Jamie Hamburg sent over his track “Annabelle” the other day, you need to check it out! Great lyrics, beautiful vocals and awesome guitars, I mean, what more could ya ask for?
After spinning “Annabelle” a couple times I decided to send over an interview so we could get to know Jamie and his music a little better…
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-hamburg-1/annabelle
Jamie is a 19 year old Pop/Rock Singer-Songwriter from Poughkeepsie, NY. His music is driven by his love for expressing emotions and sharing experiences with his listeners. He has been compared to groups like Dave Matthews, John Butler Trio, and artists such as John Mayer and James Taylor and he strives to make his own mark musically with memorable melodies and intricate guitar parts coupled with honest lyrics. Jamie is currently studying at Berklee College Of Music in Boston for a degree in Songwriting, and plays in various venues across the Northeast throughout the year.
Let’s get to know you, the artist and your music a little better. What attracted you to the “pop guitar / voice” style you practice?
From a young age I was fascinated by Guitar and all the ways you can use it to reach an audience, so I started playing for hours each day and listening to groups like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones when I was 10. It wasn’t until age 14 that I started getting into more modern groups like Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, and The John Butler Trio, and from there I knew music was always going to be central to my life.
How long have you been making music? Have you been performing or sharing it with the public all that time?
I’ve been writing for 6 years now, and I have recorded singles in the past and performed many of my originals for live audiences, but I released my first EP this past August, titled “Sleep The Day Off”.
Who or what influences your writing and performance?
Primarily, I give singer songwriters like John Mayer, James Taylor, and Dave Matthews credit, but I think my guitar playing is what drives my music and I could only point to an early interest in players like Jimmy Page and Dickey Betts for that.
It seems all creative people go through rough patches or writer’s block of some sort. What motivates you to keep going?
I find that when I get stuck, it means that something in me is pushing to get out and I’m not struggling to come up with material, I’m struggling to open up to whatever needs to come out. I think for many writers like myself, the songs are based in realities, and therefore there is always something to write about, but it’s not always the first thing we think to write about when we sit down. For me, the struggle is just not forcing something that I don’t really connect with.
Were you trying to accomplish something different or specific with this project – creatively or otherwise?
I tried to make my EP as eclectic as possible, I wanted all 5 songs to bring their own identity to the table when they reach the listener. In my mind, being a younger writer, I want to offer something for anyone that I can reach with my words or music. Instead of only serving a small target audience with this, I wanted to do my best to really stretch out my ideas and make it relatable for anyone who might be listening.
What was the last song you listened to?
“Harlem”- Bill Withers (I don’t claim much influence from his music, but man Bill Withers is so awesome)
Do you prefer a certain medium for listening – vinyl, CDs, mp3, reel-to-reel, Pono,(lol sort of)?
It is one of my written goals to have a Full Length album of mine pressed to vinyl someday. Honestly, I did not appreciate the value of listening to records for a long time. We have millions of songs available at the click of a button, which is of course convenient, but the listening experience for any album changes immensely when you put time picking one out, putting it on, and then listening the whole way through. I think you really get to appreciate more of what the artist wants you to get from their album as a whole. [ed: amen!]
If you had to choose one place to host your music, would you prefer Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, or … ?
Currently, I’m a huge fan of Bandcamp but my EP is going to be available on all major music streaming sites!
Do you ever feel as if your tunes are lost in a sea of music? What are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract new listeners?
There’s a lot of amazing artists out there, and a lot of them like me who are just starting out and trying to build a fanbase, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. To me, getting even one person who truly enjoys the music and wants to follow on my journey is special, and when you factor in all the other fantastic musicians who they could’ve devoted time to instead, you really appreciate the value of a strong following. That being said, anyone who has ever tried to promote their music knows that sometimes, you’re just going to end up feeling like you’re bothering everyone or coming off as conceited, so I try to be cognizant of that. Occasionally, those sentiments can stop me in the pursuit of finding a bigger audience. But I believe I have music worth listening to, so after the work that goes into it, I know I need to get it to peoples’ ears!
Are you playing on live stages, clubs, bars, the local town picnic, festivals?
In my opinion, any live performance is an opportunity and a learning experience. So I play solo on all sorts of stages, mainly clubs, bars, and private parties, and in bigger venues with the group I head at Berklee College Of Music in Boston. Currently, I’m planning to book our first tour for next summer, so I can’t wait for that.
Do you ever stream your performances over the net? Where can music lovers see you perform?
With the coming school year, I plan to stream at least one live show a month, whether it’s solo or with my band. I’ll be doing it through Facebook Live on my Facebook page “Jamie Hamburg Music”
Where is the best place to connect with you online and/or discover more of your music?
I’m always around to answer anything on Facebook or Instagram (Search “Jamie Hamburg Music”) or my website www.jamiehamburg.com. If you’re looking for the EP, you can find it on Bandcamp for a small price by searching “Jamie Hamburg- Sleep The Day Off”!
Can you share an anecdote or tale of woe or inspiration like a story about an out-of-touch club manager, your favorite fan interaction, broken busses, or you know… just some experience in your musical journey you’ll never forget?
So far I’m not very deep into a musical career, and I don’t quite have stories “On The Road” yet, but I’ll share something that happened to me recently that has stuck with me and might serve as a helpful reminder for other artists. I was making my debut at the NYC club The Bitter End in The Village, and naturally, I was nervous. Pretty nervous. I haven’t really felt the effects of stage fright in a while, so that kind of compounded onto itself, and when I took the stage I felt like I was either ready to be amazing or totally bomb it. Well, I fumbled over a few words in my intro, but I got into the first song and for the next 40 minutes, things went well. I finished my set on my favorite song “The Cure” (it’s on the EP so check it out!), and took a bow, thanked the audience, when the soundman asked me to play one more. “The Cure” was my encore technically, but I finished ahead of schedule and he wanted me to fill out my time. So, I panicked a bit and said I was going to do one more original. An original that I hadn’t played or sang in 6 months. I jumped into that, miraculously got through the first verse, and the first chorus, and then finally, it fell apart. Couldn’t remember a word of the second verse, so I stood there vamping on chords for what felt like years, and then I realized that this isn’t what music is about. So instead, I announced that im doing a cover instead and I modulated into one of my favorite songs “Cortez The Killer” and had the time of my life playing that song even though it kind of clashed with the rest of my set. My point to other musicians is that music is supposed to make us feel good, and offer a release for our emotions. Getting too caught up in being the “best” all the time kind of takes that away and makes the whole thing business like instead of artistic. Anyways, thank you for reading! Hope you enjoy the songs, and please get in touch with me on any social media or my site to let me know what you think!
Lightning Round
What’s your favorite ice cream?
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, or anything Ben & Jerry’s has ever made. Ever.
Dream vehicle?
Anything big enough for music equipment
Sailing yacht, catamaran, bass boat, or kayak?
Kayak
Place on Earth you must visit some day
Rome seems like a must!
Batman or Spiderman?
“Batman” (In the Batman voice)
James Bond or Jason Borne?
Bond
Bugs Bunny or Anime?
Bugs Bunny hands down!
Favorite beer or beverage of pleasure?
Dr. Pepper (Ask me about the Beer again in 374 days)
Movie or book quote you are liable to drop at the wrong moment?
“Are YOU talkin’ to me”? (Said this to a school administrator, we did not find the same humor in it)
Left with a choice of one instrument, which would you keep?
Guitar!
Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?
Thanks to anyone reading this, and everyone who’s supported me to get to where I am today!
