New Orleans’ Jamie Bernstein has JUST dropped his brand-new acoustic LP, Zeus—and it’s unlike anything you’ve heard before (partly because it was literally recorded on a boat with legendary producer Mark Howard).
When singer-songwriter Jamie Bernstein got wind that Howard wanted to record an album aboard a sailboat, he didn’t hesitate. In June 2024, he hopped on board the Zeus, a sailboat anchored in the turquoise waters of the Bahamas, and spent a week sailing the Sea of Abaco with Howard and Captain Johnny O’Brien. Each night, they’d drop anchor in a hidden cove, fire up the mics, and let the ocean’s rhythm play co-producer—wind, waves, rain, all part of the soundscape. The result? A raw, immersive album that feels both intimate and epic.
Zeus is a total vibe. It’s got that rare, magnetic kind of soul—honest, unpolished, and emotionally rich without ever getting too heavy. You can feel the salt in the air and the stories behind every lyric. There’s no AI gloss or overproduction here—just Jamie, his guitar, and a lived-in voice that carries years of transformation, recovery, and joy. It’s the kind of record that makes you want to text your most poetic friend and plan a road trip—or better yet, a sailing adventure.
Jamie’s roots run deep. Raised in rural West Virginia on a steady mix of folk, reggae, and old-school radio via his mom’s mixtapes, he landed in New Orleans in 1996, where he soaked up the city’s jazz, funk, and soul. He started with spoken word and evolved into a multi-album artist, producing four records (including two with his band J the Savage), and now performs with Future Cowboys—a project as genre-defying as Jamie himself.
Now settled in New Orleans with his wife, visual artist Muffin Bernstein, Jamie continues to channel his journey through music. And with Zeus, he’s hit a new high water mark. This isn’t just an album—it’s an experience.
