Boys to men

A conceptual EP album + accompanying visuals

Lyrics-

I’m really kinda tired of people waking me before the sun is up, and I’m really fucking sick of explaining myself, on the fucking shelf, remember counting to eight because that’s what they taught me in my dance class, now look at you grew up, show them what you skate on, no one knows its tough you see, you rip along the pavement in your dress, you can count to eight again and again, do it to fill up the spaces, between a boy and a man. I never saw a difference between the two, or between

view the insides of “8count’s” red folders below. these were made up of images and ideas that inspired the album

all that has stuck with me throughout my life

At the Dec. 11th release event, each guest was given one of these folders. Several guests felt an odd relevance and connection to what was inside of their folder

“Boys To Men” zine coming 2022

Lyrics-

*inhale* everything’s for sport *exhale*

in another world, another new height, might have been a girl looking out for new fights, uh huh, everything’s for sport though, I noticed that they’re keeping score though, damn, in my breath I’d hold oh oo oo, in my breath I’d hold ah ohh oo, ah ohh oo, aye, in my breath I’d hold all at once if it’s too cold, for my, for my age acted too bold, and it took this song just to get here, into your ears, another year of doubt on me babe, I don’t fear a sliver of your doubt on me, babe it doesn’t match, it doesn’t match and I was younger then, but they wanted to be taller, they wanted to be taller, the boys to the ballers I came to play, it is a full court game, nothing about me feels the same, cuz I grew up to be taller just to see, your feet..

it is a full court game, ha! Nothing about me feels the same, cuz I grew up to be taller, alright now, you see everything’s for sport now, and you know, everything’s reported back to me, nah I don’t know, everything’s for sport though, in my breath I’d hold all at once if it’s too cold, for my age acted too bold, I acted too bold, and I acted too bold, you see! everything’s for sport now, everything’s recorded on the screen, we grew up fast

Lyrics-

I held it in, I held it in, I held it in, I held it in, held it in, held it in

Now this life is no walk in the park, but we walk the whole thing and we skate the whole rink ‘til you find light in restart, ah come on now she’s no walk in the park, but you walk the whole thing, you gotta skate the whole rink ‘til you, find light in your darkness, and if it’s all just a game, I don’t blame you not at all, yeah if its all just a game, I don’t blame you not at all, but please don’t forfeit, please don’t

I’ve found it much harder to write about writing this song than anticipated. This song is for Will Jensen. I went to school with Will when we were kids. Ever since I learned of his passing when it occurred in 2016, he’s been a part of my everyday. I talk to Will everyday. Since 2016, I understand him more everyday

May every soul we’ve lost to mental health struggles fly freely. May we all be more present and attentive to those right in front of us

Lyrics-

I got to say, I got to say, there’s no other person that could take my place, we know the same damn things, and we could really shake ground, please let me free, you’re the only person that could let it be, I know it cuz I know you and you know me through, we need our feet on the ground

‘Unleashed’ is the first visual to digitally fly

It’s an homage to my project “Wave 2” (2018)

view wave 2 here

it’s an homage to coming home.

always give the inner child some room to set you free

you can set you free perhaps

special thank you to the young actress and her mother for being a part of this

Lyrics-

And I feel like I’m handsome when I look in the mirror, I see handsome, I see every sincere insult down the drain uh huh, there might still be pain, but alchemy, huh, have you considered alchemy? Have you considered meeting me out on the balcony? I feel like I’m handsome, and I, I had to let them know, I had to let it blow through the seams, yes I fall right in between, right in between, yeah where’s the sand to your beach house? If there was light it went out, hey man don’t say that c’mon don’t say that to me! I alchemized any shit talk, I float I don’t walk through the room and you know what it means ha ha ha, and the fears fall away, and the fears fall away and I say, that’s a bad bitch crying in the rain, that’s not average no one looks the same here, no, I move a little taller, never let your stupid kind of shit get to me no, I move like water on the free road, I move like I’m moving out of deep holes, ha ha ha, and I move a little slower, I’m a bit taller, not to get confused, have you ever heard of alchemy? Yeah where’s the sand to your beach house? If there was light it went out, and have you ever heard of alchemy?

Do you remember when? The moment when you realized nothing’s what it seems to be? Cuz I do, I made this tape for you, I wanted you to hear it my way, I get it now, on that roof in downtown, gazed at people in the higher place, and they all wanted to be taller

project credits:

“Boys To Men” EP written, conceptualized, and performed by DeEtta Jain

all album photography by Jordan Altergott - @jordanaltergot @altr.agency

all video work shot/directed by Hunter Thompson - @cinnabontography @thompson_productions

music production by Sometimes Never, and DeEtta Jain @sometimesnevermusic

all audio mixing/mastering by Noah Richards @noahtheproducer

graphics and lettering by Faread @studioharamat

water hat by @monirath beige pieces by @emilyomesi

the featured actress in Unleashed, Lexie Lueckeman

forever grateful to this phenomenal team