Interview with Jackie June (Singer/Songwriter)

By Sonia Schnee | Posted Friday, March 18, 2022

South Amboy singer/songwriter, alt-pop recording artist Jackie June just dropped a brand new single, “Falling Apart”, today. Written and recorded in collaboration with artists April Rose Gabrielli and Kulick, “Falling Apart” marks a sonic departure from Jackie’s previous music, while still being true to her penchant for deep, meaningful lyrics. As Jackie explains in her interview (Part 1 was filmed in March 2021, Part 2 in March of this year), while the subject matter of her songs may be serious, she likes to couple them with an upbeat, driving pop melody while also eliciting joy through refreshing and — as we’ll see with “Falling Apart” — playful music videos. Listening to Jackie June’s music, audiences are reminded to stop, reflect, and appreciate the beauty of the things and people around them.

Be sure to follow Jackie June on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) for up-to-date announcements about new music and show dates, and check out her YouTube channel to catch the official music video for “Falling Apart” which will premiere later this month.

To learn more about Jackie and the inspiration behind her music, watch our interview above or read the transcript below.

(Video and transcript have been edited for time and clarity.)

PART 1: March 2021

For first-time listeners, how would you describe your sound and your musical influences?

JACKIE JUNE: I think that my music is generally like pop-rock. I think sometimes people hear a little bit of a country influence depending on what the song is. I don't know where it comes from, but I do love country music. My influences tend to be a lot of pop artists and singer-songwriter-type artists.

Nice! And you're from around Toms River?

Yes. So I grew up in Toms River, but now I live in South Amboy, so Middlesex County.

Congratulations on the release of your music video for "Afterglow." It's a beautiful video. Beautiful lyrics. Where did you film it?

So we filmed the performance scenes up at Debonaire Music Hall in Teaneck. So shout out to David over there who's amazing and allowed us to use his space. The beach scenes in the video were over at Sandy Hook. So we went during sunset and got really lucky in capturing the most beautiful sunset, which we were really hoping for.

That shot is really gorgeous -- the colors and everything. It matches the colors in your hair, too.

It was literally pure luck. The filmmaker/director was Bart Lentini, and he had the idea to go to Sandy Hook. He's like, "I'm telling you, if it's a really good night, we're going to get really good shots" and I was like, "I trust you", and he nailed it. It was really perfect.

How did you and Bart meet up? Did you know each other before this?

So, probably a little over a year ago, I released a song called "On the Move", and at the time I was considering doing a music video for it. I wasn't really sure, and I had seen some work that I really liked. Taylor Tote had a video called "Heart's a Boomerang", and I had reached out to her and I said, "Hey, who did your video?" and she referred me to the woman who did her video. I reached out to her, and she introduced me to Bart. We talked a little bit. COVID happened, so no video, but as the year went on, I remembered that I loved his work and I reached back out to him and said, "Hey, how can we do a really cool COVID-safe music video?" We worked really well together. He was awesome to work with.

Who were your bandmates on stage?

So, I actually borrowed people from a bunch of different bands. So on the bass is Jamie McClanahan of The Victory Drive. On the guitar is Chris Laurie, and he's in the band Triple Addiction -- these are all Jersey bands -- and on the drums is Jimmy Meyer of The Dives. Fun fact: Jimmy Meyer is also the co-writer of the song, so we wrote it last summer [2020] via Zoom during COVID and all that good stuff.

How did you and Jimmy meet?

We somehow connected on Facebook because I guess we had heard each other's music. We had never met. We talked about a potential collaboration at some point and obviously, COVID happened, but we were like, "You know what? Even though we've never met and it's the middle of COVID, let's write something." So we actually wrote the song before we ever even met in person, which was kind of crazy.

Who produced the song? Where did you record it?

So that was recorded up an Audio Pilot Studio by Rob Freeman of the band Hidden in Plain View. They're a really awesome band, and he's such an incredible producer and just musician and person in general.

"Afterglow" has such beautiful lyrics. Thank you for including them underneath the music video. It's really a nice thing to be able to follow along!

Thank you, I felt really proud of these lyrics, and I think there are a lot of things that sometimes can get easily missed, or maybe my inflection, or the way I sing something. It happens all the time with music. There's misunderstood lyrics and stuff. So I was like, "You know what? I'm going to put these lyrics in the bottom." There's a lyric video, but I didn't do anything crazy with that, so I figured I might as well include them.

How would you describe this reference: "I dance with Marilyn, Norma's cutting in. How can one girl have two smiles?" What is that a reference to, for those who don't know?

That is literally one of my favorite lines in the song. I am a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe. I have pictures of her all over my music room in here. So when I was writing with Jimmy, I was kind of just looking around my room and I was looking at Marilyn and I'm like, "Oh man, I love her", blah blah blah, and I thought it would be interesting to incorporate her somehow in the song. Her birth name is Norma Jean Baker, for those who don't know, so the idea behind that line is, number one, the song is about kind of going a little crazy during -- I mean, for me personally, it's quarantine -- but it could be anything for anyone, where things are just raw and you just feel like you're going bonkers. I think that the imagery of having these two personalities in one person kind of combined, to me just seemed like a cool visual. I think it also shows that there's always going to be a little bit of two sides to how someone feels. I thought it was a good representation for feeling that way.

