Hiya folks 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?
It’s an itch you can’t scratch any other way. I enjoy creating stuff, the tunes, the artwork, the music videos, etc. and I’m passionate about it. It’s weird but over time I just felt compelled to follow it more and more. You only get one crack of the whip, don’t you?
Introduce us to you and your musical history.
I’m JFT, from Manchester (the greatest city in the world), and I write and produce my own tunes. I’ve been playing guitar since I was a kid (about 7 years old) and have been writing my own tunes for about 10 years now. I like to try and tell stories about any and all experiences through my tunes. It’s something that I’ve always enjoyed doing (more as a hobby) but have been taking it much more seriously this year trying to push for some level of success.
What was life like for you before you started taking music more seriously?
Good fun, filled with boozing.
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
I have absolutely no idea but I used to love watching videos of Slash and Hendrix playing the guitar so they probably left a mark on me which I’ve not been able to shake off.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
Pretty low down the old totem pole.
What’s the biggest thing you have learned from someone else in the industry?
There’s no shortcut to success. It’s not necessarily just specifically music-related but in any walk of life you generally get back what you put in. The music industry is obviously hyper-competitive but if you put yourself out there, work harder than everyone else and learn from your mistakes, there is surely a place for you here (at least that’s what I’m hoping lol).
Tell us two truths and a lie about you.
1. I’ve been on the front of a magazine with David Beckham.
2. I quit my job earlier this year to pursue some success with the tunes.
3. I can run 5km in under 18 minutes.
If you could wish for one thing to aid your career what would it be?
Be well better at music theory. I’m studying it more nowadays (used to find it unbearably boring) but chipping away and making some progress with it. I’m just not one of these mathematical dudes who is a complete whiz with it.
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
Not really. My voice (unintentionally) sounds sarcastic a lot of the time and I am a bit of a wind-up anyway. Can’t spend your life worrying about it, can you. Cancel culture is a bumout isn’t it?
Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories? If not, why not?
It makes life a bit more interesting to buy into them I guess. There are some that are deffo true but I won’t mention them here because when JFT hits the big time I don’t want to get popped off.
What was the worst experience on stage?
Telling a joke and just hearing silence. Happens all the time.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I love Linkin Park (my tunes don’t sound anything like them).
What makes you stand out as an artist?
I guess I’ve got a pretty distinctive style (my dad tells me I do anyway). Each part of a tune I release has been thought out in great detail, be it the guitar parts, the lyrics or backing vocals or even the artwork. I’ve laboured over each part through multiple iterations so you know what you’re seeing as an end product has had my heart and soul poured into it.
I hear you have a new music, what can you tell us about it.
Yes, I’ve just released my first single in over a year. It’s called ‘To Be Back Here Again’ and is inspired by my favourite holiday destination out in Greece. I’m buzzing for it to finally be out. It’s a pretty nostalgic tune and regardless of where your ‘special place’ is, there’s something pretty relatable in there for people.
What is your recording process like?
I’ll generally have the bones of a tune and work around that. I pretty much exclusively start writing just with a guitar and aim to have a chord progression and lyrics for at least a verse and chorus before I start recording. Then I start recording and finish the writing and recording processes simultaneously.
What was the biggest learning curve you’ve faced when writing new tunes?
Trying to keep them fresh and building on what I’ve already released.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
No
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Love and peace.
PRESAVE HERE
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE // LINKTREE // YOUTUBE