Hiya! Thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
Music has just always been there. I started messing around in bands as an early teenager and it just always felt right.
Introduce us to you and your musical history.
Hey, I’m jnr. I’ve been releasing music for a bit over a year, but have been around the scene writing and producing for a while longer. For the most part I’m writing and producing the songs myself, but have been a bit more collaborative recently.
Name me your 3 favourite Albums.
Grace – Jeff Buckley
A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships – The 1975
love is not dying – Jeremy Zucker
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
It was probably Billy Joel’s ‘Only The Good Die Young’. I heard it sung on Glee I think and thought it was so cool. I dug into Billy Joel’s whole discography and then I really started trying to play piano properly and sing at the same time.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, how do you feel you are doing?
I feel like baby steps are necessary. It’s always important to celebrate your little wins and not get too caught up with how other people are doing. I just make my own moves and try to have fun with it.
I’m seeing a lot of debate about women not feeling safe at music gigs, any thoughts on what we need to do to help?
Call it out if you see anything uncool or disrespectful happening. Too many guys just keep quiet when a mate is going out of line. People need to stand up to these things even if the person responsible is close to you.
As you develop as an artist and develop using socials what ways do you get new ears on your music?
Any tips?
I’m honestly really bad with socials. I tried to follow trends and do what they say you should do on Tik Tok and Instagram, but I’m finding more people respond when I’m authentic online – which is either talking as I am and not putting on an online persona, or when I get creative with the artistic direction of my music rollout.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
I have a lighter tattooed on my upper leg, I speak 4 languages, and I used to do competitive gymnastics
What’s your thought on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
Look, it’s not ideal but we’re not getting away from streaming services anytime soon. The whole business landscape needs to change if that were to ever happen.
Do you sign up for any conspiracy theories?
I love hearing them and going along with that craze, but there’s none that I live and die by.
Did you buy anything you don’t need during the pandemic?
I bought this UV Light mask that was supposed to give you better skin. I’m still not sure if it was a scam or not.
What was the worst experience on stage?
When I was playing in bands as a teenager, I tried to be cool and jump on the drum kit but I stacked it. The crowd laughed and it was pretty embarrassing, but everything feels that way when you’re a teenager.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
Before I wanted to pursue music I wanted to be an illustrator for children’s books.
What makes you stand out as an artist?
I feel like the music I make is pretty fluid genre-wise. I don’t have many rules when I’m writing – I just like to create and see what comes out. It often makes the result pretty different, but I’m into that.
I hear you have a new music, what can you tell us about it.
‘U Stay On My Mind’ is my sixth single and my favourite release to date. It’s about addiction and discovering yourself through your darkest times. We made a video with it and it’s honestly what I’m most proud of in my career so far.
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune.
I was in a bit of a dark place at the time. I don’t really want to go too deep into it but I started writing the demo of this song and I had that chorus melody – “you stay on my mind, just some of the time”. I knew it wasn’t about a person and just dove down the rabbit hole.
What was the recording process like?
I wrote it with my best friend Nico in 2020. We kind of left it half-finished until I had to get the tracks ready to play it for a gig late last year. We loved the strings in it so much that we decided to finish it off and really lean into the organic feel of some of the parts.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tune?
Just to be vulnerable with my lyrics. Not to really think about what people would think of me if they heard it and just do what felt authentic.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Nothing. This song sounds and feels exactly the way it’s supposed to.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
‘U Stay On My Mind’ is out now on all streaming platforms, as well and on YouTube with the music video (directed by Zoe Dubuc). I’m going to be working hard on some new music over the next couple months so keep an eye out.
CHECK HIS WEBSITE HERE