You also released another single during 2020, entitled "Can't Quit You", which you co-wrote with Jes Hudak. Tell us a little bit about that. You have a little bit of co-writing history with her as well.

Yes, I do. Jes Hudak, she is my mentor and I love her to death. So quick back story about Jes. I started off as her vocal student a few years ago, and this is before I had even started even thinking about writing. We were working together and she said, "Try songwriting, I feel like there's this artist within you and I think you should do it" and I was like, "You're nuts, I can't write a song." She really motivated me, and we wrote my whole first EP together, my EP "Wildflower."

We kind of came back together early-2020, maybe even by the end of 2019, and we started writing "Can't Quit You" together. It kind of came about because I had been having such an emotional roller coaster about, "Do I want to keep doing music? Do I not want to keep doing it?" There's just always this constant battle as an artist about whether or not you should even try. So funny enough, the song comes off as a love song, but it's really my love song to music, about how it doesn't matter what's going on and how much sometimes it can hurt, being an artist and really trying to do this thing, I just can't quit it. So I always love writing with Jes. She's the reason I do this. She's awesome.

What can you tell us about the music video? It's really beautiful. I got teary-eyed while I was watching it.

So, with a release during COVID and quarantine, there was really no opportunity to do any sort of music video. I thought, wouldn't it be really cute if "I can't quit you" kind of has like this double meaning? It's a love song, but for me personally, it means one thing. For someone else, it could mean something else. So I thought it would be a cool idea to reach out to people on social media -- friends, family, anyone who is interested -- to submit a really short clip of them showing me something that they could never quit, or something they just couldn't live without.

I got some really cool video submissions of people who like to run, so they're running, or there's people with their kids, and there's people with their girlfriends or their boyfriends, or eating chicken wings. I mean, just all these really cool ways that I feel like people were able to get creative. I just loved it and it came out really cool. I'm very proud of that video, so I'm really glad you liked it. It was really important to put out something that was really like a feel-good kind of thing. I think everybody has had some kind of loss, or hasn't been able to do the things that they can't quit, the things that they can't live without, and I like to think it was a nice little reminder for everyone to be like, "We still have these things. We're still going to be able to do them. Let's just have a little fun." Shout out to Ryan Hanratty of Frosted Green Productions for the editing. He did a great job.

In October 2020, I saw on Instagram that you were interviewed for a documentary about the New Jersey music scene. How did that happen?

So, this is cool. His name is Fulvio, and he is a filmmaker/documentarian. He's been interviewing musicians of all types and of all genres of people from the past and the present. Initially, I think it was going to be a movie documentary, but so many people wanted to be involved in it that I think he's going to make it more into a series now. Big shout out to Rory D'Lasnow, who's a singer/songwriter here in Jersey as well. He made the introduction. It was a really cool project and was excited to be a part of it, for sure. It's called The Jersey Sound, and I've been following them on Instagram and been following Fulvio. He's still out there and he's still meeting people and filming and interviewing. I'm excited to see when the videos start to come out.

Speaking of Rory, you also did a livestream with him sometime during the pandemic, in Asbury Park was it?

Caroline Davidson opened up a beautiful art and music-type studio in Asbury Park called Ghost Harbor Creative. She has an adorable little stage in there, and obviously, with COVID, it was hard to make it a public event, so she had the idea of coming up with livestreams recorded from Ghost Harbor. So I met with Caroline, and we set something up for me and Rory to perform there, and we did kind of a back and forth set, like a mini songwriters round. It was a lot of fun. It's a great place, and people should definitely check out Ghost Harbor because they're really doing a great job supporting the art scene in Jersey.

Do you come from a musical family or are you kind of a trailblazer?

My mother did a lot of theater growing up. My mom has a beautiful singing voice, but she didn't really pursue that. My father, he's a music fan, but not very musical. But my father's family is very musical. A lot of them live out in California and do a lot of singing and performing. My aunt's a belly dancer -- like a famous belly dancer. It's crazy. So she does all of that, and there are a lot of vocalists on that side of the family. Definitely artistic people.

Looking back, what have been some of the highlights that you've experienced as an artist so far?

I would say there are probably two really specific moments that stand out for me. No, three. I'm going to say three. The first one is playing a Sofar Sounds show in Atlanta last year, which first of all, it's so cool to play a Sofar show. I always heard really great things about how engaged the audience can be at a Sofar show, and they were not kidding -- very attentive and welcoming and just such a cool experience that I won't forget.

The second thing is there's an adorable little girl named Olivia who actually used my song "Chasing Nightmares" in her dance routine for her dance competitions. So that was really cool to see. I have the video up on my YouTube. She's so talented. So that was really cool.

