Hi Jared, we appreciate you taking the time to chat with us today. Tell us about your journey in music so far.
It’s my pleasure! Thanks so much for having me. My music journey has been circuitous at best. Geographically, I grew up on the prairies of central South Dakota and subsisted on a steady diet of singer-songwriters (Bill Withers, Simon & Garfunkel, Warren Zevon), classic rock (Zeppelin and ELO), and 90’s radio (Goo Goo Dolls and Gin Blossoms). The arc of pop culture had to bend a fair amount from the coasts to get to me, so I always felt like I was behind the curve. At age 20 I moved to NYC with my friend and went to audio production school in Greenwich Village. Lots of discovery in that decade of my life–playing in bands and gigging constantly (with Fishdoctor and Stargazy) while putting records out every couple of years.
Now in my 30’s, I’m a father and husband and I feel like I’m finally finding my voice as a singer-songwriter and performer. There’s a greater sense of urgency now in wanting to share my music without the worry and pressure that I’m coming across as “cool”. Seeing the posturing of some artists just looks exhausting.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road to where you are now? If not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think the biggest challenge is overcoming my own self-doubt and feeling like I have something to offer musically through my lens and experience.
There was also a time in 2018 when I was out of a job, living in my in-law’s attic with my wife and newborn, and feeling really low. It was music that helped pull me out of the rocky depths as well as the love and support of my family and friends. I owe everything to them.
I believe there’s really no “arrival” and I find comfort in that. Just “do the damn work.” And I accept all responsibility for the bumpy ride. No one is going to hand me a music career.
We hear you have some new music coming up! Tell us a little about what we have to look forward to!
Yea! I’m really excited to share my new song “Running Up The Hillside.” Musically, I tried to rip-off Kate Bush and Seal. Lyrically, I’m exploring the narrative that we have the ability to change. My relationship with the song has transformed over the course of it’s existence and I’ve come to find it’s me having a conversation with my high school self; exploring the ways I’ve evolved and stayed the same.
Also, this release is a rather ambitious one as I am doing a themed party for it called “My Music Marathon Song Release.” For brevity’s sake, here’s the 3 things to know:
Raising $1,000* for underserved kids that need instruments through the nonprofit Hungry for Music. *Any extra money raised will be put towards marketing my new material.
Releasing my new song “Running Up The Hillside” on October 22 (my music journey = a marathon)
Running the equivalent of a marathon over a 5-day span leading up to the songs release (5.24mi per day / 26.2mi total)
What is it like coming back to music now after a bit of a break away from it?
I look at my music journey as seasons where I’m preparing, planting, nurturing, and harvesting. 2020 flipped the script and my need to harvest got pushed to the backburner to focus on more immediate things like family and mental health.
Over the past year, however, I also wrote and recorded more songs than I had in the previous 5 years. From an outsider’s view, it might seem like I took a break, but if anyone follows me on social media, they’ll see I’m actively trying to wrangle the muse.
What artists are inspiring the music you’re making right now?
Oh man, so much good stuff out there! I’m continually inspired. Let’s see…when I first heard Arlo Parks there was this universal tuning fork that got pinged inside me that really spoke to the aching vulnerability I’d been feeling over the past few years. My friend just got me into Goth Babe recently and I really dig his vibe and sound. Slightly Woozy makes an appearance quite often on my playlists. Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Bleachers, Leon Bridges, Low, Pinegrove, Remi Wolf, Bakar, Phoebe Bridgers, Big Thief, …..I’m going through my Spotify playlists right now. There’s just so much amazing music I feel like I can’t keep up sometimes.
Thanks for speaking with us today! Where can we check out your music and find you online?
For sure! Thank you so much for having me! You can find the full honeypot of Pink Honey Moan at the link below as well as all streaming platforms. https://linktr.ee/pinkhoneymoan
End of Interview