There’s a popular saying that goes “I love you to the moon and back.” It originates from the popular children’s book “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney. The phrase has often been used to describe a deep and limitless love, given how the moon is on average 238,855 miles away from Earth.
The moon is never from the mind of Chicago-based singer-songwriter and producer Jake Dinneen, who performs as Jacob on the Moon. He started the project in his apartment in 2019 and it has expanded to include more members. Today, we’re excited to announce that a new EP, The Gemini Club, is out July 18 – and share the premiere of the single “Long Flight.”
The EP’s five songs have a loosely conceptual thread. They detail the story of a protagonist starting a sci-fi-like journey to the dark of the Moon to visit the dance club The Gemini Club. The song follows their journey to the surface as well as the “lore surrounding the club and its otherworldly entertainment.”
It was co-produced by bass and keyboard player Devin Wessels, best known as a member of the popular and Chicago-based act Brigitte Calls Me Baby. Guitarist Dylan Barnett, saxophonist Spencer Schillerstrom, and percussionist Julian Merluzzi join Dinneen and Wessels.
“‘Long Flight’ is about our protagonist’s journey to the Moon,” says Dinneen. “This one started as the main riff but really came together when Devin added his keys and bass to it. The ‘Dancing Queen’ line he plays in the bridge is probably my favorite part, along with the guitar solo. Dylan definitely could’ve done something much cooler, but I like that we stuck with my take.”
You can read the song’s emotionally hopeful lyrics below:
Made it here on the long flight
A spectacular view, so big and so blue
When you were outside
Looking at the trail in the sky
Did you know it was me?
Now I’m your man on the Moon
Got your hand up now to block out the light
As you’re saying goodbye, you’ve got tears in your eyes
Honey, don’t cry
Know that I’ll be back before long
Back in your arms
To sing you a song
Those days when you’re needing a light
I’ll be up in the sky
Up in the sky
Looking back at my whole world
It’s the longest goodbye
When you’re still in sight
I couldn’t stay, no time to waste
But I’ll a place
Our better place
So stay
So stay at home
It’s not for a lifetime
So stay
So stay at home
Sonically, the song—and the rest of the EP—feels intimate yet expansive and energetic. The songs draw on the energy of last year’s live album Live! From Earth (recorded at Audiotree), while keeping the bedroom pop sound that fans have come to know him for.
The song follows the previously released single “Dancer on the Dark Side.” Dinneen says that the song originally started off with “more of a straight feel,” but its core came together once he played the chords as a shuffle.
“None of my earlier songs had that kind of driving groove, so I was really excited about having something that felt new in that way,” he says. “I think I must’ve revisited ‘MJ’ by Now, Now around that time too and took inspiration from it.”
“Lyrically, I think it came together in a single night, but at the time I didn’t know it would fit so well with another track on the project, ‘The Gemini Club’. The Dancer/subject of the song is found at the club on the dark side of the Moon, where the story takes place. In my mind she looks like a Silver Surfer type or one of Hajime Sorayama’s robot women. Big sci-fi vibes and the track is basically about being in awe of her–you get the idea!”
With recent focus on space exploration, it’s time to check out Jacob on the Moon!
You can follow Jacob on the Moon on Instagram and listen to his music on Bandcamp and Spotify.
Joshua is co-founder of Scummy Water Tower. He’s freelanced for a variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including: Rolling Stone, The Boston Globe, Chicago Sun-Times, Guitar World, MTV News, Grammy.com, Chicago Magazine, Milwaukee Magazine, MKE Lifestyle, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, A.V. Club, SPIN, Alternative Press, Under the Radar, Paste, PopMatters, American Songwriter, and Relix. You can email him at josh@scummywatertower.com.