The third thing that really stands out as being like a super highlight for me: I played a show last year -- again, this is right before COVID -- in Baltimore, and there was a little girl sitting with her parents, probably about 5-6 years old, she really little, and after the show, her father came up with her and said, "I just want you to know this little girl has been listening to 'Chasing Nightmares' over and over and over and over again. She found you on a playlist on Spotify, and we saw you were randomly coming to Baltimore, so we drove 45 minutes to come see you." I started bawling because I'm still such a small artist, you know? To even hear, number one, that anybody would even come that far to see me is crazy, and then people who I don't know, that's cool, too. To be completely out of New Jersey and have that happen with like... I think I cried for hours after that. I would say those are my highlights, for sure.

That's always a great feeling to know -- in any profession -- that what you do means something to somebody, and that that's how they're spending their downtime, their free time. They're connecting with something you created.

It's literally crazy. I've only been doing this for about three years, and I'm just a local artist here in New Jersey. So the fact that people want to hear it and it's not going on deaf ears, it's just one of those things that keeps you going.

Are there any words of advice or encouragement that you would give to people -- and not just artists, but really anyone -- who are trying to wrap their heads around how much the world has changed and are trying to stay productive, or just stay mentally healthy? What would you say to them?

Oh man, I wish I had the answers because I'm still working on it myself. I think, personally, what's helped me is I think I allow myself the time to take a break if I need to, instead of forcing it. So for me, specifically when it comes to being creative or trying to put this pressure on myself to write a new song that I think is great, I think sometimes it's OK to tell yourself, "You know what? I need a break right now. There's no pressure. The song will come when it comes," and I think that's with anything that anyone wants to do or create. Just let yourself off the hook a little bit and be kind to yourself because I definitely think it's hard when a lot of things in the world right now are out of our control. The only thing we can control right now is ourselves and how we handle it. For me, it's been working on being kinder to myself and not putting so much pressure on myself to create. Also, I've actually been journaling a lot. I find that it can be very therapeutic, especially in these times where, although we have social media and we have video chats and things like that, it still does feel lonely and disconnected sometimes. So I think it definitely helps to write things down and get it out.

Is there anyone who you'd like to give a shout-out to, whether it's family or friends or other artists or favorite restaurants that are closed or business or anything?

I think it's important to think about supporting independent artists and independent music, but also local mom and pop businesses. I think right now they are the ones that are hurting the most. So my shout-out is to all those who have been pushing through when it's been a difficult time, when it's hard, and just a shout out to all the people who've been staying strong and pushing through and still creating. I know it's been hard, too, as a musician, with shows canceled and we're trying our best. So shout out to all the people that are struggling and doing their best.

PART 2 - March 2022

I saw that on Instagram that you had posted a little sneak peek clip of your new single, "Falling Apart." How long has this song been brewing, and how did it get to where it is now?

That's a very good question because I feel like this song has been the longest journey of all my originals. During 2020, when we were obviously all in lockdown, I found myself not super inspired, but there was one day where I just got this melody and idea in my head for a song, and I would play it on the piano over and over again, and I knew that this would be a really catchy chorus. I had lyrics ready for it and everything, but no matter what I did, I couldn't finish the song. So I just kind of put it on the shelf, put it aside and was like, "Whatever, maybe I'll finish it another someday."

I had already been familiar with April Rose Gabrielli's music prior to all of this. She was in a bunch of different rock bands and we had connected a little bit on social media at some point. When I first started doing music in 2018-2019, I had always been a big fan of her writing and her music, and so she released her first solo single called "Do You" and as soon as I heard it, I was like, "You need to tell me who produced this. This is just incredible. I love it. I've been trying to figure out a way to take my music to a different... I don't want to say a "different level" because that sounds so cliché, but literally try and go a little bit more outside my comfort zone." She was like, "Oh, actually, I produced it, along with Kulick" and I was like, "Well, how do I work with you guys? I need to find a way to make this happen."

I brought them the chorus, the melody that I had, and the lyrics that I had, and I went out to see them for a week --  they live out in Pennsylvania -- and we just spent the weekend finishing the song, writing and producing and recording it. Everything was done in two days. I was just so proud of it, and it was just such a really good experience working with the two of them because I absolutely admire them as artists, but as writers as well. So I a lot of fun.

I love the lyrics, "I keep on falling apart in all of the right places, taking my time to find the right pieces." What can you tell us about the lyric-writing process? What initially inspired it? Was it something from personal experience?

It definitely came from a personal experience. I'm trying to be to honest and more vulnerable when I talk about the stories behind my songs. Around that time, I had just been diagnosed with an eating disorder, and I felt very confused. I had been doing a lot of reflecting about how it took me this long to kind of figure out what was going on and how hard the work was and the healing process was. So the idea behind the song was that, yeah, sometimes you have to fall apart and you have to break and you have to do all these really hard things in order to get to a better place and to be, whether it be in recovery or whatever it might be, that your struggle is, right? Sometimes you just have to pull out that splinter. It's going to hurt, but afterward it's going to be a lot better. So one of the things I wanted to do with this song was show that it's OK to feel vulnerable. It's okay that we have to suffer and struggle and all of those things. But I wanted it to be uplifting and empowering, that it's worth it.

That's a beautiful message. Thank you for sharing that.

A great thing about music is the way that it can make people feel less alone, give them a sense of belonging, and keep them pushing through. I know music has helped me get through some really tough times. It's just such an amazing medium in that way.

