A Q&A with JawFane

Post-hardcore from Tennessee, rich in detail…

What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
‘Raise’ featuring Paulsdeeep. It’s significant to me because we finally get to release a song we’ve sat on for a few years now. Only got heard live, and it’s so cool to take a look back and see what all we’ve done over the years and have it culminate in this. Time is a flat circle.

What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
The amount of time it took for all of us to be cool again, hahah. That’s the only real trouble that came from putting this together. The track came together quite quickly otherwise.

Who produced the release – what did they bring to it? If you produced it yourselves what do you enjoy most about producing your own material?
Cory Pack of Jawfane did this. They brought the talent and the equipment for playing and recording. We like that our ideas are heard and don’t get left on the cutting room floor. That any adjustment doesn’t always have to meet a committee or require emails on emails to get through. Feedback is so fast. That and it’s nice to do everything with the luxury of being able to lay down.

What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
I want you to know that your feelings are able to be heard and understood in their entirety. It’s not out of reach. And neither is your tomorrow, or what you want for your tomorrow.

How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
I know that the guys work on stuff or practice until something appears, so I can’t really speak on them. For me, I grit my teeth and rip it right from the ether. It’s a feeling that curls up and through me. Almost like I’m just channeling it instead of controlling it. That’s where the words and notes come from. The feeling is almost indistinguishable from intuition.

What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
Since starting? Deftones and Loathe have been the basic blueprint for influence. But there’s also been Type O Negative, some Ozzy, and especially The Protomen, who recently released the highly anticipated third act from their epic rock opera. That’s been fueling me as of late.

What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
I would personally love to tour Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada a bit, Australia, Japan, and maybe China and surrounding territories. Standout venues? Bridgestone. Ryman Auditorium. The Caves up in Kentucky. Mayhem House again.

If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
‘Me and All My Demons’. It’s my favourite off the EP, it just sounds so cool and it’s so fun to perform. It really feels like a perfect blend of our range and preferences. How far production can go. Lyrics that feel strong. The chords and progressions feel so good to play, I love the song. You should stop what you’re doing to go listen to it.

What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
For you, Dear Reader, to have heard our songs and to hopefully have gained a sense of ease as you can feel yourself be understood. That if you somehow felt the pull of this melody we ripped from the ether, then maybe you can pull from it yourself. That the next steps you make in your life are yours to choose. As far as the band, I want to push this as far as it will go. Tours, more videos, at least five albums and however many singles and EPs. I want to be able to feel how far I’ve come and have the wisdom to be able to convey those events. To be gifted enough experience to say I’ve done all I could and wanted.

Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
This is Jesse Jawfane, signing off. The change is coming to you.

Find out more about Jawfane at jawfane.com