Jayden B—Bedroom Stadium

There’s no denying the surge of energy that hits the moment you press play on this album. It’s hardly surprising when Jayden cites influences like Weezer, Green Day and My Chemical Romance, especially given that he’s only sixteen.

The album opens with "Welcome To My Mess", easing in with that familiar radio-tuned effect before kicking into full gear, and the influences are immediately front and centre. It’s pure pop rock, packed with guitar hooks, pounding drums and plenty of swagger.

In "Tried My Best" the sound leans into a touch of synth, giving it a subtle 80s shimmer before it swells into something far more anthemic. It feels built for a live setting, the kind of track that lifts the room, and I can easily picture the heads bobbing and the crowd leaning into the chorus.

And then there's a flip, to something a little more relaxed with "Where I Want To Be (All The Time)". We're three tracks in I have to admit, I keep hearing echoes of all of the aforementioned influences, but this isn't some kind of pale pastiche. Instead, it comes across as someone celebrating the music he grew up with, and that affection carries the listener along with ease.

"In the Zone" opens as what I would call a bass thumper, driven by a heavy bass line with vocals layered over the top, followed by the gradual build of percussion before the full band sound finally breaks through, leaving you with a ear worm long after.

I am not sure what it was about "Since We Met", but it did not hit me in quite the same way as the earlier tracks. The music is strong and the vocals are solid, yet for whatever reason it just did not quite connect for me. It does feature a nicely executed guitar solo, though, which adds a welcome lift. There is an interesting part at the end of the track, which you'd have thought would have been a track in itself, as it is isolated by a couple of seconds of silence. It's basically what sounds like a monologue lifted from a movie, with a piano accompaniment. Kind of strange, but kind of a nice brief interlude.

I loved the intro to "Superheroes". The lightly strummed guitar sets a gentle foundation, and when the flute sound enters it immediately brought to mind Canned Heat’s Going Up the Country with its warm nod to classic 60s sounds. It is a charming throwback that feels both playful and confident, and it sets the tone for the track in a way that pulls you in straight away.

The playfulness continues with "Just a Friend". It feels like a blend of 80s style guitar rock and lighter piano driven pop, a combination that might sound unlikely on paper but comes together surprisingly well. The arrival of the 80s synth in the chorus ties it all in, giving the track a bright, nostalgic lift.

"Holy Night" provides a little light relief. It's a much slower paced track opening with simple drums and guitar, which were nice, but for me when the chorus comes in, it kind of overwhelms the track, with the vocals being buried deeply in the mix, which is a shame, as otherwise it would have been an excellent track rather than just OK.

Then there is an almost return to form with "Louder In My Head". There is still a touch of muddiness when the track kicks up a gear, but it never pulls too much focus from the strength of the song itself.

For me, "There Goes The Girl" felt something of a curio. The opening keyboards have a Billy Joel-esque vibe, though with a slightly more "plinky-plonky" quality—yes, that’s a technical term. When the vocals enter, they contrast sharply with the playful keys, but that contrast works beautifully, giving the track a genuine, heartfelt feel. The musical accompaniment then morphs into something very, I don't know magical?

"Let It Be", that great Beatles track was the first thing that came into my head when "Credits Roll (But You Stayed)" started, not just in the piano, but also the chord progression. When the vocals kick in they're so very much brighter, which takes the track in a direction of its own.

From the first note, this album bursts with energy, showcasing Jayden’s influences like Weezer, Green Day, and My Chemical Romance, especially impressive for someone just sixteen. Tracks like Welcome To My Mess, Tried My Best, and In the Zone combine pop rock swagger, playful nods to the 60s, and 80s-inspired touches, while even the more relaxed moments retain charm and creativity. Wow, I don't want to sound patronising, but what a confident and amazing release for someone so young. Surely an artist with an incredible future ahead!

I would recommend he get a web page and also some kind of contact details, as I could find no way to contact him.