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1. Hi Jarrod, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
What’s up, Vents? I’m doing very well, thanks! It’s been a tumultuous, mind-boggling rollercoaster of a year and the bumps have not subsided yet, so I’m just hangin’ on! I’m very excited to finally be sharing some new music with the world though!
2. Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Be The Change”?
“Be The Change” was composed just after meeting the legendary percussionist, Sammy Figueroa, in 2016. Although Sammy was not specifically involved in the writing process, he was very much an inspiring force behind the style and direction of this song. [As a side note: If you don’t know of Sammy, you really should take a moment and read his bio. He’s one of the most prolific and widely loved musicians on the planet. His discography is absolutely exhaustive, and his collaborative works read like a like a star chart of the greatest artists in the industry, spanning dozens of genres, melding his talents with the likes of Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Chaka Kahn and David Bowie.] So, with Sammy’s unmatched skill, vigor, and enthusiasm at my side, I felt that we could create something really really special. I wanted to deliver a message that would be timeless and relevant to future generations. A message intended to gather people together from all walks of life around the idea that we could begin to hold ourselves more accountable for our actions, that we might leave to our children a better, more tolerant and responsible place than we found it. What better to draw inspiration from than the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”? Here’s a live video version of the title track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lLhTNr_3Ug&feature=youtu.be
3. Any plans for a music video?
YES! A proper music video for “Be The Change” has been shot! It is currently in post production and will be released sometime in mid October just preceding the album release on October 30th!
4. Why did you name the album after this particular song?
I made the choice to name the album after this song because I feel that the message is relevant and necessary, especially given the incredibly trying times we find ourselves in with regard to race relations, police brutality, environmental irresponsibility and such.
5. Can you tell us about the album’s recording and writing process?
Much like my debut album, The songs featured on this next record are an amalgam of sonic and lyrical experimentation spanning many years of my life. Some of the songs were originally conceived long ago, such as “Universal Chord”, which originally came to me back in my college days in the late 90’s. Conversely, some of the songs are quite fresh, such as “Evalee”, which innocently tells the story of meeting my current partner only one year ago. In terms of the recording process, I generally rent a space at a proper studio where my band(s) and I can record together and vibe out to get solid foundational “basic tracks”, as we call them. After this is done, I take those tracks to my home studio, where I layer onto them my vocal tracks, keyboards, percussion, horns, and any other production elements I feel the music requires.
6. What role does Portland play in your music?
I draw much inspiration from the city of Portland. The surrounding area here in the Pacific Northwest is one of the most stunning and spectacular places you’ll see anywhere in the world. We essentially live in a rainforest, so the diversity of life here is extraordinary. And if you love to hike and explore the natural world as passionately as I do, this region provides an unlimited wellspring for you to wander and be amazed with how precious this planet truly is. This definitely impacts my general mental health in a positive way, and subsequently my music. Beyond this, it is also incredibly inspiring to live in a city where people care enough to take to the streets in protest of social injustices and fight for the equality of all people, as you may have seen over this past year following the murder of George Floyd. This is a point of pride for many of us here in this beautiful city.
7. You have some special guests joining you on the album – how did they come on board? What did they bring to the table?
In addition to the inclusion of percussionist Sammy Figueroa (whom I previously spoke about), some other special guests that I am very excited to have collaborated with are the incomparable soul/jazz trio from LA, Moonchild, whom have carved out a unique niche for themselves in the present musical landscape with their ultra-viby dreamscapes, super laid back grooves, and gorgeous, almost ethereal vocals/lyrics.
8. Do you tend to take a different approach when you are collaborating with someone else rather than working on your own?
Definitely, but it really depends on the nature of the collaboration. If someone comes to me with preconceived lyrics and melodies, and I then compose a chord structure underneath these preconceived ideas, I very much let those lyrics and melodies steer the boat and inform my artistic direction. However, if it is a joint collaboration where 2 or more of us are creating from the ground-up together, a very different approach might be employed. In that case, the leadership role might rotate around to different members at different times.
9. What is happening next in Jarrod Lawson’s world?
Well, I’ve got a very special lady in my life now and I’m very excited to begin building a life together with her. She has brought a level of happiness and contentment that I didn’t know was possible for me. We will be moving into a new house very soon actually, at which point I will have much larger space to set up my home recording studio, so this is a very exciting new chapter ahead! Also, presumably someday things will return to normal with regard to live performances and I will be able to actually tour this new music, so fingers crossed! Keep up to date here: https://www.jarrodlawson.com,
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JarrodLawsonMusic/, Instagram/Twitter: @jlawsings