It also is a testament to your artistry, that you can write/create something that can bring people in. It's kind of like you give your listeners permission to just sit and stop and reflect on the things and the people that they have in their lives, which I think is really important to soak up.

That makes me so happy to hear that you hear that because I feel like that's something I've been working on for myself. I think I've always been very good at just being like, "OK, I don't need to feel sad. I need to find something to make me feel better, or what is the point of feeling this feeling," right? I feel like I have been working really hard to embrace that. Embrace those feelings, allow yourself to feel them. It's OK. We don't have to sit in them forever, but there's nothing wrong with having them. A lot of times, I write these songs as my own sort of therapy to remind myself, "OK, you know, Jackie, it's OK if you're crying right now. It's OK if you're having a tough time right now because you know what? It will get better. This is all part of life and you're going to be OK." My music, I feel like there are these very serious topics, but I tend to make the music and production... I like it to be fun and uplifting. There is that pop element. This song, it's just such a serious topic, but I have made it very playful, which you'll see in the video. I took a very emotional, serious topic for myself, but things can be serious but you can still laugh and you can still be playful regardless of that, you know? Hopefully, that will come across in the video.

Yes! How did you meet the director? Who came up with the concept for the music video?

So his name is Tom Flynn, and he is amazing. He was actually a referral from April Rose Gabrielli and Kulik. They both have worked with him for some of their different music videos, and when I saw the work that he had done, I was like, "Oh my God, I have to work with this guy!" We had a call about the song, he listened to the song, I sent him lyrics, gave him some understanding about what my intentions were behind the song and what it meant for me, and he was like, "I have this crazy idea. You're either going to love it or you're going to hate it." He kind of gave me the idea, and then we worked together to flesh it out a little bit more. But yeah, it was mostly Tom. I just thought it was great because it kind of has that whimsical feeling, that kind of vibe that I go for.

The people that were in this video were all friends of mine. Some are other musicians in the Jersey music scene. They were really good sports. It was a very cold day. It was late fall or early winter. I want to say like November or December. So yeah, it was very cold. I felt terrible. But they're all good friends.

Where did you film? Is it filmed in New Jersey?

Yeah, actually it's in my neighborhood, in South Amboy.

How did you find the costume for the main character? Was it handmade?

Oh my gosh, no. We bought it online.

Who is the actor who's in the costume?

So, he is going to create a reveal video that I will post on social media so you can see who it is. He's an amazing guy and really knocked it out of the park. To be able to do any sort of acting while wearing a head like that, it just shows he did a great job.

Tell us more about April Rose and Kulick.

They are like the dynamic duo. I swear, they make magic when they work together. They're both touring musicians. April's actually in Kulick's band. She plays the keys and backup vocals. She also has her solo project, which is going incredible. Her song "Do You", which was her first single, was charting on Billboard Hot A/C [Adult Contemporary] Charts and things like that. They're both just amazing, and I feel so incredibly blessed and lucky to have had the opportunity to work with them, but also to now say they're my friends. They're just really great people.

When we went to write this song together, when I went out to Pennsylvania, it was maybe October. I honestly was really forcing myself to do it. I had not been very inspired. I had not really done much with my music in a while. I released some covers last year, but for the most part, I hadn't released anything original in about a year. I was like, "I'm going to do this. You're going to work with new people. You're going to. It's going to be good. It's going to be good." I left that weekend feeling so re-inspired and feeling like, "OK, I still love this, thank God!"

Where did you record “Falling Apart”?

With them. They co-wrote with me, produced, mixed, mastered -- all of the above. They're very multitalented people. They have a home studio, and it's amazing and beautiful. It was just such a great experience, and it was a very comfortable experience, too. I think sometimes when you're in these more formal big studios, it can be very intimidating -- at least for me. I felt very comfortable being there with them, and it was just really nice. They have this adorable dog named Ellie who made it even more fun. It was really a great experience.

Do you have any other songs/projects in the works?

It's funny, I feel like in the past -- because I started doing this whole music thing so late in life -- I felt like I was rushing everything and having to get the next song out and the next one, and this and that. I feel like I'm at a point now where I'm like, "You know what? That's exhausting." If I get a bunch of song ideas in my head and I decide to record and release them, great, I will do that. But for now... I mean, I definitely have a phone filled with melody, ideas, and concepts and things, but nothing fleshed out. Everything is really just in lots of little pieces, and hopefully they'll turn into something kind of like "Falling Apart" did, where it just kind of started with a little piece of a couple of things and then it came to life when I found the right collaborators. So, we will see.

The music business, whether it be on a local level or a global level, moves very quickly and people can forget about you very quickly and people want to hear the next thing right away. But you know what? Putting the pressure on yourself to keep up with that just takes a lot of the joy out of what you're doing. For me, I do this because I love it, and if people listen to it, that's a bonus. If people want to play it, and when it comes to a show, that's a bonus. But I just don't I don't want to feel that pressure, you know?

Is there anyone new who you'd like to give a shout-out to?

