SOBBRS

SOBBRS, Jesus A. Acosta’s artistic moniker, has enamored audiences with his anthemic ballads all throughout the hi-chroma project. His music emphasizes the vibrant electronic-pop that evidently leads to the impromptu solo dance routines in one’s bedroom. hi-chroma is a personal journey, one that celebrates the euphoria of love. Fast forward into 2018 and SOBBRS embarked on a gig alongside the ethereal virtuoso, Maggie Rogers and enamored audiences at SXSW.

“Both were very surreal experiences. I didn’t apply to perform at SXSW because I thought I was too new and would get denied. I ended up performing at an official showcase with a ton of artists that I admire a lot,” Jesus says. “Playing at Stubb’s after Maggie Rogers was definitely the highlight of my 2018. She’s someone I look up to a lot and being remotely associated with anything she does is such a dream to me. I haven’t gotten over the nerves yet, but I gotta say they’re usually gone by the second song on my set. For me, it’s either give them a show or give them a show. There’s no other option.”

The hi-chroma project showcases SOBBRS ability to tap into the diaspora of electronic-pop music and refining it to his own particular uniqueness. SOBBRS’s is diligently devoted to those listeners that put his songs on loop, amassing to more than 20K Spotify listens in his emerging year as a musician. An authenticity is found within tracks like “Forcefield” that induce the splendor of 80s movie dance sequences.

“I feel honored and grateful that anyone would take the time to listen. I haven’t had a “hit” or “viral” single of any sorts so the fact that a small but amazing group of people keep coming back to it months after its release definitely means a lot to me.”

Some artists stray away from public displays of sensitivity due to the redundant stigma that paints someone as easily susceptible to being hurt. SOB- BRS fully embraces the concept that sensitivity and emotions aren’t subject to internalization, rather they should be showcased through one’s art. In his case, songwriting and implementing himself in the music-making process is the predominant form of catharsis and mindfulness. “I believe everyone’s end goal is always to evoke some sort of feeling. Songwriting acts as the most cathartic way for me to express what I’m feeling,” he says. “I tend to bottle everything up, which I know is not the healthiest approach, but writing songs allows me to let it all out and reflect.”

Creating music is a cinematic effort within itself. A 35mm camera does not need to follow SOB- BRS around to delight his imagination. His music speaks for itself as a montage of emotive lyrics and narratives that breathe in an aura of relatability with his audience.

“I dream so big that most of my ideas are kind of hard to execute without a huge budget, but one day! Making music videos is like building a little world around your song and expanding your concepts so I can’t wait to do that one day,” he states.

“Higher Power” is a track that has a magnifying presence in SOBBRS mind in particular, as the metaphorical exploration of the song has become engraved in his mind. SOBBRS goes on to discuss the personal relevance that a line from the track holds for him. “‘A fool could never see your pearl cracks when it’s bitten through’ from Higher Power is one I’m proud of,” he says. “I think at the time, I felt like the only one who could see right through the person this song is about. It’s a convoluted metaphor but the gates I mention are the gates of heaven which are said to be covered in pearls. The easiest way to check if a pearl is real is using your teeth. Long story short, this was my way of saying ‘you’re fake and I don’t like you.’”

The production on the hi-chroma record, constructed by both SOBBRS and producer, Tropen, is the perfectly assembled to suit SOBBRS perfectionist nature. Pretty sounds that bring to life the journeys that SOBBRS describes within his music. The production in this case does not cast a shadow on the lyrical chronicles, rather highlights them in the same symbiotic nature one sees on the Pharrell-produced Ariana Grande album, Sweetener.

a fool could never see your pearl cracks when it's bitten through,"

“He [Tropen] is a genius. There would simply be no “hi-chroma” without him. I found Tropen on Twitter through a mutual friend. At the time, he was releasing one instrumental a day and I ended up listening through every single one until I found the song “Technicolor Terra” which ended up being “S.O.B” and I knew right then that I wanted to work with him on the whole thing,” he explains. “The biggest takeaway was that I learned to let other people into my creative process. He’s the first person I fully trusted to help me bring my vision to life. Truly a gem.”

Tropen and SOBBRS’ production excellency is symbolic on tracks like “Shrine” where even the transition from SOBBRS slick vocals to a darker, more phantom presence alludes to an underlying, cryptic meaning.

“Shrine” is my favorite song on the EP and it was so important for me to get it right. I wrote the parts to sound like that when I first started writing the song. This song was me gathering strength from a dark experience and I wanted that to be reflected in the song. It’s like grabbing your demons by the reins and being like ‘Thank you for making me strong.’

SOBBRS continues to fascinate listeners with a creative authenticity that is a rare commodity within the expansive music industry. Milestones were set in 2018, but 2019 forecasts envisions of achievements and infinite possibilities. In the particular case of SOBBRS, he is confidently cemented in finding his capitalized moniker on festival lineups, on a full-length album, and Spotify playlists across the globe. A growth in the reach of the SOBBRS community will inevitably allow unfamiliar ears to fall into his electronic-pop spell.

“I want to do everything but bigger. I wrote a concept album that I am planning on releasing this year. The first single should be dropping very very soon,” he says. “I am changing gears, switching it up, writing better music, being more of a perfectionist, crafting a live show that acts more as an experience. I am excited to do it all over again but with more confidence and a clearer intent.”

STORY BY JASMINE RODRIGUEZ | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW ROBERTSON