JAE-X's 'Friendship Manifesto' turns urban isolation into a 20-minute study of connection

On his latest collection 'Friendship Manifesto', JAE-X treats friendship as a structure capable of holding everything else together. The 20-minute jazz improvisation moves through surprise, acceptance and calmness while returning repeatedly to tabla as its foundation. And for JAE-X that rhythmic centre connects the project's shifting emotional passages while grounding an otherwise fluid piece in his background as an Indian classical percussionist.

Living in London can be isolating, demanding and exhausting, yet 'Friendship Manifesto' argues that relationships can remain a source of continuity even when the surrounding environment feels unstable. The project is therefore dedicated not only to friendships with others, but also to the connection a person maintains with themselves and the effort required to preserve both.

The early sections of the release are built around shock and sudden awareness, reflecting the isolation that can become part of city life. From there, the piece gradually moves towards recognition; and the understanding that community, friendship and self-connection can alter how that environment is experienced.

Tempo changes and shifting time signatures help trace that progression, as JAE-X allows the calmness to emerge through motion. The piece moves from slower passages into faster sections, using rhythmic change to suggest that peace doesn't always mean stillness.

He works across classical and Banaras-style tabla while incorporating Indian classical heritage into jazz, electronic music and more experimental forms. His wider work extends into synth-funk, hip-hop, jungle, footwork and R&B, but 'Friendship Manifesto' keeps the focus on improvisation and rhythmic conversation.

In all, 'Friendship Manifesto' suggests that connection isn't something that removes isolation altogether. It's just what makes isolation easier to survive.