JAX – Funny

By starrymag | November 10, 2016

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) It’s kind of classic rock inspired and also top 40 inspired. So, it’s confused pop music.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences for your upcoming EP Funny?

A) I’m all about women power! So, from a lyrical perspective of this record, Alanis Morissette is a big inspiration and Pink. Then, it’s a little Pat Benatar and Janis Joplin. I love Katy Perry and Hayley Williams. I kind of love it all, but my favorites are Billy Joel and Simon and Garfunkel. I just love good songwriters.

Q) Where does the title for your EP come from?

A) The title comes from a song off the EP. It is kind of a sarcastic song. I think “Funny” kind of captures the vibe of the EP, aside from “Stars,” which is kind of the personality of the EP. It’s kind of girl power and maybe a little shady.

Q) How much of a hand did you have with the production of your music?

A) I get all the say that I want in producing it, but I have incredible producers on it! I had Larzz [Principato] who did the song “New Americana” and Nash Overstreet who is in Hot Chelle Rae. I have people that I trust producing it since I’m not a producer. I definitely sit in the production end of it and try to go with the vibe of these guys. If I were a producer, I’d have more of a role, but I trust these guys.

Q) Will there be videos for certain songs off the EP?

A) I hope so! I already have a couple video ideas in mind. So, we’re going to try to work on that come December and January.

Q) Who were you most excited to collaborate with on Funny?

A) I was really pumped to work with Larzz and Nash. Nash is an amazing producer and so is Sidney Tipton who co-wrote on “Stars.” They were really amazing to work with. All the producers have so much credibility on this EP. I really lucked out with this roster. Then, I have my hometown friends who helped me out that I love to hang out with in New York. They are awesome and love their studio vibe. Just being in their presence puts me in a good place. I think everybody has their own street cred. They have different ear candy. I’m just stoked about all of it and I’m happy to be a part of all of it.

Q) What is it about your song “Stars” that fans will connect with?

A) It’s honest. I think that lyrically I’m a storyteller. I’m more of a storyteller than a songwriter. And I think that the fans will really get the gist of it because I get really personal with it sharing what I was going through personally and relationship wise throughout 2016. So, it kind of blurred into this EP. Hopefully, they will capture the honesty. That’s most important to me as an artist.

Q) How do you plan to celebrate the release of the EP?

A) I’ll probably get Taco Bell and take a nap because I’ll be less stressed about it now that the album is out. [laughs] It’s kind of how I feel now after finishing the marathon. I feel relieved and I’ll hang out with my family and manager. We’ll all be like, “Thank God it’s out and over,” because it is such a hard process. The entire release process is grueling. I had to cut two songs and that was like getting rid of my own child. It was so hard. The creative process was so hard because it is less of a song to song thing and more of a body of work. I want the whole project to really depict what I was going through. Cutting out one song will mess with the body of work. So, once it is out I think we’ll be really glad we put it together and got it out.

Q) Will there be some live performances to come?

A) Probably, yeah. I think we have some stuff coming up in January or February. I know I’m planning on doing some little holiday shows, but after the EP is released as well.

Q) You just ran the New York City Marathon. Why was it so important to participate?

A) It’s so crazy! I’ve been walking around with my medal. My friend was making me wear it. It feels amazing to have finished this. I’ve been training for this for four months. I trained in LA, Nashville and London. My dad went out and bought a bike and my friends went out and bought a bike in LA to train alongside me as I run. It feels really, really cool because my friends and family came to support me. Fans flew in from all over the country to watch and support me. Being able to run down and see the X’s on the faces and the JAX signs was like, “How can I not finish this right now?” There was just so much love. It felt really amazing. It feels really amazing to put your body through something to know there is an ultimate end goal and accomplish it. It feels amazing!

Q) How were you able to get through your thyroid cancer treatment and deal with it mentally?

A) Honestly, the running has got me through my year. It’s such a cathartic process. All you can do is focus on your brain and your body. The adrenaline and all your endorphins…Your body and your mind just come together. There was no better way to kind of be in the best shape physically and emotionally than training for a twenty-six mile run.

Q) What should fans know about testing for thyroid cancer?

A) I definitely think it is important for everyone to get checked out. For me, they thought it was a sinus infection. I felt a lump in my throat, but most of the time there are rarely any symptoms for thyroid cancer other than what you feel for hypo-thyroid where you are tired or gain weight. You never really know with things that seem normal because of how crazy life is. But I think it is so important, especially for females, to get checked at least once a year with a full body scan or an ultrasound because it is common in women. It is not common for people my age, but I still think it is important. It is called “the invisible disease,” even if it is not cancer and just hypo-thyroid related. It’s always a problems o definitely stay aware.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure we share about your music?

A) I’m really excited for people to take the journey with me through this piece of work and body of music.

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

A) I want to say that I love and appreciate everyone so much. The night before the race was a prime example of why I love everybody. It was such warmth and I can’t wait to perform music from the EP for everyone. I’m so grateful be able to be a part of this big, awesome movement and to have such a family of weirdos backing me that totally understand the way my brain works. I really just can’t wait to bring light to their lives through music.