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We’re very excited to have some time today with acclaimed Austin, Texas-based singer/songwriter and guitarist JB Elwood; greetings and salutations JB and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we meander down the musical Q&A pathway, how is 2024 treating you and yours?
Thank you so much for sitting down with me and letting me share my story with you and everyone on your platform. 2024 has been an exciting year for me! There have been a few bumps early on this year in my personal life, but every month has been getting better and more exciting and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for this year. I have been putting my heart and energy into my music journey and my album being released on June 7th is such a huge and emotional milestone for me. It is my dream to share relatable stories through music with the world, and I am beyond happy with how my debut album has turned out. I can’t wait to hear what you think as well.
Major kudos and accolades on your forthcoming debut album Lost In My Ways which is set to be released this coming June 7! Starting at the top, can you talk a little about all of the things which went into inspiring one of the very best new LP’s of 2024?
Thank you so much for your kind words. I knew ever since I was young that I wanted to be a musician, so it is surreal that I am releasing an album, that is an extension of me, who I am, and my life experiences. The album is a collection of relatable stories about coming of age and how those experiences shape us into who we are today. I strive to make my songs as catchy, memorable, and relatable as possible. Some of these songs I actually wrote when I was young and in high school as well as college. But I kept on trying to perfect the songs and make them as good as possible. Then, I finally took the leap to chase after my dream, and started recording those songs with my producer. I could not have pulled off this album without the incredible support system that I have. My parents and brother have been very supportive of me and my music journey. Also, I am so grateful for my producer, Andrew Middleton, who has successfully helped me bring my vision to life. I would not be here without him and his belief in me and my music. I know that I will continue to work with him for a very long time.
Who was your producer on Lost In My Ways and what did the collaboration between artist and producer look like in the studio while preparing the new album?
My producer is Andrew Middleton and he is based out of Nashville, Tennessee. I actually used to live in Nashville for almost two years and that is how I began working with him. When I first started recording music with him, he was impressed with my songs and he said that he felt like he could capture my vision and bring it to life. I am grateful to say that he has effectively done that. So, some of these songs were actually recorded in Nashville when I personally went into his studio. But, I decided to move to Austin, Texas, which was the best decision of my life, and chase my music dream in this incredible city. But I knew that I didn’t want to stop working with my producer in Nashville. So, it is now a slightly different dynamic. I write all my songs, but with the distance between me and my producer, I write the melodies, lyrics, guitar parts, and more, and then I send it over to him. Then, it has to be re-created there at his studio since I am not physically there anymore. My producer then creates the beats, synths, and miscellaneous instrumental sounds to elevate the track and make it sound as polished as possible. Then, I record my vocals at a studio here in Austin, Texas and it gets sent over to my producer. I really like working with Andre Moran out of Cedar Creek Recording Studio. He is a phenomenal musician, sound engineer, and producer.
We’re big admirers of the tune Take Me Back which is off of the upcoming Lost In My Ways LP! What’s the story behind this gem of a ditty?
Thank you! This is one of my favorite songs off the album as well. This song is about the end of a relationship. It is about sitting on opposite ends of a table with a significant other and realizing that the spark and excitement are gone. It is a plea to your significant other to go back in time to when the relationship was fun and exciting. But, it is also a realization that the relationship may be at the end. I wrote this song about this girl that I was in a relationship with and we were out of that “honeymoon phase” of the relationship. We no longer had much to talk about, we were growing distant, and the love and care that we had for each other was no longer there. I remember we were sitting at a restaurant, we were silent for most of it, and I was hit with the realization that the relationship was nearing its end. Sometimes I wish I fought harder for the relationship, so the desperation throughout the song is me wishing I grabbed her hand from the other end of the table, told her that we need to fight for this, and chase after the excitement and fun that we once had. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and the relationship came to an end. But I hope that other people in the same situation give their relationships a fighting chance because sometimes there is still that small spark that can be reignited if you fight for it.
In your humble opinion, what differentiates the Lost In My Ways LP from the Distinguished Competition on the 2024 music scene?
There are so many talented musicians out there putting out absolutely incredible music. I hope that my music is enjoyed by many people who want to find relatable stories in music. To answer your question, I think what differentiates “Lost In My Ways” from other talented artists out there is that I strive to tell relatable stories in my music and place those stories in a catchy and memorable melody that hopefully people can remember and sing along to. My biggest influences on my songwriting style are Tom Petty and Rob Thomas. Both of these artists effectively told relatable stories in their music and made their songs super catchy and memorable.
