James Black - Dancin Round The Room (EP)
From getting ghosted through dating apps to overcoming heavy feelings of disassociation, Dancin Round the Room jots the journey of James Black, an alternative, singer/songwriter based in Austin, Texas. Black brings us into his world, more so his room—full of open feeling and perspective of his personal life and artistic journey, as well as a display of his creative capabilities.
The project opens with the song “Casper”—a song that plays on the nature of interactions with potential people through Black’s experience being on online dating apps. “I should have seen it coming I guess, The way she pushed our first date back / Twice in one breath, I’d hoped she’d see more in me but / There’s only so much you can see through a screen.” The age of online dating has its challenges, especially with the act of ghosting. Black reconstructs the idea of getting ghosted from others and would rather hang out with Casper, the friendly ghost—not indulging in “frivolous affairs,” as Black mentions in the track description himself on his Bandcamp.
“Fever Baby” expresses the want and reminiscence of a past love. “People don’t last long, You’re here then you’re gone / Now you know what I want, I want your fever baby.” Getting caught in the moment of conversation, Black expresses feelings of loss and desire—reflecting on emotions of wanting to be more than friends. “I Like This” continues as a sort of self-realization and focus after these fluttering emotions of interest in others. “I like this, it’s whatever / We don’t have to be together / I like this, It’s fun / But we don’t have to turn it into something, That it’s not.” Black expresses this sentiment throughout the track, with things not always being “what they seem” when someone cool and interesting comes across your life. With the production assistance from musician Gordon Raphael on the track, recognized for his contributions on The Strokes album, This Is It (2001)—“I Like This” has to be the highlight of the project in sound, atmosphere, and musical progression.
“OTW” I would say is Black’s most reflective track on the project—mentions of out-of-body experiences in disassociation, while reminding himself of his purpose and reassurance for the future. “I’ve walked this road alone so long, I won’t forget where I came from / I see my blessings on their way, My feet my faith take me away.” The positive reassurance brings Black back to earth, where he continues to acknowledge and recognize the positive progression he’s making to ground himself—keeping a hold of reality. The following track “OTW Reprise,” continues the same sentiment with adding more musical elements such as a guitar solo, new verse, and outro—a complete remaster and reconstruction of the original track.
“Something’s Happening” brings Black back to a place of questioning and wishing—a place where you’re over everything going on in your life. “What am I still doing here? What the hell is going on?” The repetition throughout the track highlights Black returning to this cycle of overthinking; however, it’s in an upbeat, dance-like track where it feels he’s had enough of the things that put him back into this cycle. It feels more representative of the title of the project, whereas if Black himself is dancing around his room stating he “can’t take this shit no more”—dancing the pain and problems away.