Having already made their mark as one of the more impactful names doing the rounds right now, US outfit Grey Star Ghost, the alt-rock project led by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Tucker, have now returned once again to deliver their anthemic new album 'Angels Leaving'.
Featuring the previously shared gems 'The Party', 'Where To Begin' and 'Bleeding Again', this new twelve-track collection makes for an incredibly bold and driven listen. With its soaring textures and powerful hooks layered throughout, 'Angels Leaving' sees them returning to the fold in fine form throughout.
So with the new album available to stream now, we sat down with Jacob to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I fell in love with was the trumpet. This might sound odd since I’m a singer and guitarist now but I think it makes some sense because I learned to play the trumpet in the context of the school band. Prior to that I had taken violin and piano lessons when I was younger but those didn’t really stick and I think I know now it’s because I get the most out of playing music when I’m doing it with others. Not long after I started playing guitar and singing and writing songs I knew that I wanted to do that with a band.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
The music that I would describe as loved at an early-ish age was Pearl Jam. Prior to discovering Pearl Jam there was music I might have thought I liked but it was music that was given to me by others. Pearl Jam I kind of got to on my own. I felt like they were mine, not my parents, not from church, not from any other adult telling me that I should like it. Now, obviously, Pearl Jam is massive so it’s not like I was in on a secret that nobody else was aware of, but that personal discovery really did a lot in making it go deep with me. I still love Pearl Jam.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I’m going to really date myself here on multiple levels but I remember going to Hastings (remember Hastings?) and buying Dizzy Up the Girl by The Goo Goo Dolls on cassette(!?). I distinctly remember that cassette tape and the case. I had heard some of the songs from it on the radio – they had some huge hits in Slide, Broadway, and especially Iris – that were all on that album so when I came across it in the store I bought it for maybe $5. Still a pretty great late 90s album if you ask me.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Oh man, there are so many. One that immediately comes to mind is Elliott Smith’s Angeles. There are a lot of Elliott Smith songs that I could have mentioned, but this one stands out. It has such interesting chords and a nice, memorable melody without being too catchy/poppy. I don’t do a lot of covers but I have covered this one solo so that tells you how much I wish I had written it. I’m really jealous of Elliott Smith’s songwriting.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I often noodle around on guitar with chords or riffs and when I find a pattern or progression that I can hear a melody to I kind of put it in the bank to get back out later when lyrics come to me. Lyrics are the hardest part for me but if I’m going through something, or a friend is, or there’s just something happening in the world that I think is worth talking about then I build lyrics around that topic and put them to those previously banked guitar parts. I try not to overthink lyrics and just write down what comes to mind that fits that topic and in the melody that’s in my head. I do often go back and edit lyrics later but that’s a lot easier to do when you already have something down. It gets really hard if you’re trying to find the perfect line from nothing, that can really paralyse you and get you stuck. So I think it’s beneficial to not overthink it, just put something down, and edit later if you want.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
At the moment there are some really good songwriters I’ve latched onto, though they work in a different genre than me. Artists like MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee, Christian Lee Hutson, Wild Pink. Wild Pink is probably the most similar to what I do and I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration from them. This is very much “at the moment”, some long-standing artists that I tend to go back to a lot are Frightened Rabbit, Gang of Youths, Counting Crows, Dashboard Confessional, Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers. This is one of those questions where the answer would change at least every month.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
That would probably be Phoebe Bridgers. I had a dream once that I opened a show for her and then came out and sang with her on “Scott Street” and that dream really stuck with me. She kind of just has it all – a once in a generation voice, incredible songwriting, great production choices, and she seems to have surrounded herself with musicians that are perfect for her. It would be really cool to open for someone who seems to be doing everything right.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding part for me is when I write a song that I think is a keeper. There was nothing and now there’s something. That moment that you’ve created something that you yourself like is the top for me. From there, recording and releasing music is also really rewarding because I know the genesis of it from the very first draft of the songs, so to see where it ends up is pretty cool. There is a ton of work that goes into recording and releasing just one song, but when it gets to a point that you’re proud of and then it’s out there for anyone to hear, that makes it all worth it.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I love playing live with my band, but it can be really frustrating when a venue isn’t organised, they change your set time or length at the last second, their equipment isn’t very good, or the person running sound isn’t that great. It’s frustrating because you put so much work into putting your best foot forward in front of an audience and then there are so many things out of your control that can make you sound not nearly as good as you know you can sound. I love playing live and will take shows anytime I can get them, so I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I sometimes wish venues would put as much work into putting on a good show as the band does.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Do the damn thing. I hope the person who said that is reading, I’m pretty sure they know who they are. It’s just this idea that you have to put yourself and what you’re working on out there. It starts with being happy about something you’ve done by yourself, or with your band, behind closed doors, but it can’t stay there. Imagine all the music you love and think about if that artist had never put it out there for you to hear. There would be something missing from your life. So if you’re making something that you’re proud of, you have to share it with others because you never know what it will do for someone else, or for you.
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Grey Star Ghost's new album 'Angels Leaving' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.