Jorge Wilson probes two sides of the same cosmic coin on groove-led “Gemini”

Stoke-on-Trent is known for being a hub of creativity, mostly as the home of the ceramics industry. But bubbling under the surface, there is also a thriving music scene. One specific individual who is proudly waving the flag for the city is Jorge Wilson. Only a couple of years ago, the indie pop artist made the decision to jump from playing in bands to forming his solo project, and with the release of his new single “Gemini” it’s clear he made the right choice.

Pulling influences from the likes of Mac DeMarco, Steve Lacy, and The 1975, Wilson’s sound leans into a style that he calls “modern vintage,” laden with easy-going guitars, vibrant synths and an infectious, toe-tapping beat. Previous singles “Falling In Love” and “You & I” are equal performance indicators, both in spunk and in spirit.

“‘Gemini’ is definitely one of my favourite songs I’ve written, it’s quirky and weird in the best way possible,” Wilson shares. “I feel like there’s so much going on but at the same time it's a really simple track. I was listening to a lot of Steve Lacy. He had not long released his album Gemini Rights at the time, which I was obsessed with. It inspired me to write a track with some funky lyrics about star signs.”

The track delves into how people can have two sides to them. You meet the part they present on the surface, but the real, more complicated side only appears when you’re let into their inner world. Sometimes we only get to see one version, and the song plays on that tension. Through references to star signs, retrogrades, and “seeing double”, it toys with the messiness and uncertainty of a connection.

“‘Gemini’ was one of them that just fell out of the sky when I was writing it,” Wilson explains. I literally just picked up a friend's guitar and played these chords out of nowhere and the rest is history! As they say, every guitar has a song in them. I’d say it's my most experimental release so far, it pretty much holds all my inspirations in one, which I feel gives it a broader sound but still sits comfortably with my other tracks.”