In talking about Reetoxa, one can only talk about the immense willpower that makes up Jason McKee. For almost three decades now, Jason McKee has been the strong protector of his very own music identity, creating his artistry through his unpolished sides of life before he even let us in on it. To see such an immense dedication to honesty coming together with destiny is a rare thing and for McKee, it happened when he joined hands with Simon Moro, the ARIA-nominated legend. It is their partnership that has brought to light some great works of music, from the heavy-hitting “War Killer” and the story-driven “The Lisa Song,” to the outright juggernaut that is “Love Keeps Burning Still,” the song that has effectively become lodged permanently inside my mind and has been running on a nonstop loop. You think you have figured out everything there is about the musical prowess of Reetoxa until McKee throws us off guard by doing something unexpected. And now they continue  to evolve in their  music through his most recent release, “Bottle,” released on June 19th.

The music bursts forth with a fast-paced, highly infectious guitar riff, one that instantly creates a great atmosphere of suspense and anticipation. This highly charged hook seamlessly interweaves with the rhythms provided by the band’s bassist and drummer, forming an irresistible intro that not only gets but holds your full attention.

“Bottle,” at its essence, is about so much more than a song; it is an incredibly honest time capsule. The song itself has a very interesting backstory which is full of raw, jagged energy associated with teenage rebellion that takes us right back to a crucial night from the 1990s where McKee and his girlfriend at high school, Jody, attempted to break through a barrier of sorts and to help her best friend Nicole to get some medicine that she needed but her parents would not let her have. It was a moment marked by urgency where even the simple act of breaking down a barrier became a stage where dreams of getting out of this stifling situation were whispered. To see an artist who is capable of pulling such an incredibly vulnerable and authentic piece about mental issues and teenage rebellion from the archives of his own past is incredibly powerful; it shows us that music is created, not produced.

The production itself is a complete revival of sound through which Simon Moro flawlessly links the rough and analog nature of the nineties to the modern times’ standards of perfection. His participation in this project did not stop at mere supervision since Moro took charge of the mastering process and thus preserved the true essence of the music in perfect harmony. James Ryan proved to be an invaluable ally in Moro’s work by adding his magical touch and transforming McKee’s initial guitar base into a true explosion of sound. Thus was achieved the successful fulfillment of McKee’s definition of “epic proportions.” This is a rare experience for any listener that gives rise to goose bumps. This is a song made over three decades ago and finally treated in a way worthy of it.

It is impossible not to feel excited about listening to this music; it gives me goose bumps and reminds me of how people fall in love with music at all times. In “Bottle,” this band managed to show their unique skill in combining the depth of a personal story and the intensity of the sounds of today. This is a truly amazing combination; it is both personal and broad. I became obsessed with this song, which definitely has earned its place in my “on-repeat” collection. And now I am impatiently waiting for the new material from this incredible creative team.

Stream “Bottle” on Spotify

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