In this interview spotlight, I chat with Jerry Jean about his latest project (Do We Reach Home), influences, navigating the digital music world and more.
Full Q&A along with links and streams below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create?
I was born in Taiwan and moved to the US when I was 1. I’m currently based in New York City and create chamber pop/rock. I also refer to my music as alternative, classic pop. My music is melody driven with earnest lyrics, tends towards cinematic soundscapes with live strings, and at the core is voice and piano based.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
I started playing violin at age 4, piano and drums in primary school, and singing as a teenager. Upon moving to NYC for college, I began playing in pit orchestras, accompanying singers, and working as a sideman for other artists. I simultaneously became obsessed with singing and learning how to develop my voice both artistically and technically. A fascination with production and audio came later, and I enjoy being able to straddle both sides of the glass.
Spending much of my time performing other people’s music led to a strong desire to create my own, tangible songs. I’m motivated and particularly excited by the idea of contributing to the landscape of recorded music, not just recreating past compositions.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
My LP, Do We Reach Home, is larger in scope, more complex thematically, and more ambitious than my previous personal works, which were all EPs. Although I wrote, produced, and arranged every song as usual, I did not attempt to play all the parts, which is something I’ve often done in the past. Many top NYC chamber musicians, active in both the rock and classical worlds, contributed to the record. Sonically, the album is also a significant leap forward, thanks largely to wonderful mixing and mastering by Bryan Cook and 11-time Grammy winner Bob Ludwig respectively.
The music video for the title track was filmed in a single take, and explores the elusiveness of home, pairing a musician and a dancer against a post-industrial backdrop. I was specifically inspired by my Taiwanese parents who came to the US in the 80s and had to navigate the labyrinth of a new country to find home again.
Do you face challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? How has technology helped you (assuming it helps)?
As an independent musician, there are so many facets of the industry to juggle. Recording, mixing, performing, image creation. But modern recording tools, software, and the Internet have dramatically leveled the turf. While social media is important for visibility and is undeniably powerful, I think the compulsive scrolling that it breeds seriously takes away from making music, and is actually a harmful addiction that prevents deep thinking.
Where can we connect with you online and discover more music?
Visit jerryjean.com, where Do We Reach Home is available on vinyl (180 gram, double LP at 45 RPM) as well as CD. I’m very proud of the quality on both of these physical formats, and there’s something undeniably satisfying about being able to hold the artwork and read the liner notes.
You can also connect on:
- Spotify: http://spoti.fi/1F1OGem
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jerryjeanmedia
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jerryjeanmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerryjeanmusic
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerryjeanmusic
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jerryjeanmusic
