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{{AFC comment|1=All references are either from their own website or their Instagram? We need source from non-connected parties to show notability. [[user:Notcharizard|<span style="color:#70A67A">-- NotC</span><span style="color:#396340">hariza</span><span style="color:#0D2311">rd</span>]] <sup>[[User talk:Notcharizard|<span style="color:#0D2311">🗨</span>]]</sup> 04:06, 6 May 2024 (UTC)}}

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{{Short description|Musician / Band}}
{{Draft topics|media}}
{{AfC topic|other}}

{{Template:Connected contributor|connected contributor}}

'''moreraspberryjam..''' (often stylized in lowercase or abbreviated '''mrj..''') are a Russian-Chilean experimental [[shoegaze]] duo formed in [[Normal, Illinois|Normal]] in 2022, consisting of members Alex Diffor (drums, samples) and Lukas Oyarzun (guitar, vocals). Their sound is characterized by heavy drumming, sparse & washed-out vocals, and fuzzy/distorted guitar texture. They often incorporate tempo changes and lyrics that hint to "going back to my house<ref>{{Cite web |title=m, by moreraspberryjam.. |url=https://moreraspberryjam.bandcamp.com/track/m |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=moreraspberryjam.. |language=en}}</ref>".

Their attribute their influences from [[Math rock|math-rock]] and similar shoegaze bands such as [[They Are Gutting a Body of Water|They Are Gutting a Body Of Water]] and [[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]].

As of 2024, they are working on producing their next self-titled album series "jam"<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=moreraspberryjam.. |url=https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmoreraspberryjam%2F&is_from_rle |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Instagram}}</ref>, having finished "more" and "raspberry".

== History ==

=== '''2019-2020: Introduction, Drums, and First Music''' ===
The two met at [[Illinois State University]] in the Fall of 2019 through Alex's room mate Michael Remon. The three eventually learned that each were interested in making music. 

In the Spring of 2020, while Lukas participated in pep band, the school lent out a key to access the drum room in the basement of [[John W. Cook Hall]]. Alex, Lukas, and Michael could often be found practicing well into the night. This was Alex's first exposure to drums, taught by both Lukas and Michael.

In April of 2020, the night before the beginning of Spring Break, Alex and Lukas worked on their first song (titled ''The First Song'') made in Acoustica's Mixcraft 7 Pro Studio- an electronic piece about a minute in length, inspired heavily by [[The 1975]], one of Lukas's favorite bands at the time.

=== 2021-2022: The Return & Establishing the Band Name ===
[[COVID-19]] put a halt on further music plans. Both returned home for the remainder of the Spring- Alex to [[Bloomington, Illinois|Bloomington]], Lukas to [[Glenview, Illinois|Glenview]].

The following school year remained [[Virtual learning|virtual]]. Alex stayed home while Lukas returned to campus to live in Manchester Hall. They did not get to see each other very often, and when they did, music sat on the backburner.

In their Junior year (2021-2022), Alex moved back into an apartment on campus due to in-person classes resuming. Lukas lived a short walk away, and they were able to see each other often. Lukas had brought his drums and guitar from home, so the duo practiced and created music in his apartment. Their first projects were [[Experimental electronic music|experimental electronic]]. They eventually compiled them into their first album "Alex jams"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alex jams, by moreraspberryjam.. |url=https://moreraspberryjam.bandcamp.com/album/alex-jams |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=moreraspberryjam.. |language=en}}</ref> in the Spring of 2022.

On an adventure one day, the pair sat atop a hill near campus and figured out their band name. On the list of potential names were "Skætes", "OLIVED", "KRIMSIN", and "CDJAM".<ref>Alex's Notes app, iPhone X, February 2022</ref> It was from the last that "moreraspberryjam.." came to fruition.

=== Spring 2023: "more" and "raspberry" ===
Their senior year, Alex and Lukas each moved to a new place, but the momentum kept going. Alex would visit often and continue learning drums. They decided they wanted to start spelling out their band name in albums, separating them by the words "more", "raspberry", "jam", and ".." Each letter of their name is dedicated to a song, meaning there are 4 "r"s, etc.

