Kevin Bronson on September 24th, 2019

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North Carolina-bred, L.A.-based Jake Troth is a creator of affecting pop songs with indelible melodies, a heaping helping of which can be found on his new album “It Is As If,” which came out Sept. 13 via Atlantic Records. His skills have led him to write for the likes of Lizzo, Kehlani, Sia, Kelly Rowland, Jennifer Lopez, Erik Hassle, Kevin Gates and Big Boi. As a young lad, Troth played in a death metal band, aspired to be professional baseball player and attended Savannah College of Art and Design.

“It Is As If” is kinda-sorta-maybe his debut album. Back in 2016, Troth had an album titled “Double Black Diamond” scheduled for release — there was even this brilliant short film made for it — but it apparently was scotched, along with the links to the promotional singles that were issued beforehand. It was a more ambitious, if not better, album than “It Is As If,” but who knows what goes on? We need a separate hard drive to store all the albums major labels have scuttled after they were announced and promoted with exhausting press releases and nifty videos. (Anybody wanna hear Atlantic’s 2003 Ken Andrew-produced album by The Emergency?)

Anyway, Troth’s catchy singles “Alive & Well” and “The Queen” made the “debut” album, which closes with the simply delightful “All Over the World.” Wendy McColm directs the video, which literally follows Troth all over the world as he strums, sings, whistles and spreads good vibes.

||| Watch: The videos for “All Over the World” and “Open Door”

||| Also: Stream “It Is As If” in its entirety