Interviews

Jei-Rynn – viole(n)t dreams

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By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I would best describe my sound as emo-goth-tinged alt-pop music. It’s been called “nostalgic” by a lot of people. I think that’s because it takes sonic reference from 90s and 2000s rock and indie music. The music tends to be emotional and melodic, so I think the “emo” tagline is accurate.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) The dark, “rock” side of my music is influenced by bands like My Chemical Romance, Nine Inch Nails, and Nirvana. Distortion drenched guitars are still of interest to me even after my teenage years and they feature quite a bit in the songs on the upcoming EP, viole(n)t dreams. When possible, I try to use chord progressions that are slightly different and of interest. Artists like Radiohead, Elliott Smith, and the Beatles influence this aspect of my writing. These artists as well as 2010s artists like Billie Eilish, Alice Glass and Lil Peep influence my desire to create something eclectic when it comes to the programming aspect of the productions.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “i’m an octopus.”


A) “i’m an octopus” came out of pure inspiration. It didn’t take long to write, and I remember being very excited about the idea from the moment of its conception. I wasn’t thinking too hard about the lyrics or the music; they came naturally. I was just writing about the things about the world that are dark to me, but
with a sense of levity and humor.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?


A) I wouldn’t presume to know what exactly people are connecting to, but as with all my songs, I put a lot of myself into “i’m an octopus.” I was writing about the current nature of our culture, media and the resulting over-consumption of said culture and media. I find people’s relationship to culture fascinating, and I see a lot of darkness in this relationship. I think it’s a darkness that we have all experienced in some way, as we have all become performers on social media to a certain extent; so the song is relatable in that way. I think we’re all still processing how much our perspectives and daily lives are influenced by social media, so the song might speak to this aspect of peoples’ subconscious.

 

Q) With “ok, you got me” and “i’m an octopus” out now, what is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) I typically write music and melodies before writing lyrics. That was certainly the case for both “ok, you got me” and “I’m an octopus.” Sometimes a specific lyric might be written as the music is coming together, like the line “ok, you got me” itself. Lyrics like these become a guide for what the song as a whole is going to be about. “ok, you got me” went through several iterations over the years. The original demo was very indie rock and sort of psychedelic, and it had no lyrics. Many of the original synth and guitar melodies were shed over time. The second demo gave the song more structure. The lyrics from this demo were largely unchanged from the final version. This version was more based on programmed beats, with cleaner guitars and programmed bass lines. A full production of this version was made, but it didn’t quite achieve what I thought it would. The final version started with a demo that upped the tempo and took influence from hyperpop. The key of the song was changed as well, and the song became more “punk.” It fit the chaos and passion of the song. While “ok, you got me” took a few revisions, “i’m an octopus” was largely unchanged from the demo. Much of the original programmed beats were retained in the final release, and the lyrics were unchanged as well.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?


A) The songs on viole(n)t dreams were produced by Marshall Gallagher, who plays in the band Teenage Wrist. I really like working with Marshall. He’s very open to my ideas, and he comes up with great sound designs and song structures to try. We often take the demos that I produce and create a better version of it together, working side by side. Marshall really is a guitar wizard. I might have an idea of what kind of guitar sound we should go for and what kind of guitar pedals we might be able to use, and Marshall is always great at enhancing these ideas and pushing the sounds to their limit. Anything with regard to mic placement and amps are all perfectly in Marshall’s wheelhouse as well. Some of my programming and a few of my self-produced guitars are on the EP as well, but I have to give much of the production credit to Marshall. I played the majority of the guitar and bass parts on the album, with drums by Teenage Wrist drummer Anthony Salazar. Marshall did play some of the more “experimental” guitar sounds heard on “I’m an octopus,” which I love.

 

Q) Where did the title for your upcoming EP viole(n)t dreams come from?


A) It’s difficult to put into words. I think the songs, through personal, abstract expression, ultimately explore humanity’s relationship to our own egos, the relationship between ego and what we give and take from society and culture and the collective dream that we manifest in the real world and in society as a result of our egos. There’s a lot of darkness in the world right now. So, I think the viole(n)t dreams title spoke to all of this well enough.

 

Q) All the song titles and the EP title are in lower case. What is the significance?


A) I think mainly I just liked the way lower case titles looked aesthetically; it felt right. The songs I write tend to be loaded with emotion, and using lower case might be an attempt to balance the shamelessly sentimental and passionate nature of my writing. I’m a soft-spoken person generally as well, so maybe it reflects this part of me too.

 

Q) What songs off your EP are you looking forward to performing live?

 

A) I definitely look forward to playing “i’m an octopus” and “ok, you got me.” “i’m an octopus” has a very different vibe from most of the other songs on the set, and this makes it really fun for me to get into. It’s much more subtle in the first verses and choruses and it has a more minimalistic and quiet power to it. The energy of “ok, you got me” is unique as well but in a totally different way. I like making the choruses explode; these parts are definitely not easy to sing as there are some pretty high notes involved that require a lot of power, but I enjoy the challenge and giving the audience something vulnerable and dynamic to sink their teeth into.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your new EP as a whole?

 

A) As with all the songs I write, I hope the EP is something that listeners can really relate to. There’s a lot of pain and angst in these songs. When I was a kid, those kinds of songs were always the ones I gravitated toward because they made me feel less alone. Punk and alternative music made me feel seen. I hope my listeners can get this same sense of connectedness out of the EP. I hope listeners can feel validated, and that the dark things they feel and the darkness they see in the world around them isn’t something they alone are experiencing.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) We have played at the Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood a few times and it’s always been a blast. It’s a venue with a lot of great history. I’m a huge fan of The Doors and they were the house band there when they were getting their start. It’s a great venue. I’ve also seen a number of newer artists I love perform there as well, like Yungblud.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) There are so many artists I would love to collaborate with. If I could work with anyone, I might say Thom Yorke of Radiohead, though I feel like he wouldn’t be a big fan of my style. But I think he’s the greatest artist of the past thirty years. I would also love to work with any of my alternative idols like Alice Glass or Gerard Way. I think we could make something amazing together.

 

Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) I’ve been listening to Ashnikko a lot recently. I love the sense of fun and empowerment that they inject into their music. Ashnikko balances humor and soul in their songs like no other. Their art direction in their videos and album covers are so visually appealing and completely inspired and imaginative.

 

Q) You are quite active on social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?


A) Social media has been invaluable in reaching fans directly and in creating a bit of community. It’s great to be able to connect with people in such an immediate way and to have a dialogue with them. I want to give people content beyond the music that they can connect with outside of the music, too.

 

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

 

A) I would say your support truly means the world to me. It keeps me going and I am forever grateful. Anytime I receive a message from someone telling me what a song has meant to them, it makes my day. I write music to create something that people can relate to and have a constructive experience with, and I just hope I can continue to write songs that mean something to people.

 

 

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