Emerging from their origins as Grouptherapy, the dynamic duo PartyOf2—comprising Jadagrace and SWIM—have embarked on a bold new chapter in their music journey. Their latest EP, “We Owe You An Explanation,” released on March 14, showcases a more eccentric and high-fashion aesthetic, reflecting their evolution as artists. This project marks a significant departure from their previous work, offering a sonically diverse yet decisive sound that hints at the potential of their forthcoming debut studio album.
The EP opens with “Mad Love,” a track that experiments with New Jack Swing rhythms in its first half before transitioning into an upbeat dembow-inspired vibe, all while maintaining a consistent, punchy energy. In “Poser,” PartyOf2 delivers a marching band sonic backdrop that seamlessly glides into grunge rap, showcasing the duo at their most braggadocious. The reflective and somber “all 4 the best” finds them taking a hard look in the mirror, processing their feelings following the departure of their friend and former bandmate, TJOnline (Tyrel Jackson Williams).
This EP serves as a coming-of-age project for Jadagrace and SWIM, who initially bonded over their unique experiences as young actors and entertainers navigating Hollywood—a journey few can relate to. Despite these uncommon beginnings, their evolution, the loss of friendships, and the need to pivot in life are universal themes that resonate with many.
In a recent conversation with EBONY, Jadagrace and SWIM discussed their transformation and the themes explored in their new music. They reflected on how their personal growth and shared history have influenced their artistic direction, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and resilience in their creative process.
EBONY: This is your first project as PartyOf2 what’s your mindset right now?
JADAGRACE: Right now, we’re experimenting a lot in the studio. We’ve had a year to tap into the sound as a duo, but now we’re trying to push ourselves and go into lanes we’ve never explored before. That’s something we’ve accomplished on this EP that’s coming up, and we’re excited to get into more of that for the album. We’re constantly pushing ourselves and trying to top the last album.
SWIM: We’re in a really interesting place that I’ve never experienced before creatively. This project that’s coming out is our most vulnerable ever, and it has unlocked a new level of creativity. We’ve been working on these songs since around February of last year. It’s nice to have them on the way out—it’s cathartic, and it opens up space to continue being extremely honest in our music.
For folks who aren’t familiar, how did you get your start in entertainment?
JADAGRACE: I started in music really young—I was about eight. It was after my first acting role in Terminator. I had a lot of free time on set because I didn’t have any lines, so I started singing, and my mom said we should do a music video. I got signed very young—at 12—to Epic Records. I was mentored by Berry Gordy, so I was working like an adult at a young age, but I loved it.
As I got older, I started to figure out who I was and what I wanted to talk about. That changed my relationship with music, which is when we started our former Grouptherapy. We made music together and poured our emotions into it, and I developed a new relationship with music—making it with my best friends. PartyOf2 has been a blessing to do it with someone who knows me and shares the same vision. I feel really lucky. I’ve been in this game a long time.
SWIM: Same here—Jada and I have that in common. I’m originally from South Carolina and did some acting on the East Coast in New York, then booked a show that moved me to L.A. That’s where I met Jada. We were at the Kids’ Choice Awards. It’s a unique position to be in as a kid—especially being Black and often the only person of color on set. It can be isolating at that age, so we connected on that early and were vulnerable with each other in a way we couldn’t be with anyone else. Jada was the first person I met who was making music, and that was inspiring. We’re like two peas in a weird little working-children pod.
You mentioned you’ve been working on these songs for about a year. What kept you loving them instead of going stale?
SWIM: “All For The Best” started early, but yeah, the others are a bit newer. Specifically, for “All For The Best,” we started writing it really early on—in the thick of everything happening. I think it was the words that held us. We changed the beat a lot, but it was so honest that a year later, it still felt right, so we had to put it out.
With “Mad Love” and “Poser,” we were experimenting around six months ago. They stood out sonically and didn’t sound like anything we’d done before. We’re rapping—we’ve never really rapped [like this] before—and producing, so it felt undeniable.
Listening to the lyrics of “All For The Best,” there’s tension and disappointment around your former bandmate leaving, but also a positive “wish you well” vibe. When that was all happening, was your focus on the friendship and connection, or were you also thinking about the group you’d put your lives into? Where was most of your energy?
SWIM: I think it was the friendship. That’s why the record is so important to us. Outside of creative endeavors, everyone has lost a friend or grown apart from someone they cared about. That’s scary, and it’s definitely part of being in your twenties.
JADAGRACE: And we had to go through it publicly. Navigating our feelings personally, while realizing it was our entire career, was a lot. It just felt right to be honest about where we were.
SWIM: We realized the only way we’d heal was by making music—whether we put it out or not. Then once we made it, it felt like the perfect angle: honest but not shady or disrespectful to anyone. There’s disappointment, but there’s also acceptance and growth. The EP as a whole shows the ups and downs of being human—one minute you’re low, the next you wake up feeling unstoppable. That’s what our year was like: going through doubt, wondering if we could do it as just two, and figuring out our identity.
It’s refreshing that you didn’t crash out on the internet. You kept it to one statement and then moved on. A lot of your fans are in your age group, also losing friends and pivoting. Can we expect that to be a continuing narrative—constant pivot and evolution?
JADAGRACE: I think so. You never stop experiencing those cycles as a human. You’ll hear more of that subject matter but also see where we are coming out of it. I’m excited to get into the brighter side of things on the album, but it’s real: we’ve lost a lot of friendships over the years. People grow apart. Now it’s the two of us locked in, but that’s life.
SWIM: Exactly. The upcoming album will really explore being in your twenties. It’s scary, but some of it is exciting: figuring out who you are, deciding which relationships are important, learning how to live your life, watching your parents get older and taking care of them.
Since the rebrand, there’s more individuality in your aesthetic. Before, people thought you were siblings. Now there’s still a cohesive vibe, but more room for each of you to have your own expression. Is that intentional?
JADAGRACE: Yes, that was always a goal. Now, with just the two of us, there’s more room for each of us to shine. We do crazy stuff together, but our individual sides are crazy too, so we want fans to know us more personally—individually—through the music.
SWIM: It’s literally more space on the canvas. When you have many people, it’s harder to fit everyone’s ingredient. With just two, there’s so much more room for individuality. We didn’t even plan it that way.
“Mad Love” that song is crazy—the beat, the bars, and the song’s structure. I sense a bit of baile funk and even dembow influence. Where did that come from?
SWIM: That was a fun record. We’re always trying to do too much [laughs]. We were watching a lot of Martin in the studio. I wanted a New Jack Swing vibe for that first half. Later, I was cleaning the house, listening to a Zach Fox DJ set that went from gospel to baile funk. I took that to the studio and said, “Let’s switch this into baile funk.” Jada and our engineer looked at me like I was crazy, but that’s the beauty of what we do—trying something that makes no sense and making it work.
It’s also the first record I took the lead on production for. Jada came in and played keys and synth. We learned how to work together as producers. She’s great with melodies; I love drums. It’s probably my favorite record we’ve ever done.
PartyOf2. How did you come up with the new name?
JADAGRACE: People might be mad at our answer, but we honestly don’t know exactly how we landed on it.
SWIM: We wrote down around 200 names and threw them at the wall. We sent a list to our team and friends, and PartyOf2 stood out. At a certain point, it was about trusting our gut. Grouptherapy was a strong name, and we felt pressure to top it, but PartyOf2 fit everything we wanted to do.
