With their debut album, Amerika’s Next Top Party, Jadagrace and Swim of PARTYOF2 have mastered the art of never needing an RSVP: they bring the party wherever they go.
Partying is an act of resistance, especially in a world where politics threatens the freedom of movement. Experimentation and expression are the two sides of a razor-sharp sword the duo keeps at their hip. “We were reading his book in the studio all the time,” Jadagrace says, relaying a revelatory Rick Rubin quote to her partner-in-crime, Swim. (Swim, currently in the transit-haze of a touring artist, can’t quite recall the specific sentence; the two are en route to Dallas during our interview). Jadagrace recollects the wisdom: “If there are two people in a room and they both have the same opinion, then one person isn’t necessary.”
Best friends for over 15 years, the two first met at the Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles. In 2019, they sonically reconnected to form the hip-hop quartet Grouptherapy. When that group disbanded, Jadagrace and Swim remained a team. They bonded over a shared trinity of influences: Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and the Black Eyed Peas. That chameleonic groove is felt throughout Amerika’s Next Top Party! Having deeply studied their idols, the duo’s combined voices create a sound that is both a tribute and a transformation.
“When we make music together, we go into it with the intention of just being ourselves, and the core of it is our friendship,” Swim explains. His pen is the gasoline that ignites Jadagrace’s vocal fire. Together, they embody the two-headed Doberman seen on their album cover, standing steps apart and pledging to the American flag with expressions of defiance and dissatisfaction. The project’s anthemic arrangements are a showcase of versatility and a spirited call to dance.
“It’s a statement of us,” Swim says of the ethos behind the album. “It is us claiming our spot, but I think it is also a reflection of where people our age are right now, especially people of color. We are in a weird space where it’s hard to even enjoy anything because of the political climate. Sometimes you want to listen to music and just let go, be free, and forget about everything happening in the world. Just dance.”
Tracks like “Out Of Body,” “Just Dance 2,” and “Vanessa Williams” are genre-resistant concoctions of personal anecdotes and high-BPM harmonies. In “Vanessa Williams,” Swim raps about painting “the White House black” while Jadagrace’s voice cuts through like a megaphone: “That’s all… will the real Miss America stand up?” The spotlight shifts constantly; Swim commands attention, they share the stage, and then Jadagrace steals the mic right back. “We highlight different things happening in our individual lives,” Swim says of their process. “We write separately, then get together to focus the concepts. We piece it together as a unit, throwing it all into a collage.”
The 11 tracks exhibit a massive range of textures, proving just how versatile PARTYOF2 is. At the most recent Camp Flog Gnaw, Jadagrace and Swim took the main stage for their first live performance together. “We have been dreaming of Camp Flog Gnaw for years. To have this album out and have people screaming the lyrics… it was amazing. The reception was exactly what we needed to go on tour,” Jadagrace remembers. “The best show.”