In this interview we have a virtual pow wow with Jared & The Mill to discuss their newest project, their influences, gig schedule and more.
Full Q&A as well as a stream of Keep Me Going below. You can also find full list of tour dates below the interview.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
I don’t know that we ever really made a big push to any genre in particular, it sounds lame but it kinda chose us. We just play the kinda music that calls to us as a group. I think the fact that we all grew up in AZ listening to at least a little bit of western swing or outlaw country probably shaped us a little bit. But to be honest we started out as an acoustic pop band, we never really planned on becoming what we are, it just sorta happened.
How long have you been creating and sharing your music with the public?
This band was my first dive into music as a performance art starting 5ish years ago, but I started writing poetry when I was a little kid in elementary school. It helped me cope with anxiety and self deprecation issues. Around that same time I started playing violin with the school orchestra. Orchestra introduced me to music but I never really took it seriously until high school. In freshman year of high school I started playing guitar and soon after I started mashing my guitar playing with the poetry. But like I said this band is the first time I’ve ever really presented music I have written to a larger audience.
Who or what influences your playing and/or writing? Also, what motivates you to keep going?
It’s definitely clichè but everything affects my writing. From people I meet and talk to, to my relationship with my girlfriend and my family and friends, my writing is all influenced by it. I think I’m still discovering what motivates me to keep this going, but I find a little bit more of it every time me and my guys go out on the road. I’ve met people who tell me that one of my songs kept them from doing something awful to themselves, or helped them deal with heartbreak, or deal with trauma in their lives, it’s really amazing. At first I thought my career in music lacked meaning besides the self fulfillment of expressing myself, but more and more it points to the contrary.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
This latest record we put together is covering some of the things that we covered in our previous release, but in a more refined way. This life that we’re making for ourselves is an insane one, and it can be really tough to manage it mentally from time to time. We lose relationships, we miss milestones in friends lives, we get exhausted regularly. What makes the topics in this record different however, is that we’re starting to sort it all out, and we’re growing up. It’s a really cool thing to feel like you have a hold on such an insane lifestyle and this record is almost a celebration of that.
What was the last song you listened to?
The last song I listened to was “Hush” by Magic City Hippies, they’re a band I just recently discovered while checking out the Florida Indie-Rock scene. Florida has been really hard for us to get figured out, so I’ve been trying to see what’s goin on there.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I think I like Vinyl more than anything if I had to choose, it’s cool to have a ritual that pairs with the medium that provides the music. It’s pure romance when you put you’re favorite record on and hear the crisp spinning of the vinyl and your favorite songs following behind. All that being said, if I had to choose one medium I guess I’d have to choose MP3, it’s the most accessible in this day in age.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
They all have their merit, spotify and apple music are pretty fantastic in ease of use, but it’s rad that bandcamp and soundcloud are available to anybody with an internet connection.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract listeners to your music?
Well as you said, there’s so much noise in the space of rock-bands currently, that’s probably the hardest thing to get through. But other than that it’s all about performing to the best of your ability on the road and in the studio. Everything you put out has to be the best possible work. Other than that I’d say that staying sane on the road is a huge part of it. It’s important to keep your mind honed while on tour, there’s a lot of distractions that can keep you from taking your career seriously.
Do you gig, tour or perform? Do you ever live stream? Where can music lovers see you live?
We do all of the above! I think the purest form of our music is when it’s performed live on a stage in front of a standing audience. We’re going on the road for the next 3 months and any and all are more than welcome to come have a good time with us.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more of your music?
We do pretty well with manning our social media, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat are all great ways to ask us questions, say hello, or just shoot the shit, keeps us from goin crazy on the road actually, feel free to hit us up! Our music is available all over the damn place but I think Spotify is the only place with our latest single “Keep Me Going”
Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?
Don’t sweat the petty things, and to pet the sweaty things. Shoutout to Gucci Mane, congrats on the new release dude!
Tour Dates
- 8/11 – Tulsa, OK – The Vanguard – http://bit.ly/29iBHYt
8/12 – Dallas, TX – Prophet Bar – http://bit.ly/29a6szY
8/13 – Austin, TX – Stubbs Jr – http://fgtix.to/28YG8qw
8/14 – Houston, TX – HOB Bronze Peacock – http://bit.ly/299u3Ul
8/16 – New Orleans, LA – HOB Parish – http://bit.ly/28ZBmbS
8/18 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic – http://ticketf.ly/293ucXb
8/20 – Macon, GA – Sparkmacon – http://bit.ly/2970pyT
8/21 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley – TBA
8/23 – W Columbia, SC – New Brooklyn Tavern – http://ticketf.ly/29j0Nq1
8/24 – Charlotte, NC – Double Door Inn – http://ticketf.ly/29lIAby
8/25 – Durham, NC – Motorco – http://ticketf.ly/28ZXROn
8/28 – Vienna, VA – Jammin Java – http://ticketf.ly/290I1bq
8/30 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern – http://bit.ly/292gcO3
8/31 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater – http://bit.ly/28ZXW4R
9/1 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge – http://ticketf.ly/290aYRH
9/3 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall – http://bit.ly/291deWO
9/6 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom – http://tktwb.tw/28ZZvR2
9/7 – Chicago, IL – Space – http://tktwb.tw/28ZZmMo
9/10 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry – http://bit.ly/29j1Syi
9/11 – Madison, Wi – Frequency – http://bit.ly/28ZZPPS
9/13 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge – http://bit.ly/29lPCwI
9/15 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress – http://ticketf.ly/29aaKtn
9/17 – Phoenix, AZ – LiveWire – http://bit.ly/296Kijp
10/14 – Albuquerque, NM – The Co-Op – http://bit.ly/29bzAbe
10/15 – Greeley, CO – Moxi Theater – http://tktwb.tw/291JQ3W
10/16 – Fort Collins, CO – Hodi’s Half Note – http://ticketf.ly/293BH16
10/19 – Salt Lake City, UT – State Room – http://ticketf.ly/291GHRD
10/21 – Billings, MT – Pub Station – http://ticketf.ly/292fQqK
10/22 – Boise, ID – Neurolux – http://bit.ly/296KCi6
10/24 – Spokane, WA – The Bartlett – http://bit.ly/296w2au
10/25 – Seattle, WA – Sunset- http://bit.ly/28YFPex
10/26 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir – http://ticketf.ly/293GQGk
10/29 – San Francisco, CA – Neck of the Wood’s –http://ticketf.ly/28ZBSGD
10/30 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post – http://bit.ly/296fZHl
11/4 – Los Angeles, CA – The Satellite – http://ticketf.ly/28ZBQi2
11/5 – San Diego, CA – HOB Voodoo – http://bit.ly/28X80KF