Who are you inspired by, musically-speaking?
There are so many incredible artists out there. I gravitate towards particular artists based on my mood on a particular day. My favorite artists growing up were Tom Petty, Matchbox 20, Guns N’ Roses, The Eagles, The Shins, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and John Mayer. Some modern-day artists that I am currently inspired by are Harry Styles, Tyler Childers, Bleachers, Sufjan Stevens, Gregory Alan Isakov, Sam Fender, and Jason Isbell. My musical tastes are all over the place, but one thing all these artists have in common is that they are all authentic and masters of their crafts.
With the upcoming June 7 release of your debut album Lost In My Ways, can fans look forward to catching you on the touring/performing circuit in the coming weeks and months?
Yes, most definitely! I play at least one show every week and I play shows throughout Central Texas, whether it be in Austin, Round Rock, San Marcos, New Braunfels, San Antonio, and many other cities. My goal this year is to land opening act opportunities and to open up for established and well-known Texas artists. There is so much talent in Texas and I am grateful that I chose this wonderful state to chase after my dreams. I look forward to continuing to grow as an artist and to learn from incredible artists in the Texas music scene. You can stay up to date with all my live shows by following me on social media or going to my website www.jbelwoodmusic.com
You originally hailed from the Midwest and now hang your fedora in the thriving city of Austin, Texas. How do these seemingly disparate roots inform you as both an artist and as a person?
This is a really good question. Thank you for asking this one. My familial roots are from the Appalachian region where both of my parents were born and raised in West Virginia. A majority of my family still live in the Appalachian region. My father is one of the most brilliant people I know and he graduated from West Virginia University. He is a Structural Engineer, so he had to move to the big cities. I was born in the Midwest in Chicago and grew up for 14 years throughout the Chicagoland region. We lived all across the country and I lived in Los Angeles for a while, then Nashville, and now I hang my hat in Austin, Texas. Austin is my favorite city that I have ever lived in and I am proud to call this my home. I have diverse and unique experiences growing up and I am grateful to have been exposed to so much because of my father’s profession as a Structural Engineer. I have been able to see so much of the United States because of the sacrifices my mother and father have made.
I will never forget my roots and where I come from. My father inherited land in West Virginia that has been in my family for over 100 years, so I always try to find time every year to visit. Growing up, we would drive from Chicago to West Virginia multiple times a year to visit our grandparents. My grandfather, Eugene “Poppy” Jackson, on my mother’s side, was a self-taught musician who could play the guitar, fiddle, and banjo. He was a preacher and played the guitar every Sunday at church. He used to tell me “Son, you sure know how to pick that guitar. Stick with it and you will go somewhere one day”. Before he passed away, he gifted me his 1960’s Gibson Dove acoustic guitar, and this is now my prized possession. With this guitar, I carry my familial roots and the memory of my grandfather. I strive to make my family proud every single day and to tell relatable stories in my music that anyone can relate to regardless of where you live or your background.
Listening to you, we can hear the sweet drippings of country, pop, rock and even alternative. How would you describe your style of music to a fan just now discovering you?
I think you captured what my sound is with your classifications of my music! But if someone came up to me in person and asked me what my music sounds like, I would say I am a pop alternative musician. I have a lot of folk and country influences on my music, so people can definitely hear that in my songs. I would tell people that my music is pop alternative because my producer and I do a blend of pop elements on top of real instruments. Also, I strive to make my songs as catchy as possible and I try to lead up to a big chorus with fun and memorable melodies.
Any final thoughts you might like to share with our ever-inquisitive readers about your beautiful premiere album Lost In My Ways?
I want to thank you for listening to my debut albumLost In My Ways. This is a collection of songs that mean so much to me and truly captures who I am as a person. The album’s theme is about coming of age and how those experiences shape us into who we are today. I tried to make these songs as relatable and catchy as possible, so I hope that you enjoy and sing along to these songs!
Follow me on social media and subscribe to my YouTube channel because I will be releasing a music video for “Lost In My Ways” sometime in June. I am also working on another music video at the moment, so I have a lot of fun and exciting things in store for everyone.
I am already working on another album with my producer, so I have plenty more stories to share with you and the world. So this is only the beginning!
Thank you so much for your time and these thoughtful questions. I appreciate you letting me share my story with you and your audience.
STREAM https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jbelwood/lost-in-my-ways-2/
