Jaki Nelson – High Wasted

By starrymag | May 28, 2019

By: Sammi Turano

 

 

Q) Tell us a bit about “High Wasted?”

 

A) Ah yes, it’s a tale as old as touring. This song came to me when I was staring into my underwear drawer. I thought, “’High Wasted,’ that should be a song.” And as I drove to a session, that same hour I wrote the whole chorus about this girl I know who only ever likes me right after I’ve played a show and we’re wasted.

 

Q) What inspired the video?

 

A) We were in a creative meeting to figure out what we wanted this video to be and we’re going around with some basic concepts. Out of nowhere I hear some kind of energy whisper to me “Tove Lo…” I’ve gotten pretty superstitious recently, so I’m like “Alright – let’s entertain whatever this impulse is.” It turns out she had just that week put out a music video that heavily featured a puppet as a main character. We jumped on that concept and I had already wanted to talk theme-wise about how drugs and alcohol can change your perception of other people. So, the idea of the puppets fit in perfectly with what we wanted to say.

 

Q) What was a memorable moment from making it?

 

A) Puppet sex. It was hilarious. My co-star Nikki and I were trying to hide in the back of this Bentley while puppeteering this hilarious make-out scene. It was definitely something that will stay with me forever.

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Q) What do you hope people take away from listening to the song?

 

A) It’s all about fun. It’s about living your dreams and enjoying the things that come with that. Casual sex isn’t something to be ashamed of.

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Q) Tell us about working with Disco Fries on your song “The End (Want It All).

 

A) I had no idea they were going to be on it. Chris Ganoudis and I wrote the song a while back and I pitched it to LoaX, an artist from Sweden. All of a sudden, he told me the Disco Fries were jumping on it. I was over the moon. I had seen them live in Atlantic City a few years earlier and they were great.

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Q) What are some stand out moments on working with them?

 

A) The day that the song released, I woke up to see that it was already on the Friday Cratediggers Playlist on Spotify which is HUGE. It’s run by Austin Kramer, who has some of the biggest playlists on Spotify.

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Q) What is one important lesson/piece of advice that you took from the experience?

 

A) The best lesson is that putting out a song doesn’t have to be this huge production.

 

Q) Are you working on more music?

 

A) I have plenty of new music coming. I recently debuted some songs at my headlining show at The Viper Room in West Hollywood. It was so much fun to do an intimate preview of what I’ve been working on before I take the show on tour later this year. I’ll also be back at The Viper Room on June 4 as a headliner for The Pride on Sunset, a night featuring all LGBT artists as a kick-off for LA Pride.

 

Q) Who inspires you as an artist?

 

A) Depends on the week. It’s often Julia Michaels or Halsey. They’re just so raw and amazing. I’m in love.

 

Q) Who would you like to collaborate with?

 

A) Charlie Puth. He’s such an incredible songwriter and musician, I want that energy in my life.

 

Q) What would you like to tell your fans?

 

A) Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for listening to my music, following my story and coming to the shows. I love you guys so much for giving me the platform to do what I love every day.