On the Mountain of Fire

The J.A.M.

Exclusive Interview with Wikimusicguide.com

The Google of Music!


WMG Abby: What is it about acoustic music that made you love it a lot?
Jody Aaron: I began on playing music on a classical guitar, and transitioned to Acoustic when I was younger. I've always loved the pure sound produced from the wood and strings. It creates a wholesome and natural environment that inspires me to write songs.

WMG: Picking up the guitar, how do you feel playing it?
JA: How about some "E" words - Enamored. Elated. Empowered.

WMG: What does your music sound like?
JA: Imagine Simon left Garfunkel for Sarah Mclachlan, and they had a Southern Folk-Rock love child. I call it "Pop-Rock for your Soul".

WMG: Who are your musical influences?
JA: Dave Matthews, Sarah Mclachlan, Bob Dylan, Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins, Ben Folds, Johnny Cash, Kings of Leon, Indigo Girls, R.E.M., Soul Miner's Daughter, Peter Gabriel, Beck, Harry Chapin, Bad Religion, The Beatles, okay, now I'm just looking in my Itunes Library --- and the list goes on...

WMG: Where do you get your inspiration in writing your songs?
JA: Inspiration comes from life's experiences, and the feelings or mood that strikes me at the moment. It could be something I see on the News, or it could be a feeling I have for someone I love, or it could be a memory triggered by a cereal that I'm eating that brings me back to the way I felt at the point that memory took place. I think this is called Priming? The best songs come unexpectedly.

WMG: Was was it like being praised by Shawn Mullins?
JA: Shawn's writing and singing was and is still such a huge inspiration to me. Of course, any positive feedback from him feels amazing! I try to put myself out there as much as possible so it's great when someone like Shawn takes notice.

WMG: So I supposed living near Disney;and gave you a lot to imagine in terms of creativity in making music?
JA:I grew up going to Disneyworld every summer with my family. Their whole concept and what they try to engrain in kids is the idea of using your Imagination. When I write, I try to approach my songs by stretching my imagination, and pushing the boundaries of "originality".

WMG: How did it feel winning First Place in the International Talent Search for CNN?
JA: It felt really great to be praised and supported by all my peers at work. In a way, that contest jump started my career and gave me my first bit of exposure on a national level.

WMG: I see a lot of upcoming musicians going the same path as yours, what can you offer that will differ you from those other artists?
JA: A tough question. I like to think that I can offer songs and music that is different than others, but lets face it, there is no such thing as completely original material.
I think I'm unique in that I can be poetic lyrically, and still create "Pop" melodies that people will enjoy, and remember. My lyrical content will sometimes be different too. Sure, I have plenty of songs about love and hurt, but occassionally, I'll write about something completely off the wall like "Orange Soda" or "Apple Trees and Honey Bees" or "Drug Store Connection".
I like to think I have a strong sense for melody and try to keep my writing fresh by experimenting and not using the same song structure every time.
What else might set me apart is that there seems to be a trend of artists today coming out of music institutions such as Berklee College of Music in Boston or Musician's Insitute. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I never had that opportunity. I haven't had any formal training and am completely a self-taught multi-instrumentalist. I do not read or write music. Not to say that other artists are not self-taught, but I think this allows me to bring a genuine passion into my playing and writing.
Lastly, I'm doing everything I can to work hard and learn about the music "business" so that I can apply that to my artist career.

WMG: How would you deal if you were criticised as another acoustic musician?
Did you mean by another acoustic musician? If so... read below..
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I get that not everybody is going to like my music. Music is a personal choice, so naturally there is no way to get fans across the board.

WMG: Any particular favorite from all the songs you wrote?
JA: On "est. 1980", I really like the 2nd track, "All I Wanted". The music and lyrics were complimented perfectly by the production. I also managed to create an awesome video shot in NYC by Great Expectations Video (www.gevideo.com) who also shot a video for another favorite band, Guster.

WMG: Any gigs going on?
JA: On occasion, I'll play a coffee house gig in and around Orange County, California. I'm working hard on putting a band together, and getting back in the studio to record again.

