Gavin Jasper – Summertime

By starrymag | February 20, 2020

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

 

Q) Who would you consider your greatest musical influences?

 

A) With songwriting definitely The Beatles. I’ve studied them more than any other band, but performing it was somewhere between Oasis, The Killers and Brit pop and some of the grunge band front men like Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell. I remember seeing Cornell in concert as a young teen and that really made want to go from being a bass player to a vocalist.

 

Q) What are you currently listening to now?

 

A) I take about half an hour a day to really try to dive into music I’ve never heard, usually while shooting some hoops. Thanks to Spotify you can really do that now. But Kenny Hoopla, Tame Impala and Rosalia are my current favs.

 

Q) How did you come up with the name DAGG3RS for your solo project?

 

A) I was looking for a name that had a similar vibe to the music I was hearing in my head. I always like lots of consonants in a name because it makes it sound stronger. My dad was in china and sent me a picture and DAGG3RS was the first name that came to my head and I just stuck with it.

 

Q) DAGG3RS has a more electronic and industrial sound whereas Saints of Valory gravitates towards a mellow indie vibe. What made you decide to take DAGG3RS in a different musical direction from that signature Saints of Valory sound?

 

A) Trying a different musical direction from SOV was part of the experiment. I’m a big Trent Reznor and Radiohead fan and so I think I’ve always wanted to try something more industrial and electro sounding. This is me making my Ok Computer.

 

Q) Your latest single “Summertime” was inspired by your experience of performing at festivals. How do you feel that personal experience has helped to fuel your creative process?

 

A) Summer festivals are a culture. It’s addicting. It wasn’t until more recently that I really got to experience it as a fan and not a musician and really let go for three days straight. That triggered the inspiration to write a song about it.

 

Q) For the music video for “Broke AF” you enlisted the help of John Felipo to direct, whose notable works include videos for Singularity and Switchfoot. How did you come to the decision to have Felipo direct the video?

 

A) He’s my childhood friend. I’ve known him my whole life,so we just work so great together. We’ve done some of our best visual work together.

 

Q) With “Broke AF” and “Summertime” both out now, when can fans expect a full-length album release?

 

A) I’m going to release another three or four singles before announcing the release date of the record, so targeting the early summer.

 

Q) Your friend Maika, who is also a long-time musician, helped you with producing your upcoming album. What was the best part about being able to work with him?

 

A) Again, just another dear friend. So, it’s so easy when we collaborate. We see eye to eye in everything we do and he has the gift of sensing what vibe I’m in that day and helping me put it to song. He’s one of the most talented musicians I know.

 

Q) What advice would you give to up and coming musicians?

 

A) Don’t listen to anybody’s opinion and just make the music you like and what makes you happy and it’ll never feel like work. If you want to really make it a profession you need to put in the hours, as it all takes time.

 

Q) If given the opportunity, who would you love to collaborate with in the future?

 

A) Rosalia, I just dig anything she puts out.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your music?

 

A) Thank You! I’ve been able to make music for a living my entire life because of everyone who has ever supported me and they’ll be a lot more music coming soon.