Jan 09 2021

Music Interview: Jacob’s Blue delves on his musical journey, creative tastes, musical influences & the inspiration behind “Born in the Sunset: Thoughts to Oasis”

By David Presley

Hometown/Based Now:

I grew up in a split household, one always residing in Jacksonville, FL. And one household being a military family. So I moved around a ton all over the US but would always split my time coming back to FL. So I would call Jacksonville home but I def kinda grew up everywhere at the same time.

I spent the last 4 years living in Flushing, Queens, NY finishing up school at St. John’s University but just recently moved out to Denver, CO. Still getting weird to say but I guess I’m based there right now!

When did you start making music?

I’ve been playing guitar and piano and drums from a young age, as long as I can remember. But I didn’t really try to start making music at this scale until I was in my senior year of high school. I think I was 17!

What is this project?/How did it come to be?

Born in the Sunset: Thoughts to Oasis tells a story of a relationship that mirrors the beauty, passion, and brilliance of the sunset. Using the sun as a metaphor, its meant to deliver the cycIical nature of life and love and really the pursuit of one’s own happiness. So if one thinks about a relationship arc, (you know meeting to falling in love, all the way to never want to speak to someone again) and were to mirror those feelings with the color, imagery, and sound of the sun setting, that’s really how this album came about. The title of the album alludes to the point listeners are supposed to arrive at after listening: That through the feeling and overcoming the pain that was Born in the Sunset (i.e. downfall of a relationship, if we’re still following this arc), come one’s own Thoughts to Oasis, or really tools to get to or get back to happiness. Or at least that’s how it all went down for me haha.

There’s lot of explanation and lyrics and stuff if one was to follow the script while listening on my website at https://jacobs.blue. I really think that’s the best way to consume with the resources I had. The whole thing was meant to be a short film, however, COVID-19 really killed my plans. However, viewed in light of the script and that this music was more a soundtrack than anything, I think listeners can start to understand the transitions and abrupt stops and conciseness in general of the project. In the script it’s clearly marked but visually time stamps really help you imagine what color the sky is as each song plays and I think those colors are heavily reflected in the music. Genuinely, am just obsessed with natural gradients and the sunset/sunrise is one of the most commonly recognized natural gradients. I knew I wanted to create symbolism around it eventually – so that’s where the symbolism comes from.

As far as how, I knew I really wanted to push myself and dig deep in my production, vulnerability, lyrical ability, musicianship, and story telling. I played wrote, produced, and recorded everything you hear and played all of it except for the Uke on the last part of the last song (shout out Robin Lemmerz for that). I also performed all of it except for some background vocal help from Harmoney Limoggio on the last part of the song called “Hard of Hearing”. Sonically, other than thinking of the music as soundtrack (i.e. bringing in a bunch of foley samples and transitions) I did a lot to the project intentionally in an attempt to try to drive home it’s cyclical nature. Like if you accidentally repeat the album after listening the last song flows seamlessly into the first song again, on purpose haha. Also you can play any of the songs on repeat, themselves.

That being said, every sound and lyric was meticulously crafted and overanalyzed over the last year and half. I started production and writing work back in July of 2019 and was around 80% done by September 2019. I was feeling really good for an early 2020 release but somewhere along the line COVID happened and I wasn’t sure how long I wanted to go home for. I thought, surely this’ll be like 3 weeks max back home in FL and I’ll get right back to killing this project. Soon enough 3 weeks had turned to 8 months and I was crawling to the finish line while living at my parents house and recording when I could. I’m the oldest of 8 kids and don’t have my own bedroom at the house anymore since moving out to college and I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I finished this album in a closet. On top of that I didn’t have any recording gear besides my laptop and headphones, so I had to scramble to pull together what gear I could before I could even get back to work.

But we made it. I’m here. The project is out and it’s so cool to see people interacting with it. It’s been a long time coming and I’m just super relieved to make something I’m proud of. Thank you for your energy and attention. I’m super grateful to everyone that decides to give it a chance.

