When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkel, the first time I ever heard Kiss's "Detroit Rock City," it was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and mean. It changed the way I listened to music. I've had a few minor epiphany's since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and revolutionary to your ears. What have been your musical epiphany moments?
In high school when I got into Dream Theater… I don’t listen to them so much anymore but they really showed me what was possible in terms of song structure, album variety, and concept. After I dove into them, the floodgates opened and the way I approached songwriting changed forever.
Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?
For me personally, I’ll usually be jamming around and stumble onto a vibe. It can’t really be forced, but once I find that vibe, that sort of spark, I’m off to the races. When I find the first lyric, or maybe the first melody or something… usually from there I know what the song is going to be about, how it is going to feel… then it just needs to be put together. That is a joy, once I find that seed… growing it is wonderful.
Who has influenced you the most?
So many great bands we have worked with. People that inspire you with their work ethic, their dedication, their professionalism, their passion, and with their positivity. They just make you want to step it up and be as good as you can be at every aspect of your craft… both musically and professionally.
Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
I’m really digging a lot of video game music and a lot of film scores right now. Our music doesn’t exactly sound like that, and I’m not putting it on when I want to party, but the mastery of mood and vibe in some OSTs is exceptional and that inspires the hell out of me.
We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?
With as globalized as the world is, I really feel like regional music scenes are a thing of the past. That being said, as a songwriter I feel very inspired by the geography of our area. I want to write music that is lush, powerful and beautiful… and I think the natural world is all of those things.
Where'd the band name come from?
When we were kids, my brother Jake would disappear into the woods for hours at a time… we are still finding my Dad’s tools back there to this day. We’d call for him to come home for dinner, but he’d never show up on time. When we called though, a red-tailed hawk that lived in a tree nearby would usually come flying… so naturally we assumed the hawk’s name was Jake too. We named the band after this bird who still lives there today.
Some kind of psychedelic rock opera? Something like heavy metal. Or really just any kind of slow-burn movie with stirring visuals.
You now write for a music publication (The Ripple Effect?). You're going to write a 1,000 word essay on one song. Which would it be and why?
If it were our song, I guess I’d pick ‘Counting’ because I think it captures a lot of my feelings about living and a lot of things I struggle with as an adult. If I were to pick ANY song, I’d probably pick an old murder ballad or something… ‘Omie Wise’, ‘The Wind and the Rain’… there is so much history with some of those folk songs and there are so many versions and takes from decades and decades of being passed down. That would be an interesting, but highly involved, project.
Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?
I think the best one that comes to mind was we were playing with a band up in Erie, PA... they were like a pop/rock/dancy kind of band. Good songs, real talented bunch… but their crowd was definitely not into heavy music. We started our set with ‘Witchy Weather’ from our first record (This was quite a while ago… Summer 2017 I think)… and that is a pretty chill, sensual song. That went over okay, but then we jumped into ‘Valley of the Witch’… which is anything but. A lot of blank faces in the crowd. Anyway, we finish our set and its awkward but we sit down, get some drinks, shake off the weird looks, and watch the other band play. They are tearing it up and between songs the singer goes, “aright… this next song… is about drugs…” and before he even finishes his sentence, my brother just throws his arms up in the air and goes “WOOOOO!!!”. A silence falls over the room and the singer goes “um, so actually I’m a recovering addict… so no ‘wooos’.” I would have laughed if it wasn’t so dang silent and awkward. There wasn’t any ill will or anything and its all cool and those guys are still cool but man… that was a couple of seconds that felt like they lasted for a year. I still laugh out loud every time I think about it now though.
Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans?
Its a blast getting in front of people and sharing music that we wrote and are passionate about. Like… we think this thing we came up with is rad and we hope you do too. It feels very communal. We haven’t had a chance to play live since ‘Hinterlands’ was released… but with the reception that album got, we hope that when we do get to play it in front of people, the sense of sharing and community will be even deeper.
On the other side of the coin, we love to drink beer and play and rock our faces off. So there’s that too.
What makes a great song?
