J.R. SLAYER (CREDIT: Robin Laananen)

Just a few days before the release of their eagerly-awaited Will Yip-produced debut EP, Not Rotten, comes one of J.R. SLAYER's stand-out tracks, "The Fade Out." Keeping with the feeling of falling into Earth-shattering love that washes over the entire EP, "The Fade Out" feels nostalgic and hopeful while rocking amidst soaring guitar riffs and melodic Indie Punk sing-alongs. Out on Yip's label, Memory Music, this Friday, Not Rotten sounds as opposite as it can from Cody Votolato's past work; it's clear that the Seattle-born, LA-residing artist is at a new place in his life. "There's so much bad shit in the world, there's a lot of bad things happening. But when you fall in love with someone, you have this feeling that all that stuff can disappear momentarily," Votolato explains. "Everything goes away but you and this person and your feelings about them and yourself." J.R. SLAYER comes years after Votolato's pivot away from full-time music work on the tail-end of decades between bands, including beloved Seattle Post-hardcore outfit, The Blood Brothers, Jaguar Love, Head Wound City, Telekinesis, and Cold Cave.


Votolato additionally spent a brief period of time between 2016-19 doing guest appearances on records artists such as Against Me!, Say Anything, and Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumni Jonah Ray. The Blood Brothers began when Votolato was 15 and, at the time, was his main and only source of income. "I got fairly burnt out trying to make money as a musician," says Votolato. "I was struggling for a very long time to have music make me money and be my career. It turned into this very toxic relationship with music." He vowed to leave that life behind, but continued to write and play music at his own pace after moving to Los Angeles in 2016. Soon, friend and collaborator Andrew Martin pushed him to solidify J.R. SLAYER and, then, another friend booked a show at The Hi-Hat (R.I.P.) and Votolato started performing again. "I really wanted to re-connect with music in the way that I did when I first started playing music, which was more about just needing it to survive in an artistic and soulful way, as opposed to needing it to survive financially."


Jason Klein (Deaf Club, Run with The Hunted) who plays bass on the record, introduced Votolato to Will Yip, who produced Not Rotten at his Studio 4 Recording in Conshocken, Pennsylvania over two sessions, months apart, in 2021. Ben Walsh (Tigers Jaw, Petal) played drums on the record and Votolato's sister, Brandi Jo Votolato, sings alongside Cody across the five-track EP. J.R. SLAYER will accompany Saosin on a seven-date mini-tour this October; Saosin is fronted by Anthony Green, who recently launched two new solo/side-bands, as well, Anthony Green & The High & Driving Band and L.S. Dunes. Oddly enough, Anthony Green & The High & Driving Band's Boom. Done. was mixed by Will Yip and Yip produced L.S. Dunes' forthcoming debut, Past Lives. J.R. SLAYER's Not Rotten drops this upcoming Friday, September 9th, on Memory Music. Not Rotten's digital album is now available for pre-order on Bandcamp.