The Jack Moves

The Jack Moves are a Newark, New Jersey duo whose music lives at the intersection of classic soul and something entirely their own.

Singer/guitarist Zee Desmondes and drummer/producer Teddy Powell crossed paths skateboarding in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, bonding over a shared love of Curtis Mayfield, the Delfonics, and Bobby Caldwell alongside rugged ’90s hip-hop. That mix of influences became the foundation for The Jack Moves, formed in 2012 and based out of Newark ever since.

Their self-titled debut album arrived in 2015 through Wax Poetics, capturing the duality of their home city’s character. The duo signed with Everloving Records for 2018’s Free Money, which KCRW named one of the best albums of that year. Their third full length, Cruiserweight, followed in 2022, self-produced with the help of arranger Paul Kyser, who called them “the baddest band in New York City.”

Their most recent album, Love Machine, released July 25, 2025, marks an evolution in their sound, blending ’80s techno, R&B, and post-disco dance music while holding onto the soulful core that’s always defined them. The record was produced by Latin Grammy winner Adan Jodorowsky (Devendra Banhart, Beck) in his Mexico City studio.

Whether they’re leaning into seaside soul balladry or deep disco excursions, The Jack Moves keep finding new ways to make old sounds feel alive again.