Jeremy Loops

{{Short description|South African singer-songwriter and record producer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Jeremy Loops | honorific_suffix = | image = Jeremy Loops (ZMF2017) jm45756.jpg | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = Hewitt performing in 2017 | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Jeremy Thomas Hewitt | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|3|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa | origin = | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = {{hlist| Funk|soul|jazz|pop|hip hop }} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|record producer}} | instrument = Vocals, guitar, harmonika | years_active = 2009–present | label = | associated_acts = Twenty One Pilots | website = {{URL|www.jeremyloops.com}} | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}

'''Jeremy Thomas Hewitt''' (born March 4, 1984<ref>{{Cite web|title = Jeremy Løøps on Twitter|url = https://twitter.com/jeremyloops/status/440826970260373504|website = Twitter|access-date = 2016-01-27}}</ref>) known by his stage name '''Jeremy Loops''', is a South African singer, songwriter, and record producer.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.greenpop.org/about-us/|website=Greenpop|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Busse|first=Michael|title=Jeremy Loops Finds Room for Growth in 'Skinny Blues' (Exclusive Video)|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/11/20/jeremy-loops-finds-room-for-growth-in-skinny-blues-exclusive-video/|website=Wall Street Journal|date=20 November 2014|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref>

In 2011, Loops released his self-titled EP.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Tim |title=Jeremy Loops - Mission To The Sun 'Howling' |url=http://allaroundtim.com/jeremy-loops-mission-to-the-sun-howling/ |website=All Around Tim |accessdate=25 January 2016 |archive-date=1 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201233228/http://allaroundtim.com/jeremy-loops-mission-to-the-sun-howling/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> His debut album ''Trading Change'' was released March 2014 in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ramkissoon|first=Nikita|title=SA's Jeremy Loops hit No. 1 on iTunes with debut album|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/entertainment/music/2014/03/31/sa-s-jeremy-loops-hit-no.-1-on-itunes-with-debut-album|website=Times Live|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> The album was released in North America and South America via Yebo Music in August 2015, and in Europe and Australia in February 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trading Change Jeremy Loops|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/trading-change-deluxe-edition/id998407314|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204045811/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/trading-change-deluxe-edition/id998407314|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 February 2016|website=Itunes Preview|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> He toured the United States as a support slot on Rebelution's "Winter Greens Tour",<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Reggae Band Rebelution Releases Count Me In Remix EP|url=https://worldmusiccentral.org/2015/01/18/reggae-band-rebelution-releases-count-me-in-remix-ep/|website=World Music Central|date=18 January 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> followed with two headline US tours of his own, The Jeremy Loops US Tour<ref>{{cite web|last=Coplan|first=Chris|title=Jeremy Loops premieres new song "Down South" — listen|url=https://consequence.net/2015/02/jeremy-loops-premieres-new-song-down-south-listen/|website=Consequence of Sound|date=12 February 2015|access-date=25 January 2016}}</ref> and the Trading Change Tour.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last=Herrera|first=J.L.|title=Jeremy Loops will hit the road in support of 'Trading Change'|url=https://m.axs.com/jeremy-loops-will-hit-the-road-in-support-of-trading-change-63789|website=AXS|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> He ended 2015 supporting Twenty One Pilots on the European leg of their Blurryface Tour.<ref>{{cite web|last=Steffen|first=Chris|title=Album Premiere: Jeremy Loops, 'Trading Change'|url=https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/album-premiere-jeremy-loops-trading-change|website=AllMusic|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> With three shows remaining, the tour was cancelled following the November 2015 Paris attacks.<ref>{{cite web|last=Taylor|first=Sam|title=Watch highlights from Twenty One Pilots' 'Blurryface' tour|url=http://www.upsetmagazine.com/watch/watch-highlights-from-twenty-one-pilots-blurryface-tour/|website=Upset Magazine|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref>

Loops announced Continental Drift, his first headlining tour of Europe, which took place in January 2016.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url = https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/193840/9|title = Jeremy Loops Announces UK 'Continental Drift' Tour Dates|date = |access-date = |website = |publisher = |last = Stickler|first = Jon}}</ref> The Trading Change Tour, his second headlining tour of Europe and his maiden tour of Australia, took place in October and November 2016.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/jeremy-loops-q-a-ahead-of-rescue-rooms-show/story-29776288-detail/story.html|title=Jeremy Loops Q&A ahead of Rescue Rooms show|date=2016-10-04|work=Nottingham Post|access-date=2017-03-21|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322204641/http://www.nottinghampost.com/jeremy-loops-q-a-ahead-of-rescue-rooms-show/story-29776288-detail/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/all/2016/06/15/jeremy-loops-announces-very-first-australian-tour/|title=Jeremy Loops Announces Very First Australian Tour|website=theMusic|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref>

== Early life == Loops was born and raised in Kommetjie, South Africa, a small surf town in the greater Cape Town metropolis. The eldest of three children, he has a Swiss mother and a South African father. Jeremy attended the University of Cape Town, where he graduated with a degree in Finance and Property Development.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.loadsofmusic.com/2016/07/interview-jeremy-loops-in-st-gallen-16-07-2016/|title=Interview: Jeremy Loops in St. Gallen 16.07.2016 {{!}} Loads of Music|date=2016-07-19|work=Loads of Music|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref>

