Ontario’s Jackson D. Begley does it all. A singer-songwriter, composer, and producer who seamlessly fuses genres as disparate as symphonic rock, barbershop, synthpop, and prog metal, Begley’s musicianship is dazzling and absolutely unique. Begley’s new EP, Alt Doo Wop—his “New Romantic symphonic rockabilly” record—sounds like the work of a meticulous time-travelling musical scientist committed to fusing all known genres to make you dance. You must hear it to believe it.

The sonic worlds Begley crafts are as eclectic as his songwriting style. Impossible to box in, Begley follows whatever subject fascinates him in that moment with impressive dedication. For instance, his previous album, Fallen Kingdom, is an epic concept album loosely based on the French revolution; shortly before this, he released an N64-esque video game soundtrack. Part of the magic of Begley is his ability to guide you through these disparate worlds, pairing true creative freedom (Begley’s work is almost entirely self-produced) and deep curiosity with stellar musicianship.

So, what fuels Begley’s commitment to this musical exploration, especially his interest in niche genres from across the past century? It all comes back to Begley’s deep love of music as a kid. Begley’s dad—an 80s punk musician and Elvis impersonator—would always play cassette tapes in the car, and was thrilled one day to hear 4-year-old Begley singing along, and on key! Begley’s dad was soon teaching him to play drums and giving notes on his first songs. Before long, Begley had also taught himself guitar, learned how to record at home, and was crafting huge, full-band arrangements inspired by the music—from Brahms to the Beach Boys—that he loved.

Alt Doo Wop finds Begley deftly channeling his influences while also showcasing the years he has put into his craft. One was this is immediately obvious is the pitch-perfect group harmonies Begley multitracked on these new songs. “I’ve always liked vocal-heavy music,” Begley explains, “acts like Dion and the Belmonts, with voices stacked upon voices.” While Begley’s lead vocals are always theatrical and commanding—with a hint of John Lennon’s signature rasp—his intricate background vocals elevate his songs to incredible heights.

The songs on Alt Doo Wop tackle an array of topics while keeping your toes tapping. “Go Go” offers a humorous take on the viral internet phenomenon of 'Karens’ in the form of a break-up song, while “Running Ragged” is soulful pop bop about burnout. With Duran Duran flamboyance and King Crimson crescendos, the track “AM to FM” praises the simple joy of scanning across the radio dial in summertime: “Now ends our discontented winter / As glorious summer passes by.” This feeling of joy radiates from Begley’s music. It’s maximalist retro-pop for the fancy-free; a circuit-bend jukebox; the technicolour rock and roll fusion you didn’t know you needed. With Alt Doo Wop, Begley proves that “oohs,” “aahs,” “doot-doot”s, “womp-bomp-a- bomps,” and “sha-na-na”s can work over anything.

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