Del Water Gap Lets It All Out On New Album ‘I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet’
Stella Feinstein
Samuel Holden Jaffe has had bad haircuts, toxic relationships, and a hard time waking up on Mondays just like everybody else. But S. Holden Jaffe isn’t any other person. He’s Del Water Gap, the Brooklyn-based songwriter and producer who just released his sophomore album I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet.
Photo by Erica Snyder
Jaffe sets the tone for the record with the first line, “I know you’re my person and I won’t find no one like you” sung over a heavy bassline groove. All it takes are 13 words that say: we’re going to cry, laugh, regret every decision we’ve ever made, and wallow in self-despair—but above all, dance. “All We Ever Do Is Talk” is a welcome note to the 45-minute and 16-second rollercoaster ahead.
The album captures snapshots of Jaffe’s life—bouncing back and forth, unknowing of what's to come, encapsulating the uncertainty he felt in his personal life while writing. “I used to worry that if I got sober or medicated I wouldn’t be a good artist anymore,” said Jaffe.
Jaffe should not have been worried—in fact, his struggle with sobriety is a driving factor of the album. “Quilt of Steam,” a duet with rising British singer Arlo Parks, talks about how easy it is to fall into bad habits and how hard it is to overcome them. The duo sings “I needed a beer and a hug and a way out of the crater” over a drum-driven beat and wispy instrumentals.
Although this album is the most explorative of his, his signature notes can be found on the piano in “Gemini” and “We Will Never Be Like Anybody Else.” However, it also features electric guitar on the dance track “Glitter & Honey” and clarinet from none other than Clairo on “Gone in Seconds.”
“We Will Never Be Like Anybody Else” is the end all be all of the album closers—it ensures that Del Water Gap’s unforgettable album goes out with a bang. Every single song on IMYA+IHLY is a love letter directly from him to the audience—just like the love letter between his grandparents that the album was based on. If this album was an attempt to help someone else out of their “crater”, it’s safe to say Del Water Gap’s goal was achieved.
Listen to I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet here!