Rock/Review ReeToxA - Double A Side 2 (Akaroa / Erica And The Stars)
ReeToxA is the artistic vision of Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Jason Mckee, an artist who has transformed profound personal adversity into extraordinarily moving music. Drawing influence from real-life experiences rather than solely musical predecessors, Mckee has crafted a unique sound that resonates with raw authenticity and emotional depth. His journey has been marked by remarkable resilience, having overcome significant challenges to emerge as a compelling voice in the contemporary music landscape.
ReeToxA’s “Double A Side 2 (Akaroa / Erica And The Stars)” is a deeply personal EP that transforms difficult experiences into music of striking emotional and creative depth. Across its two tracks, the release explores spirituality, crisis, memory, and ultimately the possibility of finding hope through artistic expression.
“Akaroa” began with a vivid spiritual dream during an exceptionally difficult period, giving the song an origin rooted in something both mysterious and intensely personal. Its eventual completion years later in Akaroa, New Zealand, adds another remarkable dimension to its story. Returning to the coastal town, Mckee experienced an unexplained presence that brought the song back into focus, turning a long-dormant idea into something ready to be completed. That connection between place, memory, and inspiration gives “Akaroa” a distinctive emotional weight.
“Erica And The Stars” emerges from an even more challenging moment, written during a mental health crisis and becoming a creative lifeline for Mckee. The track’s orchestral ambition is particularly striking, with the full Budapest Orchestra performing the arrangement as Mckee had originally imagined it. Rather than simply accompanying the song, the orchestra represents the translation of an internal experience into a fully realized musical form.
Recorded at The Avenue Recording Studio in Cheltenham, Victoria, with orchestral sessions taking place in Budapest, the EP combines intimate personal storytelling with expansive musical ambition. Yet its greatest strength lies in the honesty connecting both pieces.
“Double A Side 2 (Akaroa / Erica And The Stars)” demonstrates how creativity can become a means of processing experiences that are difficult to articulate in ordinary language. ReeToxA turns darkness into something expressive and hopeful, creating an EP that feels both deeply individual and broadly human.