And for everyone listening this is ultimately the message I want you to hear (from the last paragraph of the script):

“Even though sometimes we may feel stuck in the cycles of our own creation, predestined to live the same time over and over…no matter how tried and trifled and painful it may be. No matter how ingrained in you these patterns are or that you may feel like you were in fact, born into them. No matter how beautiful the rise, stay, and especially set of the sun may have been. Know that it was worth it because it added to your story and that a new sun, a new story, will come again tomorrow.”

Any insights that you want to share

Just something I think that might be interesting to share is a little bit of my story…

I ended up in NYC after high school because I knew I wanted to pursue music professionally. After a year at St. John’s, I knew I needed to invest in my technical skills as a musician and producer and engineer. So I pulled up my laptop and applied to literally every studio worth a shit in the Metropolitan area, telling them that I would sweep their floors and/or whatever I could in exchange for any knowledge they would provide me. It was quiet for a bit but around 200 messages sent, I got asked to come by Jungle City Studios, which I’m biased for sure, but think is one of the dopest studios in the freaking US, much less NY. Naturally I freaked out jumped at the opportunity. Found that they were not only going to pay me but I was also gonna get to be in with real professionals and learning every single day. I spent the next year working my way up as a runner all the way to assisting a couple sessions as an assistant engineer by the time I left and like I said learning every single day. It was one of the best experiences of my life and definitely one of the biggest catalyst for my own growth in music. Shout out to everyone there, they’re like family and I genuinely love them.

Also, shout out Alex “Matik” Estevez who is not only a sick engineer but a dear friend and mentor who not only brought me under his wing since the first day I started at Jungle but mixed this entire project. It sounds incredible thanks to him. Also a special thanks to Nicolas “Dep” de Porcel from Million Dollar Snare who mastered the whole thing and continues to support!

As much of a one man show it was it also wasn’t thanks to so many people just listening and or challenging me or just pushing me along the way but you can find all that on my site too!

What makes your music unique? How would you describe it? (genres-subgenres)

The music is just fully representative of me. I was so in love with alternative rock and pop and hip-hop and r&b and alternative music growing up so I think it all just blended together to be what you hear now. Everything from Gorillaz to Audioslave to Frank Ocean to Kendrick to Cage the Elephant inspired this project and my sound.

Who are your biggest musical influences? Any particular artists/band you would like to collaborate with in the future?

I’m just a huge fan of music so I really think there are too many influences to count. But definitely the aforementioned. As far as collabs, I actually have a dream list that is super long but the shortlist consists of $NOT, Gorillaz, Slowthai, Gracie Abrams, Daft Punk, The Neighbourhood, Dominic Fike, and Kenny Beats, all of which I just know in my chest I’ll make bangers with it. The list goes on and on but those are some of my favorites right now.

Best moment in my musical career that you’re most proud of?

Honestly, it’s right now. It’s just so fucking cool to see people feel something or reach out to me or keep listening to something I made. I worked really fucking hard to make sure this music was something I was proud of and I can’t help but feel like it’s really paying off. I’m touched by the people around me being proud of it too. That means the most <3 Just trying to remain present in this special chapter of my life.

How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends, or work?

haha. That’s the name of the game, isn’t it? Life is all about balance. I just try to remind myself of that. Right now I work as a web designer during the day. So I try to do things like never let my work come home with me. I think compartmentalizing my life as much as possible and constantly evaluating what my priorities are, help me keep a good balance. But there’s no question that my relationships, personal growth, and music are at the top of that list. I can’t wait for the day that working for someone else can be a thing of the past!

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?

I don’t feel like I’m in the best place to give advice but I think the most important things I remind myself of often is to 1) never give up and 2) never lose sight of the fact that despite allllll the other factors that go into being a musician/artist/whatever it’s always about the product. Just focus on making good shit and the work will speak for itself…hopefully.

If you had one message to give to anyone that listens to your music.

I love you. Thank you for listening. And the sun will always come tomorrow.

What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects?

The short answer is I have no idea. I’m really excited to live my life for a bit and shed the weight of this project. I’m looking forward to lots of collaboration and continuing my love for making music. Whatever I decide to do, I know I’ll put my all into.

Stream on Spotify