Marquette-based musician Jakey Thomas, known locally for his work in bands like Distant Stars and The Unwashed Nasty Cherries, has stepped into a different universe with his latest project under the moniker Worm Head. The album, "Childhood," isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s a self-imposed creative experiment rooted in spontaneity, imagination, and play.
Thomas describes the concept of Childhood as an album made by a kid and his imaginary friends who discover a portal in a closet. That whimsical backstory reflects the philosophy that guided the project: act first, think later. After years of overanalyzing unfinished albums, Thomas committed to working instinctively. Songs were written quickly, recorded through whatever gear was nearby (sometimes even through a laptop microphone), and left intentionally raw. Some tracks began as film score exercises for short projects he acted in, built around mimicry or playful imitation. Others were resurrected from old Ableton sessions dating back to his teenage years. In several cases, he kept vocal or instrumental parts recorded by his younger self and layered new performances over them, effectively duetting across time.
Watch the music video for Worm Head's "Alone in My Room:"
Although imaginary characters once factored heavily into the concept, Thomas eventually resisted developing any elaborate lore, fearing it would contradict the freewheeling nature of the project. Still, a few personas linger within the songs—figures like Cal or Alice, once envisioned as a sentient puddle of goo in a fish tank. Rather than detailed worldbuilding, these characters function as loose emotional stand-ins for childhood impulses and unfiltered creativity.
Musically, Childhood drifts through lo-fi psychedelia, vintage drum machine grooves, and hazy bedroom pop textures. Tape hiss is deliberately baked into most tracks, giving the record a nostalgic glow without tipping into sentimentality. The album celebrates innocence, escapism, and the kind of private world-building that happens behind closed bedroom doors, where isolation becomes both refuge and launchpad.
Listen to Thomas speak with Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth about his Worm Head project:
Despite being largely a solo endeavor, the album features real friends alongside the imaginary ones. Longtime collaborator Andy Fettig contributed guitar textures and handled final mastering. Ty Drewery provided layers of chaotic lead guitar. Anthony Neal, Thomas’s most brutally honest creative confidant, pushed him toward completion and produced the album’s vulnerable closing track. Thomas’s wife, Brooke, captured the project visually and offered the encouragement that ultimately brought it across the finish line.
At its heart, Childhood is less about nostalgia than reclamation. It’s a refusal to polish away the rough edges of inspiration. It’s an invitation to listen with wonder rather than critique. And for Thomas, it’s proof that the best art sometimes comes not from refinement—but from refusing to grow up all the way.
Find out more about Jakey Thomas and his Worm Head project at whatwouldjakeydo.com.
The interview was originally broadcast on The Shuffle on Saturday, October 18th, 2025.