I have to give a huge shout-out to April and Kulick. You guys need to check them out! April Rose Gabrielli and Kulick. They are both incredible artists that are releasing just such great music, and they're also really wonderful people to support and they have been so supportive of me. They've really changed my way of thinking with a lot of stuff in music that can sometimes make you feel a little bad or make you feel a little bit knocked down. They are just so uplifting, talented, wonderful human beings. So, everyone, check them out! They're great.

Last year, you mentioned some of the career highlights that you had. Have fans still been reaching out to you?

I actually just saw a family friend last night and her daughter was like, "I told my friends that I know a singer." The little kids are just too cute. She was telling me, she's like, "I love your song 'Wildflower.'" I think she's 8 years old. Just hearing that, especially from little girls, I just wish I had someone like that in my life, especially with music, growing up as a kid.

Yeah, that is so important for little girls to have positive role models.

I noticed from this interview and also from your last one, you're so modest. For the caliber that your music is at in terms of the lyrics and the melody and the artistry, really, you have some bragging rights. You've got really solid work that you've put out.

Oh, you're going to make me cry now.

Feel free to brag. You've earned bragging rights!

Thank you. I'm definitely very proud of myself. I never thought I would be able to do any of this, let alone write originals, record them, and share them with people. So it's just... To me, I'm just very proud of myself.

I'm so excited for the music video for "Falling Apart" to drop and see what people's responses are.

Me, too! When you listen, you're going to know it's Jackie June song, but it's definitely taking it to a different place, which I'm really excited about.

Keeping Jazz Alive - New Brunswick Jazz Project at Tavern on George

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Sunday, January 23, 2022

Since my mission is keeping live music thriving, I love encountering others that are very focused on that mission. In Segment 2 of Keeping Jazz Alive, we hear from a group of folks who are extremely passionate about keeping Jazz alive. 

“Live performance opportunities dried up everywhere in the country — but NBJP was fortunate enough to be able to continue presenting during most of the ‘dark days.’“  — New Brunswick Jazz Project

In New Brunswick, NJ Jazz is alive and kicking along George Street. One very special place is Tavern on George, a bi-level pub with live jazz & a grand, open-timbered dining room serving burgers & housemade donuts.

Tavern on George, 361 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901. For reservations, call 732-545-6205.

Jazz Programs

There is live Jazz every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-10 pm. Bringing Great Jazz to Central Jersey. Live, straight-ahead jazz is presented weekly.  

"The New Brunswick Jazz Project is quickly becoming New Jersey's freshest jazz presenters..." —The Star-Ledger

Live Jazz Music 

What's happening here is a very hard-working, very focused group that continues to produce some very serious jazz. As we all hope we are coming out of various versions of this pandemic, live music has suffered and is still suffering, yet there are groups like NBJP that have set themselves up to survive and thrive.  

“The New Brunswick Jazz Project has created a real jazz scene and now regularly draws guests from all over the state, as well as New York and Pennsylvania, to Central Jersey to enjoy this quintessential, uniquely American music.”  —The Star-Ledger

I contacted one of the NBJP founders, Virginia DeBerry, and she supplied some thoughts from the founders of the New Jersey Jazz Project.  Of course, it's about jazz music, and hence, I improvised along the way with some great live music for your listening pleasure. 

New Brunswick Jazz Project founders Jimmy Lenihan, Virginia DeBerry, and Michael Tublin.

VIRGINIA DEBERRY: 2022 marks the 12th year that the New Brunswick Jazz Project has been presenting weekly live jazz performances in New Brunswick, and considering how challenging 2020-2021 was for everyone, we are thrilled to still be around. 

New Brunswick Jazz Project Interview - How New Brunswick Became a Hub for Jazz Music. Take a listen.

We did Facebook live streams from musicians' homes in March and April 2020 — the early days of the pandemic — and by May, the city of New Brunswick and New Brunswick City Center had rallied around the restaurants and downtown businesses and almost everyone moved outside onto streets that were closed to vehicular traffic. Tables were socially distant, masks were required.

Nat Adderley on Tavern on George, Aug. 2020.

We were able not only to present musicians at Tavern on George, our main venue, but at many other places in town. Everyone was looking for a way to "draw" customers, and live jazz was what they offered. As a result, in the midst of the lockdown, we had one of the busiest springs and summers we’ve ever had. When summer passed and the temperature dropped, Tavern on George erected a giant tent right on George Street which remained closed to traffic. 

New Brunswick closes George Street to expand outdoor dining.

They had propane heaters throughout the tent, and we were able to keep the music going all winter long. I dare say, NBJP presented more live jazz than anyone in the tri-state (perhaps the whole country) during that time. Venues in NYC and Philly were closed, musicians were looking to play somewhere outside of their homes, and we were able to offer them an outlet... and an audience.

New Brunswick Jazz Project - Swingadelic at Tavern on George.

During that time, and really always, our audiences were supportive and grateful. We gave people somewhere to go and something safe to do outside of their homes. I can't count the number of thank you’s we received from the audience and from the musicians. 

