Arion Wallen, contributor

Augsburg student Joey Kelly, performing under the moniker Lowjam, has just released his captivating debut Extended Play (EP), “It Glows Like It Burns.” The five-track EP is a deeply thematic exploration of a common yet complex experience: growing up and aging with a sense of difference. Lowjam describes the EP’s core as charting the journey of learning and feeling distinct as time moves forward. While the individual songs are varied and dynamic, they all share this introspective backbone. The EP’s sound is a blend of ethereal, layered soundscapes and vulnerable, personal lyrics. 

Lowjam drew stylistic influence from Radiohead, but the direction for “It Glows Like It Burns” was entirely his own. He spoke of a natural, almost spiritual, creative process, one driven by the philosophy of allowing the music to “reveal itself” rather than forcing a predetermined direction. Lowjam expressed a simple, profound hope for the release: while he wants everyone to like it, he wants just one person to “hear it and feel so deeply that the world makes a little more sense.”

The immediate standout to me is the song “Why Do You Steal My Fun?” Lowjam explained that the track captures a specific internal struggle with the creative process. While he has been interested in music since childhood—moving from simply burning his own CDs to getting serious around his senior year of high school—the act of creation began to feel mentally taxing during the EP’s production. The song is an honest account of the moment when self-imposed pressure to ensure the record was “good” began to “steal the fun” from a normally joyful endeavor. It is a striking portrayal of the challenges artists face in genuinely wanting to create music, even when it is difficult.

Lowjam points to “Hear These Words” as his personal favorite, describing it as an “intensely personal and vulnerable song.” The track was written as a dedication to his father, who passed away about three years ago. The music deliberately strips away traditional pop structure, a choice Lowjam felt was essential for conveying the message and deep emotional weight accurately. This unconventional composition allows the raw emotion to take precedence, creating a profound and immediate listener experience that enhances the entire EP. 

Lowjam began writing songs for the EP during his sophomore year of college, starting with “Hear These Words.” After a failed attempt to finish the project during his junior year—a difficulty that thematically mirrors the EP’s content—he worked tirelessly last summer to complete the production before starting his senior year. This period of intense dedication transformed the deeply personal project into a polished, finished work of art. Lowjam’s fun and engaging personality is evident throughout the work, and he even proved his collaborative spirit by meeting a man on the street who ended up contributing background vocals to one of the tracks. Overall, the EP is a wonderful amalgamation of all the struggles that come with growing up, but also all that is beautiful. If you are interested in listening to this EP or seeing any future work from Lowjam, check  him  out  on  Instagram  at 

@lowjammmm.