WMG: Tell us more about your debut album, Est. 1980?
JA: We recorded it over 3 months in the East Village, NY. Don't get me wrong, it was more like every other weekend over 3 months - not too much thought went into it. We did minimum overdubs, and it turned out good. I like to think of it as the first album in the beginning of a long career.
It is a good album, and listeners seem to be enjoying it. It was definitely a learning experience. As I said, I've written and am writing more songs and am hoping to get started recording a new album soon

WMG: How did you create the right sound for the album?
JA: It was a combination of different instruments and a wonderful invention called "Apple Computers". Oh, and some talented musicians helped along the way.

WMG: How are you dealing with the growing popularity you're getting so far?
JA: I'm getting popular? do tell....

WMG: Nice one. Recently you won an ASCAPPlus Award, how did that feel?
JA: "H" words - Honored. Humbled. Happy.

WMG: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
JA: Making a difference in the world. Hopefully doing what I'm doing now with making music, making fans, and having fun.

WMG: Thanks so much for the time. Any last messages to your fans?
JA: There are never enough words to express my love and thanks to you guys. You all are the reason I keep going.

My Plain Text Blog

I sit here not knowing what to write, when I pull down from the Category list, and see College.

It seems like it was so long ago I was in a dorm room or in classes at FSU. My biggest memories of that school are of the people I met, and how despite our differences, we all were alike in that it was our first time "on our own", experience life, handling responsibility, loving our freedom, and living to our fullest.

I remember parties. A few particular ones. One was a triple kegger where I swear the entire school showed up. This happened to be on my block. Yes, there was dancing, singing, smokin, drinkin, pukin, among other things.

I'm thinking about how different I am now - 5 years later. And I have not been back to Tallahassee. Those four years seemed to last longer than the rest of my life will. As I get older, time is flying by. And what am I doing with my time?

I like to think by working on music, and in the music world, I am working towards a greater good. I'd like to be on the radio. I'd like my songs to make someone feel something - to move their insides, to cause a reaction. Music is a powerful language that all can understand. I have not found my cause yet, but it will be righteous.

Life is good. Love your dog. Love your love.
Live it full.

Aging with the Internet

Thousands upon Thousands - probably millions of people spend most of their day online.
chatting, gaming, blogging? we do it because it gives us a sense of purpose, and because its endless.
its like a movie with a cliffhanger...
where's the next site we can go to?


like the matrix - feeding off its information - Jack me up.


I dig it. Its the future. yet, I am getting old writing this blog. I am aging with the internet.
what does the future hold? will we all have arthritis from all this damn typing?
what will the Internet have done?


sure it will bring together cultures and communities.
It will allow person x access to person y's computer and security passwords for all their bank accounts
or better yet, nuclear arsenal. It will allow the FBI to invade our privacy completely.
It will allow child predators to make friends with a 13 year old boy, pretending to be 13 and luring them to a "secret" meeting place.


we can't be sure about the future.
our country is at war
our country is hated
I am American and proud.
Until 9/11, I could have cared less.
but where is democracy? where is a country that is run by the people?
what people run this country? suits. suits with cash.
forget that. That's not the way it was suppose to be.


Can the internet help us find a new leader? Will the next president elect use massive internet marketing strategies?
will they have a myspace page with their favorite music trax? I would.
would you?

California Dreamin'

In California now.
Long Beach.


We made it from the west through this strange country.
We stayed at KOA campgrounds along the way.
Not the nicest places, but we certainly met some interesting folk.


most lived nearby and were just visiting - the koa.
this confused me.


we saw a lot of the country.
Nashville, Memphis - through the Ozarks and Little Rock into Missouri.
On through the worthless state - Kansas.
into beautiful Colorado and Colorado Springs.
We went on the drive down the "Million Dollar Highway" - Route 550
through the San Juan Mountains.


The most beautiful drive I have ever done in America.
They call it America's Switzerland, and its right on.


now long beach is hot, and humid.
there is a heat wave going on.


hu-mans have cracked the ozone layer and created this nasty depressing heat wave.
the entire mid-west was caught in a drought.
They are desperately in need of rain.


now, sam and I are looking to get a house.
our first house.
we could own it, and live in it.


and we are looking for work.
and i am looking for band mates.
and friends.
anyone interested in starting a rock band?

