on his own - Puma Blue - Album Research


For the products I produce for New Music Market, I need to research more albums which will be represented by these products. I have already decided upon my product for Connan Mockasin’s Caramel, based on my research. The next album I will research for this will be ‘on his own’ by Puma Blue - a live recorded set, performed in ‘Eddie’s Attic’ in Atlanta.

Puma Blue aka Jacob Allen is a singer and songwriter from south London. His style of music is described as contemporary ‘lo-fi jazz’. Since 2017 he has released a number of singles and Ep’s, however ‘on his own’ is his first full album. I initially wanted to pick studio albums which had a strong theme and concept in order to be able to have more to research and play around with in the design and concept process, however Puma Blue’s music is so distinct and evocative that I feel I could definitely produce an adequate product in response to it. 

The songs on this album are performed live solely by Puma Blue; they are subdued, emotional, dark, soft and melodic. Since its a live album, as a listener you really get that feel of interaction between you, the audience and the artist, especially when he talks in-between songs, which is juxtaposed by the title ‘on his own’. Puma Blue’s ambient emotional music deals with themes of love, despair, passion and isolation, I think the product should reflect this romanticism. 

Since the album is live, when listening through it, It really made me imagine I was there and what this venue looked like so I researched ‘Eddie’s Attic’ - a restaurant, tavern and music bar, it has a jazz bar aesthetic and decor, with small tables seated in front of the stage. Once I had seen pictures of the venue I imagined what the performance might have looked like even more, with Puma Blue on stage and the audience seated watching in the dimly lit seating area, with glowing candles on the table. This made me think that a candle might be a good product to represent the album; it gives a feel of the live aspect of the album and the location it was recorded. Also candles are quite an ambient, romantic product often used to set the mood, which really matches the feel and subject matter of Puma Blue’s songs. 





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