Interview: Getting to Know Jawfane

Jawfane, the heavy alternative rock and metal band, are busy working on releasing their debut album. In this interview, we get to know them a little better.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

Jesse: Hey yourself. This is Jesse Jawfane, Keyboardist and Vocalist for Jawfane. TN, based since I was 6 months old, and I love me some Sonic The Hedgehog and The Protomen. I got roped into this by Chase, and I haven’t looked back. Beginning as almost an assistant to the band, I steadily worked my way into having a major part of the band when they let me join them on stage. It’s been an amazing opportunity to see what this has brought my way.

Chase: It’s awesome to be here! Well I guess I could say that im hosh posh of different cultures, western values with southern hospitality. And i actually started playing drums as a kid, but once I found heavier music to play to, the noise complaints got worse, and I switched to guitar and bass, and you can blame my music journey on Green Days Bullet in a Bible DvD.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

Chase: My short answer is YES. But the one you want is a good mix between alternative rock, with post hardcore elements, and the occasional breakdown and raw vocals.

Jesse: Cathartic Post-core Core. I think since we are so far into contemporary music that slapping a genre or something on it is disingenuous. It’s hymns and rhythms crafted to maximize your catharsis. People keep their thoughts and feelings wound so tight within themselves. We want people to feel like you can finally sit down and be understood, no matter how far away the feeling makes you feel.

3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

Chase: There’s a lot happening in our circle right now. But the one that’s no secret is that we were knee deep in writing for our first LP. We have a few things happening before that sees the light of day, but we have a few shows in KY, and were rebuilding some things, but thats about all I can say before the hand behind the curtain grabs me lol.

Jesse: Right now, we’re still working hard on our upcoming LP. Super excited to share something with the world…when the time is right. Recently though, we just wrapped up the music video for our upcoming single ‘Raise’, featuring Paulsdeeep. A full circle moment for all of us here at Jawfane that we are terribly excited to share with the world.

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

Chase: Well the writing process is always a challenge i like to put myself through, makes me try new things, or embellish on old techniques. And its been almost a year since we last hit the stage, and i’m excited to try new stuff out.

Jesse: Right now it feels like we are avoiding the ‘potential man’ problem. We’ve gotten past a lot of ‘if’s. It’s now. It’s happening now, and that feels so real and tangibly exciting. Plus heading back to the stage soon!

5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.

Jesse: It’s come with a lot of real-life sacrifices. Time, money, blood, relationships…we’ve all suffered and sacrificed for this to be where it is now. It’s been sleepless nights, weeks long fights, the most refreshed mornings and the most abundantly diligent work days of our careers so far. It tells me it’s all for something, and that it’s real. This alchemy that we all offer up is transmuting everything we’re offering into the gold we’ve taught. It’s a bit easier when you’re surrounded by talented, driven people.

Chase: Well music to me isn’t work, it’s just a lifestyle, a routine almost. And I’m big on manifestation, and since I was a kid I’ve been grinding the stone that is a music career. And yes it has its ups and downs, but once you walk away with a finalized song or record that you put everything into, it almost doesn’t feel real when you hear it back in its final form.

6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?

Chase: I love this question! And the biggest ones are the friends that you make along the way and how you meet them, music can take you places you never thought you’d reach or achieve even in small doses. And music has always been my outlet, if im mad, pick up the bass, if I’m sad, pick up the bass, if I’m happy, you guessed it, I’m picking up that bass lol.

Jesse: lol. Lmao, even.

But for real, it’s the outlet I’ve been searching for my whole life. Words can only go so far, and I’ve felt that and been affected by it my whole life. The shortcomings of language don’t fail when you can turn it into a melody, and that has soothed me so much in knowing that the things I have to say won’t be lost in translation.

7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?

Chase: Well the technology aspect is one i’m still trying to wrap my head around sometimes. Like what does what and how to properly use it. But the biggest thing is playing the social media game, sometimes it’s fun, but also feels like going to war with the algorithm. Also the lovely game I like to call ” hurry up and wait ” . But to overcome these things, is to be patient, do your research and homework, and make many many mistakes, and build off it, and don’t beat yourself up too much, other people can do that for you.

Jesse: The crappy thing about writing an album is that the world doesn’t stop when you’re doing it. So balancing the creating with the living part has been challenging. As soon as we’d get somewhere, someone moves house, or has a family emergency, or their job would have them work crazy hours. There’s always obstacles, but never anything defeating. It’s not real. There’s always the will, so there’s a way. Why worry?

8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?

Chase: I personally view the social media thing as the real job of music these days, and I’m not one that’s on my phone too much, but at some point you just have to accept that some posts and videos will do better than others. And it’s nice to see things in the green, but I don’t see things as a competition, I just see what the algorithm likes that day.

Jesse: I don’t. It’s an overwhelming tempest that cannot be wrestled or controlled. Just gotta do your best to catch the wind at the right moment.

For some, the likes and follows may be a tangible measure for success, but, for me personally, as long as we could help someone hold on just one more day or help someone feel understood, then mission accomplished.

9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

Chase: If I’m nodding my head to it or tapping my foot, or have a goofy smile on my face. normally means were on the right track of things. And something about playing bass with big amps and feeling it in your bones is always satisfying to me. Also coming up with stuff and riffs in random moments and then making it into a song, that’s a drug you can’t get away from.

Jesse: The clicking sounds at least remind me that I’m a cog in the machine, haha.

10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

Chase: Biggest thing, and I know its common phrase. But Like, Comment, And Subscribe. The more we see people talking about our stuff the more motivated we are to make better stuff. And this isn’t just for us, but go to more local shows, you’d be surprised what hometown heros have up their sleeves.

Jesse: T-Shirts. Tickets. Posts, pictures, or videos. Mentions. Boots on the ground. Comments. Visiting the website. A gentle kiss on the forehead. (It’s been hard lately.)

11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

Chase: I’m a huge nerd. I love things like DnD and Cyberpunk, love to watch movies and learn about filmmaking. And play with the cat when she lets me lol.

Jesse: Video games! Or listening to anything that pops up on the radio/streaming services of my choice. I love to dive into the cesspit that is the internet and see how people are feeling, what they’re posting, what they’re offering. It’s always thrilling to see. There is also the ancient art of doing absolutely nothing and just listening to the outside world.

12. Where can people find you?

Chase: Jawfane.com, YouTube is real big right now, and were more active on Instagram and Facebook. But no matter where you go, we do fun things in all of them.

Jesse: www.jawfane.com