The deo started doing exactly that, producing "more" themselves and releasing it on their [[Bandcamp]] page in April of 2023. The album begins with "m", a tribute to their electronic roots (an arpeggio, broken and panned lasting for just under a minute). This is followed by the first guitar and drum track of the album "o", which features lyrics written by both Alex and Lukas. "r" is a calming acoustic track, a one take on the [[iPhone]]. The final and longest song in the album "e" features both Alex and Lukas on guitar, each having a chance to express their skillsets and interests. It concludes with samples made by Alex, bringing the music back into an electronic space.

Soon after "more", the duo started producing  "raspberry", an almost strictly-electronic sampling album with striking experimentation. It was home-produced in the same matter as "more", releasing in September of 2023. The duration of the album is just under 9 minutes, a representation of the shorter attention span seen across the younger generations.

=== Fall 2023-Spring 2024: The Jam Jar & The Show Era ===
After releasing "raspberry", mrj.. started writing "jam". On another skating adventure, they decided it was time to part ways with the electronic side and in true jam fashion, write the music for drums and guitar.

In November of 2023, the duo decided to host a show at Lukas's house<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2023 |title=Garage Show- 11/10 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Czap3cyOBKJ/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Instagram}}</ref>, showing off their new songs. 
The line-up was mrj.., [[From Within (Rock Band)|From Within]] (Clinton), and [[Monarch (Rock Band)|Monarch]] (Bloomington). The show went well, and they immediately decided to have another, held in December<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Jam Jar- 12/02 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz3Jz_nO6RQ/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Instagram}}</ref>, featuring the same lineup, with the addition of [[Dayshift (Indie Band)|Dayshift]] (Normal) and [[Wasteland (Rock Band)|Wasteland]] (Normal). The venue was dubbed the "[[Jam Jar (Music Venue)|Jam Jar]]".

There were tensions from the neighbor, who had expressed previously they were displeased with the noise. In February of the next year<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=February 19, 2024 |title=Jam Jar- 2/23 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C3hlcbPuV86/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Instagram}}</ref>, the Jam Jar hosted [[Far Side (Rock Band)|Far Side]] (Chicago), [[Trip Hazard (Rock Band)|Trip Hazard]] (Champaign), and Dayshift. The show got shut down early due to a noise complaint from the neighbor.

It would be a few months before the Jam Jar would host it's next show in the basement. In the meantime, they performed at other venues around town, such as the Nightshop<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2, 2024 |title=nightshop- March 2nd |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C4BWqaRuvWF/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Instagram}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2024 |title=nightshop- early show |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C5_4mWisEGW/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Instagram}}</ref> and The Tally<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2024 |title=Linden St- 03/16 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C3luza4Net3/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Instagram}}</ref>. In April<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2024 |title=Jam Jar- 4/26 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C5rjJixL57d/ |access-date=May 6, 2024 |website=Instagram}}</ref>, mrj.. hosted [[Friizzlord (Indie Artist)|Friizzlord]] (Normal), [[Bloom Kings (Rock Band)|Bloom Kings]] (Bloomington), Wasteland, and Monarch. It was Bloom Kings first appearance on the Normal music scene. The show went smoothly, with a notable turnout and no noise complaints from the neighbor.
[[File:Mrj-basement-show.jpg|thumb|moreraspberryjam.. performing in their basement on April 26, 2024]]

=== Spring 2024-Present: Looking Ahead ===
mrj.. is currently looking to finish "jam" and move onto other projects. They are also wanting to play as many shows as possible.

== Members ==

=== Current ===

* Alex Diffor - drums, guitar, sampler, producer (2019-present)
* Lukas Oyarzun - drums, guitar, sampler, producer (2019-present)

== Discography ==

* [https://moreraspberryjam.bandcamp.com/album/alex-jams Alex jams] (2022)
* [https://moreraspberryjam.bandcamp.com/album/more more] (2023)
* [https://moreraspberryjam.bandcamp.com/album/raspberry raspberry] (2023)
* jam (2024)