This week's #jazz performances at Tavern on George are Thursday, Jan. 28 — Jerry Weldon Music, and Sunday, Jan. 31 — Dave Mosko. #newbrunswicknj

A friend of mine said at this time that we are in a period of ‘never again’ and ‘not yet.’ Things will ‘never again’ be the way they were — the pandemic has changed us all. But we are ‘not yet’ at whatever will be our new normal. Going forward, I think the key to managing whatever our new normal turns out to be is to remain flexible, to improvise… it is jazz after all.

— Virginia, Jimmy & Mike

"Jazz is an open-ended music designed for open minds.” — Anonymous

So What’s Next? You Can Support The Cause

Follow the New Brunswick Jazz Project at www.facebook.com/newbrunswickjazzproject.

“New Brunswick has now become a destination for jazz." ~ The New York Times

Event Calendar 

You Can Attend an Event 
https://nbjp.org/events/month

Support The Cause

You Can Donate 
https://nbjp.org/sponsor-us-nbjp-org-npo/ 

Jazz Program Contact

Contact Them and Learn About How You Can Help. 

1. Virginia DeBerry 

2. Jimmy Lenihan, 

3. Michael Tublin

Comment

New Brunswick Jazz Project produces and hosts the annual New Brunswick Festival  

About the Author

Gregory Burrus books bands, produces, promotes, captures, and records live music events along with various other community and private activities.

I love writing about it all.

My mission is to help community groups, live music bands, and local nonprofits, reach their goals and accomplish their missions while enjoying the day-to-day process of life. 

Read more at http://gregoryburrusproductions.com 
https://www.jerseyindie.com/ji-blogger-gregory-burrus
https://patch.com/users/gregburrus

Interview with Bobby Mahoney (Quarantine Edition)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Bobby Mahoney and The Seventh Son have been working tirelessly since first emerging from New Brunswick, NJ back in 2012. In the past few years alone, the group has toured the East Coast and Midwest, released a handful of EP’s and singles and even opened up for Bon Jovi at the Prudential Center. Most recently, the group released an acoustic version of their track “Called It Quits”, recorded in New York just before the shutdown started last year. 

When the pandemic first hit a little over a year ago, any lover of music knew it was going to be a little while before they were out seeing live music in any “normal” capacity. While some bands headed to the studio and others dissolved, Bobby took this time to help bring people together during this isolation. His livestreams have helped create an online music community that both inspires and connects musicians and listeners all around the world. I absolutely love what he has been doing with this somewhat new livestream medium and Bobby was kind enough to talk to me about what he's been up to the past year with The Seventh Son and the year of the livestream.

When and where was your last show before the venue lockdown?

B.M.: Our last full band show before the lockdown was at The Saint on February 20th with Latewaves, Lake Lilies, and Earth Telephone, but I also jammed with Matty Carlock at The Stone Pony on Feb. 22nd, played acoustic at Langosta Lounge with Joe Rapolla on March 7th, and then I was on a float with Williams Honor in the Asbury St. Patrick’s Day Parade on the 8th. The next week, the school I teach at went virtual and things hit the fan.

How has the pandemic affected the band (i.e. practices, songwriting, release dates)?

We have definitely rehearsed less than we would have, and we definitely have spent less time in the studio to say the least. We have been able to record 5 songs as a full band so far, but we have more work to do. We have put out a few new videos, a new live track, and new acoustic songs in the meantime, which we are all proud of.

How has the pandemic affected your songwriting, if at all?

I have a lot of songs that I was working on pre-pandemic that have new context to the world we find ourselves in currently. I still write down fragments of ideas and record bits of voice memos most days, and am constantly revising ideas, but I find myself letting them marinade more, living in various states of completion. As we have been in the process of getting vaxxed up, we have been starting to get back in the swing of rehearsals and studio sessions to complete the next batch of songs that I’ve let marinade enough. 

When did you first premiere your Bloody Marys and Coffee show? How did you come up with it?

I believe it was March 22nd, 2020. It started as me feeling unsure of how to help the situation, feeling restless, and wanting to give people a distraction. Part of the restlessness was feeling the need to ‘stay relevant’ and active, which I am sure a lot of our peers can relate to. 

“Called It Quits (Acoustic)” on Bandcamp now!

How many live streams have you done since the pandemic? Did you ever expect this medium to take off the way it has?

I honestly haven’t been counting or keeping track in any way (laughs sheepishly). I didn’t think we would be doing this for this long, or else I would have kept a better record. I would approximate there have been around 50 solo acoustic ‘Bloody Marys and Coffee”, two successful full band live streams, one less successful one early early on before we asked more friends for help, plus many more benefit video contributions and streams over the last year. It's like putting a bandaid on a headshot, but we are making the best of the medium. The best upside is that I get to check in with my friends all around the world once a week, and that's been a gift, and the coolness of it isn’t lost on me. I’m very grateful for all my friends, old and new, who have tuned into any of the streams this year. Some people haven’t missed one. I’m also grateful to have been able to still play with my band in any capacity over the last year, so I will take what I can get. The safety of our friends, and families who could have been directly or indirectly affected by us playing music in a less-than-safe setting has weighed heavy on me, and it continues to. 

Have you been finding yourself writing more or less the past year?

