Q&A Today: Jacob Humber
Some days ago we featured Jacob Humber and
his
latest release "Afterlife", great song by the way, and now we are able to present the artist in a short Q&A part on our Blog. So here is Jacob Humber, thanks for your time!
Jacob Humber is...?
I'm not completely sure how to approach an answer like this, but I would say I'm regular guy in his twenties who likes to pay a bit of extra attention to everyday things. I usually have more questions than answers when it comes to being a person, and I tend toward the analytical side of things.
When I'm not working my corporate day job to pay rent and put food on the table, I prefer to spend my time writing songs, taking walks, and finding opportunities to be good to people.
I'm an introvert, and I enjoy any chance I get to sit quietly and reflect .. but like I also love hanging out with friends and watching movies.
Q&A
Who inspired you to make music in general?
There was an undiscovered singer/songwriter from Nashville who came to my college town and inspired me to pursue songcraft through performing his songs at an Open Mic night. We don't talk anymore, but there's some real magic to his creative ability that helped my own creativity come out of hiding.
What's the story behind your latest song "Afterlife", respectively what was your inspiration?
Oof. I grew up in a small religious town with a pastor as a dad, and I took on the whole performance-oriented 'proper pastor's son' identity. It wasn't until I had graduated college, moved to Nashville and begun seeing a therapist that I discovered how twisted my concept of reality had become.
We're all human and we've all made plenty of mistakes in our lives, but there's something to be said about people who weaponize belief to forward their own narrative. The worlds of faith and religion are vastly different, but they are rarely distinguished.
This song came about as I began learning to think for myself in early adulthood. It's about as light-handed a way I could find to point out this demonic, yet subtle, spirit of religion sneaking its way into my daily life.
As a singer and songwriter, what is in your opinion the hardest part concerning"writing a song"?
At least for me, there are lots of hard parts that go into writing a song, and I think the 'hardest' part just depends on the day. For example, some days the hardest part is thinking up a song idea that's interesting enough to write about. It can take me over an hour sometimes, while other days I know my idea before I even sit down. At the same time, the most difficult part is often the simple act of sitting my ass down, once again, to try and write a song. It can quickly become more and more discouraging as I think about how much time I've put into writing songs and how little results have come out. Reminding myself to invest in myself creatively rather than hope for results is always a challenge. It's crucial for me to insulate myself from 'success' or 'failure' and instead put my hopeful energy toward writing for the sake of creative expression and developing creative fluency.
"Afterlife" is the first song of an upcoming album (set to release in September), how far is the process and what can we expect?
Correct! I wrote the first song that ended up being on this record in June of 2018, and the rest of them came somewhere between then and January 2021. As far as what to expect, the album contains lots of unique production moments that range stylistically from Lo-Fi - Indie Rock to Indie/Folk Singer-Songwriter.
Julian Dente (Nashville-based producer) took these songs in a pretty cool direction that fit the interesting, yet locked-in vibe that I was hoping for. There's an emphasis on calculated and thoughtful songwriting throughout. The most special of experiences are reserved for those willing to slow down and listen closely.
At this moment what would be your "All time Top 3 Songs"?
At this moment, Top 3 songs are Rattlesnake (Jack Van Cleaf),
28 (Live - John Cragie) and
Elegy (Leif Vollebekk).
What's your most useful talent besides music?
Most useful? I mean, I'm pretty good at walking. Maybe I'll go with making coffee. We love a good cup of joe.
Do you remember your first ever self-written song?
Hahaha. Yes. I was in the shower when I was like 8 and I sang it after seeing a 'No Jesus - No Peace / Know Jesus - Know Peace' bumper sticker. Really cool stuff.
What’s next for you?
Same ole over here! Taking it day by day, putting in the time writing and learning songs. Maybe I'll give baking a try.
Photo credits:
Laura Schneider (Nashville, TN)
