After following up his much-loved 2020 debut album 'Enjoy The Disco' with a string of impactful offerings these last few years, LA-based artist Jared Brady is back once again to deliver his pulsing new single 'Pick A Side'.
Teaming up with fellow artist Zalasia for the new release, 'Pick A Side' makes for a wonderfully fresh and energetic listen. With their warm and heartfelt vocals layered across a bouncing production from start to finish, he is continuing to cement himself as one of the more passionate names on the rise with this one.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument that totally stole my heart was the drums. There's just something about them that makes me all good inside. You know what I mean? It's like you can actually feel the beat coursing through your chess. Whenever I hear a killer drum solo, I'm instantly transported to another world. It's like magic.
Funny thing, my old man used to tell me that when I was just a baby, he'd lull me to sleep by patting my back in perfect rhythm. So, I guess that's where my love affair with drums all began.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
My place was like a jukebox on shuffle, man. My mom would flip between Duran Duran and Green Day, while my stepdad rocked some Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes, and then my old man would throw in some New Edition and Michael Jackson. My little noggin was trying to process this crazy mix of tunes! But I loved it! It kept me wanting more and developed a wide range of taste.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first-ever album I actually owned, aside from those burned CDs my buddies used to hook me up with, full of early Eminem and underground hip-hop jams, was Nelly's "Country Grammar."
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
There's this one track, "My Way" by Frank Sentra, that I secretly wish I had penned myself. It's like the soundtrack to my life, you know? I'm absolutely connected with it, and every time this track hits my ears, it's like an emotional rollercoaster.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
In the studio, I've got this quirky routine going on. First off, I've got to get that blood pumping, you know? So, it's either push-ups, jumping jacks, or even some wild laps around the studio. Sometimes, I'll let out a good scream or play the breath-holding game until I can't take it anymore.
Then, I step into the booth, and most of the time, I've barely even heard the beat – maybe once or twice if at all. I prefer going in with a blank slate. I just let whatever comes to mind flow out. Sure, it often sounds like gibberish at first, but somehow, I always manage to decode what my subconscious is trying to tell me. I go with the flow, writing to the sounds I make rather than coming in with some pre-planned agenda.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Right now, my favourite artist is Teezo Touchdown. He's my go-to, you know? His music pumps me up, and what I really dig is how it feels like he's just having a blast doing his thing when I listen to his tracks. It's that carefree vibe that gets me every time.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Opening up for Tyler, the Creator, would be a dream come true for me. I truly believe he embodies and represents everything that matters to me.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
To be honest, the most fulfilling aspect of making music is that after a recording session, I genuinely sense an improvement in myself. I become a better father, a better husband, and a better friend. It's as if I walk away from the studio feeling lighter and more connected to the present moment.
And what is the most frustrating part?
You know, the most aggravating aspect of creating music is that when I write a song about my life, it can often involve people who are close to me. The problem is that the easiest things to write about are sometimes the less flattering aspects of my life, and it bugs me because it can inadvertently bring people into the spotlight who never signed up for it.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
“Living life as an artist is a practice.
You are either engaging in the practice
or you’re not.
It makes no sense to say you’re not good at it.
It’s like saying, “I’m not good at being a monk.”
You are either living as a monk or you’re not.
We tend to think of the artist’s work as the output.
The real work of the artist
is a way of being in the world.”
― Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being
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Jared Brady's new single 'Pick A Side' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.