Less in the overall volume of songs, but I still have too many songs that I want to work on. I’m excited to put the band back to work as soon as possible. The gears haven’t stopped turning but they definitely were slowed for a while when it really wasn’t safe to even be in the same room for too long. Now as things are starting to look up a bit (knocks furiously on wood) we can start to rev the engine and get the gears moving faster.

Plans for future releases? Currently working on anything?

Yeah, there will be a new Seventh Son record in the not so distant future. Will it be an EP? Will it be an LP? Will it be a Double Record? Not sure. I really am still figuring that all out. Time and the process will present that information to me when I am ready for it.

You can keep up with all things Bobby Mahoney and The Seventh Son here!

State Function – “Suspended Animation” (Interview)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Thursday, January 23, 2020

State Function is the solo project from Liam Frank, based out of Highland Park, New Jersey. His first release is a 4 song EP titled Suspended Animation. Released in November of 2019, this EP started its life in the fall of 2017. With the help of friends and the honing of his own skills as a songwriter, Suspended Animation is a strong debut release. After a couple listens, I reached out to Liam to ask him how this project came to be and what it means to him. Thanks again, Liam!

What is State Function to you? The band, name, etc.

State Function, to me, means individuality and being true to yourself, it means self-awareness, it means being human and being inspired by life around you. I came up with the name because I really enjoy science, and a State Function (or function of state) is a property in a thermodynamic system that matters solely on its present equilibrium state, and the past pathways it took and forces that acted upon it do not matter. I relate that a lot to my outlook on life as a whole. Making the most of your present and your present surroundings; all we have is right now.

When did you start working on your EP Suspended Animation?

I started working on the EP in the fall of 2017. I always had a vision for the project and for the sound, but I was never able to translate those ideas well on my own until I finished school. I lived with some friends in Asbury Park right after college, and they were always recording something in the living room. I was always playing my guitars, but the additional gear and resources I had at my disposal through them really facilitated my musical and eventually lyrical ideas. I was able to get a lot done in the next two years and link up with more people that helped with this project because of that and because of them.

What is your songwriting process like?

A lot of trial and error, fitting things together from past ideas, a lot of messing around on guitar between the hours of 10pm and 4am. I definitely need a melody or musical part first, though. Sometimes when the trial part for a new melody is successful, I'll finish a song altogether in a couple of hours. That's what happened with the songs “Snowing” and “Elsewhere” on the EP, and those are two of my favorites. I love words and metaphors a lot since I'm such a romantic person, and I really go for imagery as well. When it comes to songwriting, my brain is this chaotic windstorm of fragmented musical and lyrical parts, but when there's a moment of clarity, it's a beautiful thing and I can get a lot done.

Were the songs written for this release written around the same time or over time?

They were definitely written over time. Like I said, some developed sooner than others, but for the ones that took longer I had ideas and pieces in mind for months and sometimes years, and they didn't come to fruition until this EP felt finished. I didn't want to rush anything, though.

Where did you record? Who played on this release?

I recorded in a lot of different places, including my old living room on Fourth Ave in Asbury Park, with my friends Will and Kevin at their respective home studios in Hunterdon County, NJ, and with my friends Craig and Alex at Craig's home studio in Stockton, NJ. I wrote and played all musical parts as well as the lyrics, except for the synth part on “Elsewhere.” Kevin played on that, and it really brought out the sound on that track. All of these guys had a hand in production and post-production, and they were totally instrumental in delivering the sound I was going for.

Favorite song on Suspended Animation?

Favorite song has to be “Snowing.” First song on the album, first single I released and first thing altogether I released myself that was a huge deal. It's a song I think really does a good job describing me. It's a positive song about learning how to let go of your past, being ready for a bright future, but also learning how to stay in the moment and keep working hard and also how to better temper your expectations. That theme is repeated in the chorus, "My heart is set on spring, but it won't stop snowing." You're ready for something better, but you have to put in work in the present and let go of the past. Because after all, all we have is this moment, a metaphor I used in the naming of the whole project!

Last thing I'd like to add: a shoutout to my brother and my parents, especially my dad, for believing in me, my art, my passion, and supporting this project so much and giving endless love to me and to everything I do.

Interview with Jackie June

By Sonia Schnee | Posted Friday, October 4, 2019

South Amboy’s Jackie June is an alt-pop singer/songwriter who is set to release her newest music video for her single “Wildflower” later this month on YouTube. She will also be opening for ‘80s pop icon Tiffany at Debonair Music Hall in Teaneck, NJ on October 19th (click here for tickets).

We were fortunate to be able to connect with Jackie June and ask her about the inspiration behind her song, as well as her thoughts about her upcoming performance. Be sure to tune into Jackie June’s YouTube channel on October 16th when her music video for “Wildflower” goes live, and in the meantime head on over to www.jackiejunemusic.com to stay up-to-date on everything Jackie June.

What's your name, where are you from, where are you based now?

I am Jackie June and I am originally from Toms River, NJ but currently reside in South Amboy, NJ.

How would you describe your sound? Who are your musical influences?

I would say I am alt-pop, others might say singer/songwriter. I definitely have a pop vibe but with more moody, emotional lyrics, haha. My musical influences tend to come from the late ‘90s/early 2000s — Singer/Songwriters like Michelle Branch and Hanson. I am also influenced by more current artists like Lady Gaga, Marianas Trench, Pink, etc.