With New York Behind Me

http://www.burnlounge.com/jodyaaron




New York is in the past. Sam and I left there on May 1 to head to North Carolina. 2 years, 3 months, and 12 days we spent there. Arrived in the middle of a Blizzard, and left in Allergy Hell.
That city does not make things easy.

I always said I would live in NYC for two years and L.A. for two years.


we're now heading to Long Beach, CA - its as close to L.A. as I want to get.



I am in Atlanta now, spending time with my brother, Ryan and nephew, Elliott.
Its his 2 year old birthday.
He asked me to put Bob Marley on.
so I did, and we were "jammin'"


Last night I spent with some old friends. Good friends.
Adam I've known for 11 years.
He is a good man, with a good soul.




On Tuesday, I'm planning on going to Limerick Junction to play again.
Its open mic, but I get four songs - and in some cases that's almost a full set.
Like the new jersey folk festival.
with Mark and Jenn. I was fortunate to come across such talented musicians and good people at that in NY. If only I had found them sooner.
We spent the day at the festival in New Brunswick on the beautiful green at Rutgers University. We ate Funnel Cakes, and played soccer with the little kids.

It was a perfect day - music, soccer, friends, and funnel cakes.




we're driving from North carolina to California. Camping in the Grand Canyon for two nights. Maybe I'll find something more out west. Maybe Life will be good. Maybe I'll make some money. Maybe I'll record again. Maybe I'll tour the southwest.
Maybe Sam and Amaya will be happy there. Maybe we'll have a house instead of a box.

forget maybe.




www.jodyaaron.com

The Making of "All I Wanted"

I think it was in early January when I received an email from my friend, Ira Miller, with a link to one of the coolest music videos I'd seen since Aha's Take On Me (www.gevideo.com). It was a link back to Esteban Escobar of Great Expectations Video out of D.C. Esteban had put together an introspective look at a Guster song, "Come Downstairs and Say Hello". I was floored by the thought that I could have a professional video like this, and get to work with a director with artistic vision like Esteban.

I sent him my CD, and he emailed me back soon after about how we "had to make a video together for All I Wanted".

Over the next couple of months, we plotted out ideas for the shoot, had video conferences over the computer, scoured the internet for inexpensive places for him and his wife to stay while in NYC. We considered meeting halfway in Delaware, but the fact that I didn't have a car kind of put a damper on that idea.

The next part was finding a crew.
Esteban's wife, Shilyn, and my lovely wife, Samantha, were a huge help in making the vid. Shilynn helped with shooting, lighting, and even makeup.
While Sam had an acting role in the video.

Having the crew in place, the next thing was finding a band to shoot the video.
So, I did what any person in their right mind would do.
craigslist.org
and the response was overwhelming.

still, most of the band that shot the video are also playing gigs at The Knitting Factory and New Jersey Folk Festival with me this April. Mark Walker on Bass. Jenn Curtis on Lead. Gillian Berkowitz on Keys. Although the day of the video Mark's friend, John, played the part of Gillian. as for drums - Tami Johnson was in the video, but is no longer with the band -- so I'm on the lookout for a new drummer once again. This will be my third drummer in 2 months.

The video was shot on a Canon XL-2 in NYC in 15 degree weather with wind gusts of up to 40 mph, so if I look deep in thought at any point during the shoot, its mostly just wanting to get warm, and wishing this shoot was indoors.

We had originally planned for the band shoot to be on the roof of my apartment building overlooking the Hudson River, but because of the winds, we ended up shooting at Funkadelic Studios on West 26th.

So, if you haven't seen the video yet try any of the following links:

http://www.jodyaaron.com/alliwanted.html

http://www.sonicbids.com/jodyaaron

http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/watch/aavideos.asp


OR

Return to my site:

http://www.jodyaaron.com

Thanks for reading friends. Stay tuned for the next posting.
and thanks for the support!

eat well.