Local musicians from Jacksonville and the surrounding Northeast Florida region have put out six new full‑length releases that span folk‑rock, jazz, rock, Americana, electronic dance music and jazz‑guitar interpretations. The albums arrived over the past few weeks and are now streaming on major platforms.
The Something Specials – “Somewhere Up There” (folk rock)
St. Augustine‑born singer‑guitarist Taylor Olin, who moved to Los Angeles in 2024 and later relocated to Europe, saw her 2024 single “Love” go viral after the song was featured in thousands of TikTok and Instagram reels. The track amassed more than 20 million Spotify streams, prompting Olin and her collaborators Josh Augustin and Nathan Slone to release the 15‑track debut album Somewhere Up There. The record offers sunny, retro‑styled songs that echo classic rock influences.
Ulysses Owens Jr. & Generation Y – “Kind of Grunge” (jazz)
Duval‑born drummer, Juilliard professor and three‑time Grammy winner Ulysses Owens Jr. returned with a new project that reimagines early‑1990s grunge hits. After a YouTube challenge video that drew nearly 8 million views, Owens Jr.’s ensemble Generation Y recorded a dozen grunge classics on the spot and released them as the album Kind of Grunge. Highlights include a Latin‑jazz rendition of Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow,” which has earned more than 200 k YouTube views.
ROADIE – “Jump Start” (rock)
Singer‑songwriter and guitarist Alexis Rhode, formerly of indie rock band Bad Madonna, issued her first full‑length under the moniker ROADIE. The album features the single “Alien Jesus,” a down‑tempo, minor‑key ballad with distorted guitars and layered vocals. ROADIE will support the release with a show at the Walrus in Murray Hill on August 21.
Patrick Hagerman – “Gathering Turquoise” (Americana)
After two decades as a working musician, local singer‑songwriter Patrick Hagerman released his debut long‑player Gathering Turquoise in May 2026. The ten‑track collection blends blues, folk and retro country, and includes contributions from Jacksonville musicians Derek Engstrom (drums), Landon Gay (pedal steel) and Cara Murphy (background vocals, production).
Druzin – “Humidity” (electronic)
Drummer Mitch Fountain, known for his work with alt‑rock band Flipturn, issued a solo electronic EP under the name Druzin. Titled Humidity, the sub‑30‑minute release offers dance‑floor‑ready instrumentals and is available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
Taylor Roberts – “Sanctuary” (jazz)
Duval jazz‑guitar virtuoso Taylor Roberts released Sanctuary, featuring seven‑string arrangements of pop standards such as the Beatles’ “In My Life” and the Bee Gees’ “How Deep Is Your Love,” alongside jazz classics like Hank Mobley’s “This I Dig of You.” The album is now on all major streaming services.
These six releases illustrate how local artists are leveraging digital platforms while maintaining a strong regional identity. Listeners can explore the albums on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Bandcamp and other services. For additional local releases, readers are invited to email the editorial team.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
