mellotron-generated flute melody reminiscent of The Beatles, a sonic inspiration for Jarkowski. Her staccato delivery of the melody backed by the bouncy production of the song juxtapose the somewhat existential lyrics, creating an eerie atmosphere. The lyric, “Who am I? Who are you?” introduces the album’s central theme of soul searching and transitions into “Timelapse,” which opens asking the same question.
Jarkowski attempts to answer this question in track three, “Debbie Darling.” The three-minute song is a tender ballad that starts with the discovery of “Debbie Downer”: “Look what I found in the basement, way below ground / My bad attitude suffocating in a bubble wrap suit.” As the song progresses, “Debbie Downer” becomes “Debbie Daydream,” who will fly “over the moon,” until “Debbie Darling” is left to answer the question, “Are you staying or passing through?” The character of Debbie — whose name starts with the same letter as Jarkowski’s — is just one way she characterizes herself on the album.
In other tracks, like the singles “Ragdoll” and “Puppet,” the metaphor is much more objectifying. Jarkowski said “Puppet” was written when she took time off the internet in Alaska, and her “awareness shifted away from how I was perceived online to a strong feeling that everything around me was alive and aware.” This sense of hyperawareness fits the album’s overall narrative of existentialism beautifully.
“Smoke Out the Window” is a brief, fever dream-esque track that states, “I think I’m freaking you out now.” The answer is yes, Dora, you are freaking me out — but in a quirky, “I feel like I’m in a funhouse” way. The terrifyingly boisterous nature of “Smoke Out the Window” juxtaposes the softer opening of the next track, “Cannonball.” The moving acoustic line, tom-heavy drum builds, and strong bass drum downbeats give the song a somewhat medieval feel. The bridge features a woodwind section driven by a baritone saxophone-sounding descending line that creates an ominous ambiance.
Jarkowski for No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire via Instagram (@dorajar_).
The title track, “No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire,” is a more canonical indie rock song. Jarkowski starts the track with a more grounded scene, singing “I heard about you from the girls in the bathroom,” backed by simple guitar strumming and a consistent drum beat. The chorus, however, transports listeners back to the otherworldly theme of the record as she preaches, “No way to relax when you are on fire / There’s no way to rise up when you’re already high.”
While the whole album is an experiment in sound, “Sometimes All Ways” is the track that gives the most musical whiplash, proving that Jarkowski knows how to surprise. The main melodic motif lives three different lives, as the tempo and overall sonic vibe shift multiple times. The structure of “Sometimes All Ways” feels like an indie take on the classical notion of a theme and variations. One Mellotron melody also seep into the end of the track, reminding listeners that Jarkowski is not done telling her story.
After serving up a synth-driven song with dance elements in “Behind The Curtain,” Jarkowski once again flips the switch and grounds listeners in “Devil Eye.” A heavy, folksy drum beat sets the tone for a more sultry-sounding tune. The slight pull back after she sings “Slow boy, hurry” is just the kind of touch that marks a truly thoughtful sense of production.
In true Jarkowski nature, the record ends on a contemplative note with “Holy Water.” The acoustic chord progression, coupled with rawer vocals and hints of crickets in the background, harnesses a sense of intimacy as if Jarkowski is inviting listeners to sit around a campfire as she concludes her story. She brings the album back to the ever-pressing question of “Who am I?” as she laments, “Don’t know who I am anymore / I wish I could tell myself it really doesn’t matter now, anyway,”
While Jarkowski may still be pondering her identity, the artistry of No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire makes it clear who she is as a musician: an artist who is not afraid to push boundaries in the name of art and reflection.
Jarkowski is set to hit the road at the end of the month on her “Behind The Curtain” tour, joined by indie rock band The Army, The Navy.