== Music career ==

=== 2024: "Go Again" Single Released === "Go Again" is a single by South African singer-songwriter Jeremy Loops, released in 2024. The track is notable for its uplifting themes of resilience and hope, encapsulating the spirit of perseverance through life's challenges. It is part of Jeremy Loops' upcoming album and reflects the artist's experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social unrest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=Jeremy Loops Releases New Single: "Go Again" |url=https://samusiczone.co.za/jeremy-loops-releases-new-single-go-again/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2009–2010: Career beginnings === Loops is a latecomer to music, only picking up a guitar in his final years of college. After graduating from UCT in 2008 and unsure he wanted a career in finance, he would spend two years traveling the world while working on a superyacht. It was in this time he adopted a loop pedal to substitute other musicians as he had access to none while at sea.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/brussels/article/jeremy-loops-from-head-to-loop-pedals.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706154702/http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/brussels/article/jeremy-loops-from-head-to-loop-pedals.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 July 2016|title=Jeremy Loops: from Head to Loop Pedals|website=Cafebabel|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pancakesandwhiskey.com/2015/03/04/intricate-layers-jeremy-loops/|title=The Intricate Layers Of Jeremy Loops|date=2015-03-04|website=Pancakes And Whiskey|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref> In 2010, upon returning from his travels and committed to pursuing a career in music, Loops also co-founded tree planting organisation Greenpop.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://greenpop.org/our-team/|title=Our Team {{!}} Greenpop|work=Greenpop|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref>

=== 2011–2013: Debut EP and live success === In October 2011, Loops released his self-titled debut EP. Though a now out-of-print limited release, many of the tracks from the EP were reworked and made an appearance on his debut album, ''Trading Change''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.behance.net/gallery/2316270/JEREMY-LOOPS|title=Behance|website=www.behance.net|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref> He would spend 2011, 2012, and 2013 growing his profile in South Africa on the back of an acclaimed live show that would eventually earn him the Best Live Act Award at the 2014 MK Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/480/109760.html|title=MK Awards 2014 winners|website=www.bizcommunity.com|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref>

=== 2014–2018: ''Trading Change'' and international growth === thumb|Hewitts' band on stage in 2017

In January 2014, he released "Down South" (featuring Motheo Moleko), the lead single from his debut album ''Trading Change''. This song became an instant hit, peaking at number one on South African Top 40 radio stations 5fm, 94.7, and Jacaranda FM, the breakout song's popularity drew a lot of attention to his album. Upon release in South Africa in April 2014, Trading Change debuted at No. 1 on iTunes South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sheergroup.com/jeremy-loops-trading-change/|title=Jeremy Loops – Trading Change {{!}} Sheer Group|website=www.sheergroup.com|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref> In support of the album, Loops spent 2014 touring all over South Africa.

In the buildup to ''Trading Change''{{'}}s August 2015 North American release, Loops toured the United States three times. First securing a support slot on the Winter Greens Tour, headlined by reggae band Rebelution.<ref name=":0" /> This was followed up with two headline US tours of his own, namely the Jeremy Loops US Tour<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://consequence.net/2015/02/jeremy-loops-premieres-new-song-down-south-listen/|title=Jeremy Loops premieres new song "Down South" — listen|date=2015-02-12|work=Consequence of Sound|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref> and the Trading Change Tour.<ref name=":1" />

In Europe, Loops supported the popular American band Twenty One Pilots on their Blurryface Tour in September 2015, and followed that up with his own headlining tours, Continental Drift<ref name=":2" /> and the European leg of the Trading Change Tour.<ref name=":3" /> ''Trading Change'' was released in Europe on 26 February 2016.

In a 2018, Loops released the album ''Critical as Water''. This album tackled the serious water shortage that the singer's home city, Cape Town, faced during that time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/all/2018/03/16/south-africas-jeremy-loops-drops-new-album-critical-as-water/|title=/}}</ref>

===2019–present: ''Heard You Got Love'' === In April 2022, Loops released "Better Together" and its accompanying music video, ahead of his upcoming third studio album ''Heard You Got Love'', which was released on July 8 of that same year.<ref>{{cite news|date=2022-05-04|title=Jeremy Loops proves we're better when we're together in new music video {{!}} Channel |url=https://www.news24.com/amp/channel/music/news/jeremy-loops-proves-were-better-when-were-together-in-new-music-video-20220504| publisher=Channel| location=South Africa| access-date=2022-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jeremy Loops joins forces with Ed Sheeran for a catchy ode to the collective, "Better Together" – Texx and the City|work=Texx and the City|access-date =2022-05-12|url=https://texxandthecity.com/2022/04/jeremy-loops-joins-forces-with-ed-sheeran-for-a-catchy-ode-to-the-collective-better-together/ |date=2022-04-22| first =Skye |last=Mallac}}</ref>

== Discography == === Studio albums === * ''Trading Change'' (2014) * ''Critical as Water'' (2018) * ''Heard You Got Love'' (2022) * ''Feathers and Stone'' (2025)

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Loops, Jeremy}} Category:Living people Category:1984 births Category:Musicians from Cape Town Category:South African pop singers Category:South African record producers Category:South African guitarists Category:South African jazz singers Category:English-language South African singers Category:South African singer-songwriters Category:White South African people