Planningtorock - gentlethem
New album out March 31st on Human Level.
Listen to new single ‘Versions’ now
Gentlethem is Planningtorock’s first studio album since 2018’s Powerhouse. Entirely self-written and self-produced at their home studio in Tallinn, it’s a celebratory, healing and deeply moving record, the sound of someone finally arriving as themselves.
It runs as a sonic biography, running from their early years in Bolton to life in Estonia now, as a trans person in their fifties.
Speaking on the album, Jam shared “This album felt like writing an autobiography. Each song documented part of my understanding of who I am after decades of being lost. A precise lyrical breakdown of the years of struggling as a trans person and how music gave me back my body and my life.”
They also describe it as “almost a returning home, and going back. Because I can now, because I’m me.”
New single Versions is fuelled by punchy synths and uplifting percussion that sees Jam tackle the pursuit of identity and exploring the different versions of yourself that you explore along the way.
This new release, which follows their recent single Told Me Mum I’m Trans, continues the narrative of positivity that this album holds, with Jam describing the song as “a gift to myself,” continuing to say “it’s me saying thank you to all the Jams that came before and despite all their body dysphorias and law enforced gender performance, they found me.”
On the album it is preceded by a spoken-word prelude that sees Jam look back on their pre-transition self with tenderness and an air of gratefulness.
Gentlethem is released on March 31st 2027 on Human Level Music.
Pre-save the album and listen to new single ‘Versions’ here
LIVE at the ICA
A special one off show at the ICA to introduce a selection of new songs off my upcoming new album plus perform some of the recent reworks from the planningtorock catalog.