Artist of the Week: Jaymes Young

Youngwill assure you that he’s a “songwriter before a singer and performer.”  That wise and self-aware summation cuts to the core of who the Seattle-born and Los Angeles-based musician/poet really is.  Spending countless hours holed up in his bedroom carefully piecing together compositions, penning lyrics, and exploring sounds, he creates music that’s steeped in pop palatability, dusky cinematic electronics, and stark, stirring instrumentation.

You’re walking into a first date with our readers. How do you introduce yourself?
Hey babe, how you doin? Let me tell you bout the birds and the bees…

For those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound? What song should a new listener try first?
I would try to describe myself as an artist trying to be open and honest. Lose the frills, and the facade, I just want to be me, and I want people to know my flaws and to feel like we could have a conversation without the hesitation you might normally have with a stranger.

Tell us about Feel Something. How long was the record a work in progress?
Feel Something has honestly been a work in progress for years. And every album I make with be like that. The reason for that is that all of my work overlaps, it’s very difficult for me to define one album or song from another, especially on a timeline.

Did you go in with a specific idea of what you wanted this record to be? How did things change as you continued through the process?
I dove into this album with high expectations for myself, and that being said, I’ll probably never be satisfied. I’ve learned a lot throughout the process though (about songwriting, production, and what I want from myself), and I’m excited to apply those things that I’ve learned to my future works.

Are there any songs on Feel Something that you’re especially proud of? Why?
I’m proud of all of them, but it may take some time for me to be able to look back and decide (if I ever do) what songs are closest to me. It will probably be the songs that mean the most to me lyrically.

Where can fans catch you this summer? Tours, festivals, etc.
My first headline tour starts this July. I have support from Matt Maeson. It’s a short run, but it’s been so long since I’ve been on the road, so I’m anxious to get back out there, to say the least.

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