A thread that goes through the whole thing. All the parts should work toward a common vibe. That being said, there should be contrast… moments of density, moments of space. Tension. Release.
Its hard to say… some things just work. Also, at the end of the day, it is us doing things that we like and want to hear. “Hey Jordan, put a breakbeat here” “Put some spooky keys here” “YO WOULDNT IT BE SICK IF WE PUT A BIG GUITARMONY HERE?!”
I guess it is all a balancing act between that heady stuff I said about composition and the four of us being selfish and just trying to do cool shit.
As a band, that would be a very long 3 part saga called SVS. We never properly named it, so SVS just stands for the names of the three movements: “Smite”, “Van-racing”, and “Syzygy”. Syz actually exists on our first EP but the other two bits we haven’t thought about in a long time. We used to love playing that though… it was like 16 minutes long or something.
As for me personally, I tried a lot as a kid but the oldest one that I still remember how to play/have recordings of is a Chili Peppers wanna be funk rock song called “SR 4049”… named in true high school fashion after a road sign I stole with my bassist at the time.
What piece of your music are particularly proud of?
“Counting” off of Hinterlands. “Strand” off of ’To Build a Fire’. I actually really like “Recluse” and “Geotaxis” off of that album a lot as well. I also have written a lot of stuff outside of JtH that I am extremely proud of… I’ve got a bandcamp for a side project called ‘Rainscape’ that has some stuff that I love death.
In typical music interview fashion I will have to say, all that aside… the best is yet to come!
Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?
Tyler Childers has written a couple of the best songs I’ve ever heard. Manuel Gagneux from Zeal & Ardor is a brilliant songwriter and producer… also maybe one of the best vocalists of our generation. Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth and Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree… I don’t think I could say anything about those guys that hasn’t been said already. If I had to pick one, I’d probably go with Mikael.
In our world, I love Howling Giant… those guys can do no wrong. Pale Grey Lore have some incredible material… I think their song ‘Undermined’ was my favorite track hands down from 2019.
Its hard to not have a rambling, stream-of-consciousness answer to this question because there is just so much to love about so many people. I’m so happy to be alive in a time with so many incredible artists making incredible art.
Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
Depends what I’m doing. I love collecting vinyl, I love the tactile nature of it. All that stuff everyone has said a thousand times. That is what I usually listen to when I’m at home and often I’ll wait to listen to a release until I can throw it on the turntable and take it top to bottom a few times. That being said, digital is great to. I can hear any song I can think of at any time in my car… that is kind of amazing. Honestly it’s kind of weird going out and having a jukebox and NOT being able to hear anything. “Aw, whaddaya mean they don’t have Horseburner? This bar SUCKS!”
A lot has been said about how streaming has cheapened music and I think that is true for some people… but I think it really comes down to the individual. I love music more than most things and I love having it at my fingertips.
I guess the weird thing with me is a tend to buy LP’s that I don’t already know front to back. Like I think my mind is more open to discovery when I’m at home with an album on. Maybe I’m just predisposed to liking it cause I already spent money on it… but its rare that I come home with something I hate.
Both have their place! I’ve been on a big bourbon kick for the past 8 months or so, but sometimes you just need a beer. Or a shot and a beer.
Actually, for the longest time, Jakethehawk was a Tequila band. We probably will be again when we get back on the road. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve rolled up somewhere and ordered up some TNT’s. (Tecate & Tequila)
We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your home town, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?
Pittsburgh is my home and you need to go to The Attic in Millville. No question. Actually, a few years ago I produced a video with a friend about local record stores in Pittsburgh. Maybe you should check that out if you’re gonna be around!
What's next for the band?
At the time of writing this, we are currently finishing up recording some covers (wink wink). Other than that, our next record is mostly written and in the pre production process. In between all that… playing as much as possible. Making up for lost time. Seeing as many faces as possible. We have some big stuff in that department lined up for late 2021 that should be public sooner rather than later…
Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?
Thank you for all of your support, thanks to anyone who bought or listened to any of the music. There is lots of wonderful art out there in the world, so thanks for spending some of your time with ours.
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