On Painted Life by René Najera, each track feels like a puzzle that gradually comes together as you listen. Every song unfolds in delicate rhythmic layers and flowing synth lines. Behind Najera is Jared Carrigan—sound engineer, label founder (Jungle Gym Records, LA), and seasoned producer—who, ten years after his debut as René Najera, now releases his first full-length vinyl album on 100% Silk. The pieces grew out of a live set prepared for Japan in 2023, with three tracks created in collaboration with fellow musicians.
“The Seasons” (ft. Leech) opens like a sunrise, carried by heartbeat drums and gentle synths. “Ancestral Remnant” strikes a more energetic tone, layering minimalist patterns into a dense weave. On “Moonscape,” individual tones stack neatly until a cohesive form emerges. “Bad Analogy” (ft. Maria Minerva) stands out as the only vocal track: danceable, mantra-like, and ethereal. Finally, “Balancing a Stone” lets strings bring the record to a close, glowing like a sunset at the end.Painted Life resonates as a mosaic of sound fragments, oscillating between club energy and meditative depth.
Painted Life
