Interview with Jay Draper & the Subterraneans
COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View and MBM Ten Pounder. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
CV: Every artist experiences highs and lows. Many struggle just to move from one level to the next, and some, unfortunately, never do. What would you consider to be a pivotal point in an artist's career which would take them from one level to the next that a struggling artist should be aware of? Is it an individual mindset or does it equate more to opportunity? Or is it something all together different in your opinion?
Jay Draper: For me, it all depends on what you consider success to be. Obviously, I would love to be able to make a living purely from my art, and I would definitely consider that to be a level of success, but it's been getting harder and harder for smaller musicians to make that a reality these days. On the other hand, an even more important thing for me would be to just have as many people as I can enjoy and listen to what I do. That would be another level of success for me, but both of these require proper promotion of what you do, and unfortunately (present company included), most artists aren't always good at doing that on their own. My advice, if you don't already have a label of someone doing it for you, would be just to get yourself out there as much as possible. If you're a live act, play as often as you can, especially if it's outside of your home base. Also, if you have a release coming out, don't be afraid to send out promo to reviewers and DJs and try not to be discouraged if they don't always get back to you. Just don't be afraid to put yourself out there, even if it doesn't always work out. There is always an element of luck to success, but the more opportunities you make or take for yourself, the more opportunities for luck to maybe go your way.
CV: What do you feel an artist can do right now to stay relevant?
JD: Honestly, if you want advice on staying relevant, you're probably asking the wrong guy. I tend not to worry too much about relevance and just do what I do, and then hope the music finds its small corner of the world where people appreciate it. I usually try to write about what is relevant to me, and I figure that if I do, then there must be others out there who feel the same way. I would say, just try to make as much noise about yourself as you can, and then let the music speak for itself. Artists who try too hard to stay relevant often come across as very disingenuous, which I feel is a turn-off for people like myself at least. That being said, we live in a pretty crazy time in history at the moment, and there are plenty of relevant topics to write about if you want to stay on the pulse of things. Just don't fall into second-guessing yourself in an attempt to please other people.
CV: What have you found to be the balancing point between relevance and over saturation when it comes to being an artist? Is there a fine line between the two or can it be looked at to some degree as the two essentially being one in the same?
JD: I'm not certain what the comparison between relevance and over-saturation is, but if you just mean how to be relevant without getting lost in the crowd of everyone else trying to stay relevant, all I can say to that is just be yourself, and make as much noise as you can about it. The double-edged sword about the music industry and streaming right now is that even though it's never been easier to get your music out there, it is also a very oversaturated market. So, bang your pots and pans, do a lot of shows, post about what you're doing, do interviews like this, or risk getting lost in the sea of other music.
CV: Is there any level of consideration, or even concern, to deliver on expectations, whether it being your own or that of the fans, when working on new material?
JD: I think it's next to impossible not to worry a bit about how people are going to respond to what you're doing, but at the same time, if you're just doing it to impress them, then is it really art, or is it just content? Not that there is anything wrong with doing content, but if you feel you're trying to do something more meaningful, you have to do it for yourself first, and then worry about what others will think later. It's a difficult thing being someone who expresses themselves publicly through art, and it can certainly seem painful when people don't always take well to it, but someone's got to do it. What would life be without art? As for my own expectations of what I do, that's a different story. I am a very harsh critic of myself, and I doubt that will ever change. Still, second-guessing yourself too much is also bad for art. I've been told a few times now by friends and fans of what I do that a song I've grown to feel cringe about is actually a song they really love. So, if I hadn't put it out, then they would have never gotten to enjoy it. Being a creative is weird sometimes, but it's all part of the process.
CV: For you, what’s first when it comes to songwriting…is it a matter of lyrics melody, chords, beat, attitude? Or is it more organic than that where the moment dictates the process and outcome?
JD: Definitely the latter. I do tend to have a more favored process, which is usually to start with a bassline and then work my way up from there, but I like it when a song comes about in a completely different way. Sometimes I intentionally try to start with a different instrument or method just to break myself out of my comfort zone. When it comes to something like writer's block, the instinct is to not push it and give yourself time to find inspiration, and usually that's good advice, but I've also found that if enough time goes by and I haven’t gotten back into the swing of things, sometimes I just need to sit myself down and force myself to write a bunch of stuff I don't like until something lands. A number of times, I've written something I've really liked because I've forced it. It all really depends. If something isn't working, don't be afraid to try something else, even if it seems counterintuitive sometimes.
CV: What do you believe makes songwriting more honest and impactful...that something that both the artist and listener can share?
JD: Like I said, just write about what seems interesting to you, and also don't be afraid to be vulnerable. Some of my favorite songs come from people writing about really personal issues they're struggling with. I'm not saying you have to write about your deepest darkest feelings if you don't feel comfortable with it, but it often makes for some pretty compelling art if you can. And I'm sure there will be someone out there in this crazy world who can relate.
CV: What do you feel has been the greatest contribution to your success as an artist?
JD: Probably the other artists and creatives that I've worked with in the local music scene. With Subterraneans, I tend to collaborate with other artists a lot, and it really helps break me out of my ruts sometimes and can really elevate what I do. In my other band, The Scarlet Fever, I work with a really talented group of musicians. I write many of the basic songs, but I like to think that even though those songs wouldn't have happened without me, they wouldn't have been as good as they are without the rest of the band. Especially my guitarist, Rob, who often helps with a lot of the writing and arranging.
CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming up?
JD: Well, I just put out a new album called Dollhouse that I'm promoting, and I'm already hard at work on material for a new Subterraneans album. That, and a new Scarlet Fever album that's already in the mixing stages and will hopefully be out later this year, or early next.
CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with
our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, author, show host, big dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.
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