Congratulations on the release of your new music video for “Wildflower.” What's the inspiration behind the song? Which came first for you, the melody or the lyrics?

Thank you! I am super excited about this one. "Wildflower" is the title track off my debut EP. It's definitely my most fun, upbeat song to date. It's celebratory. I wanted to write a song about being misunderstood, but I didn't want it to be sad. I wanted it to be uplifting. Wildflowers are strong, vibrant and beautiful. Maybe not the most traditional flower or even the most perfect, but they grow wild and free in the strangest of places. Personally, I can relate to wildflowers and I think others can, too. For this song, the concept came first. I knew what I wanted to write about and had a few melody ideas and a few lyric ideas. I brought these ideas to Jes Hudak, who co-wrote the song with me, and she helped me make it the song that it is now! I am really proud of this one and it wouldn't be the song it is without her.

Tell us about the music video-making experience. What filmmaker did you work with, and where can we see more of their work? Who's featured in the video? Where was it filmed?

Oh man, it's SO much fun but also incredibly exhausting. Haha! I worked with Anthony Corvyx of Vyxen Visions. He is a brilliant artist, videographer, and director. You guys really need to check out his stuff. Joey Dean assisted with the video as well. He is also an insanely talented artist. Definitely check out his band called Pros & iCons! As far as the band in the video, we have Jon Loree on Drums, Chris Dubrow on Bass, Tre Davis on Keys, and Dominic Zamora on Guitar. We filmed the video at Fenix Studios in Staten Island, NY. They had the perfect big white room!

You also have a show coming up in Teaneck where you'll be opening for Tiffany. Very cool! What has your journey been so far that's led you up to this point?

Yes, I am opening for Tiffany at Debonair Music Hall in Teaneck on October 19th. This is probably my biggest gig to date, and I am so excited about the opportunity! I even found my Tiffany vinyl record from the late 80s!! This music journey has been a whirlwind. I released my first single in August 2018 and since then have been gigging a lot, did a small tour around the northeast, filmed 2 music videos, and release my debut EP. I spent a long time fighting this passion for music and I guess I am making up for lost time, haha. I just feel really lucky to be doing any of this. It's really a dream come true.

Do you have any words of advice for people who share a similar passion or have maybe faced similar obstacles/challenges?

Do it. Don't spend your life wondering "what if.” I have found the more I challenge myself and do things I am scared of, the more awesome things happen. It's worth the risk.

Finally, what are some ways that fans can connect with you online? (Website? Facebook? Spotify? Etc.?)

My website is www.jackiejunemusic.com. I am on Facebook and Instagram — JackieJuneMusicNJ. My EP is available on all streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc. I also have a YouTube channel!

Modern Chemistry - "Take A Second" (Interview)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Wednesday, October 31, 2018 

For fans of: The Menzingers, Turnover, Taking Back Sunday

Modern Chemistry is back and better than ever. After touring with Taking Back Sunday, Every Time I Die and Mayday Parade (to name a few), Modern Chemistry released their latest single, “Take A Second” with a very nostalgic music video as well. Having been a fan for a while, I reached out to lead singer and guitarist, Joe Zorzi, who was sweet enough to answer some questions about “Take A Second,” their music video and future plans. Thanks again, Joe!

Your latest single, “Take A Second” is great. When did you guys write that song?

Thank you! It was actually written a few months back. I had a little demo station set up at our practice space and wrote it one day before our band practice. It had a really fresh feel to it, so we started working on it as a band pretty soon after.  

What was the inspiration behind “Take A Second”?

It's really a hopeful song about dealing with anxieties. It's about those moments where things just don't really make sense and you're just rolling through it all. But also realizing or hoping that something's going to change soon.

Where was “Take A Second” recorded? Who produced?

We recorded it with Erik Romero. We've been friends with him for years, and it finally felt like the right time to work together on this concept. Erik is incredibly versatile. We explained the vibe we were going for and he completely understood that and pushed us in some cool, new directions with tones and layers.

The video for “Take A Second” fits so well. How did you guys come up with the concept?

Thanks! We knew we wanted to make this video ourselves and we knew that we were going to be filming it on a VHS camcorder. After moving through a few different concepts, things really started to take shape once we decided we were going to have a bunch of TVs streaming different pieces of our lives at the same time. The tone was more important than anything and the final result is pretty much exactly what we were hoping to achieve.  

What is the current Modern Chemistry lineup?

I'm Joe, I sing and play guitar. Jesse plays drums and Brendan plays guitar and also sings.

What is next for Modern Chemistry?

You'll be hearing some more music before the year is out. We've got a few shows lined up that are going to be really fun. (Past shows: October 12th at the Saint with Hodera, Blaise, and Mackenzie Brown. October 28th at the Bowery Electric with Toy Cars). We're constantly writing new music.  

Anything else you’d like to add?

We're just happy to be here and happy that people seem to be resonating with the new music. We're really excited about where we are as musicians right now and we're going to try and keep that going the best we can.