J. Solomon’s Jesse Moldovsky engages in a track-by-track discussion with Atwood Magazine regarding his recent EP, ‘KILL THE ROCKSTAR,’ alongside an exclusive video premiere for the project’s second track, “RUBBER BAND.”
Stream: “RUBBER BAND” – J. Solomon
When I hear the term "rockstar," countless vivid images flood my mind—a feverish kaleidoscope of legendary figures. Jim Morrison wandering through the desert at twilight or gazing at Hollywood bungalows. Elvis Presley, risking his career in a leather outfit. A gentle breeze flowing through Robert Plant's fingers at the Riot House. To me, embodying a rockstar involves straddling the line between understanding the joke and embodying it, balancing extremes with a touch of wit, and serving as a quintessential muse of remarkable scale. A rockstar enters a party, and the other lights in the room seem to dim in comparison to their radiance.
‘KILL THE ROCKSTAR,’ J. Solomon’s latest EP, was released on May 30!
History has shown us that knowing when to exit a party is as crucial as making a striking entrance. For Jesse Moldovsky, the mind behind J. Solomon, this exit is crystallized in KILL THE ROCKSTAR, a six-track EP that serves as a frantic, final farewell to his tenure as an indie rocker.
Atwood Magazine is excited to premiere the music video for “RUBBER BAND” and to present an exclusive interview with the artist, who is gearing up for performances in New York City and Los Angeles.
“RUBBER BAND” receives a royal presentation in its visual counterpart, highlighting some of Moldovsky’s most impactful lyricism yet. “By the time the smoke clears / Your twenties are halfway passed,” he sings, tracing a delicate, star-shaped scar across his chest as he struggles to get out of bed. This physical scar symbolizes a deeper, more personal one, reflecting Pete Suski’s album art and the overall vibe of the EP. “I initially had this concept of painting the cover—just a canvas splashed with red, messy strokes and rich texture,” he shares, and the EP’s second track echoes that imagery perfectly.
Give a little until you gain what you seek
But you’re just getting older until it all at once
Everything you ever desired slips from your grasp
Saving every penny just to hand it all over to the man
Feel it slipping through your fingers like coarse sand
Can you keep it all intact like a rubber band?
– “RUBBER BAND,” J. Solomon
Moldovsky tends to the star's wound, which may symbolize his aspirations and dreams, or signify the decay of his rockstar identity, and prepares himself. We quickly find an empty bed with the camera focused on his void within the frame. “I ask if you still love me as you seem to grow bored / I swear something’s on fire on the ballroom floor,” he sings, with “burning” embodying a clever double meaning of both passion and decline. “If a spark ignites / It’ll all burn down tonight,” he adds.
J. Solomon © Peter Suski
Moldovsky’s coast-to-coast relocations from his home in Pennsylvania have provided him with a unique perspective, and KILL THE ROCKSTAR serves as a tribute to his time in each city and the person he was at the start of each move.
“I grew up in Bucks County, PA, and eventually moved to Philly when I turned 18,” he recounts, “and Philly was where I first encountered indie rock music, which transformed my world,” as he had primarily composed folk songs until that point. Suddenly, a new realm of storytelling was revealed to him.
From there, he ventured to New York City. “My time in NYC was all about community, engaging with people creating impactful art, and sharing collective experiences,” he explains, noting that navigating the pandemic in the city inspired this latest collection of songs. A subsequent move to Los Angeles prompted a period of introspection and self-discovery, and these three cities began to influence his writing and artistic persona in distinct ways.
The last project J. Solomon released was 2023’s Sleeping In The Garden, and reflecting on those songs now evokes feelings of pride and nostalgia. “I wouldn’t change a thing about it, honestly,” he states, mentioning “Shoes” and “Gravity Control” as standout tracks in hindsight. “I’m one of those people who believe everything happens for a reason, be it good or bad. Sleeping in the Garden represented such a meaningful period in my life; the timing, location, and collaborators made it feel just right.” Transitioning to his new project needed to differ, but not due to any uncertainty about what preceded it.
KILL THE ROCKSTAR opens with “LYING AROUND,” and its initial lyrics depict a
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J. Solomon's Jesse Moldovsky speaks with Atwood Magazine in a track-by-track interview about his new EP, ‘KILL THE ROCKSTAR,’ along with an exclusive video premiere for the project's second track, “RUBBER BAND.”