Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Jake Vera

"Lost" draws inspiration from a diverse range of musical influences, including Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Amira Elfeky, and Thirty Seconds to Mars. This album is a reflection of Jake's personal experiences, ideologies, and observations on current events, encapsulating a blend of emotions and stories that listeners can relate to.

With a sound that seamlessly merges acoustic elements with alternative rock, "Lost" offers a soulful and genuine listening experience that serves as a reminder of the power of human connection in an increasingly automated world.

(^)> Jake Vera’s Lost is a heartfelt alternative rock album blending acoustic warmth with soaring, emotive rock elements, exploring personal reflection, human connection, and the raw intensity of lived experience.

Interview with Jake Vera

(^)> Your album Lost draws from influences like Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and Thirty Seconds to Mars. How did these artists shape the sound and energy of the record?

Strong vocal performance and presence, catchy and aggressive riffs, The darker subject matter and vulnerable lyricism, and tons of vocal harmonies. These legendary bands have mastered all of these aspects and have definitely shaped both my music taste and who I am as a person. Naturally, I brought the same type of approach to my own music.

(^)> The album blends acoustic elements with alternative rock. How do you approach balancing intimacy and raw power in your music?

The acoustic sections definitely offer more room for vulnerability while the heavier sections of a song are much more cathartic. So the two styles play off each other well, especially when each track is written more like a poem.

(^)> Lost is rooted in your personal experiences and reflections on current events. How do you decide which stories or emotions to translate into songs?

Well I was already very emotionally invested considering this was always a lifelong dream and goal of mine to write and release an entire album. While writing, the whole album became more of something I needed to do instead of a desire. It became an outlet of self-expression and downright therapeutic to talk about whatever I may have been going through or what was on my mind at the time. I also let the song speak to me first before ever writing a single word down; each song has a certain story to tell.

(^)> As a multi-instrumentalist, how does playing multiple instruments influence your songwriting and the overall sound of your tracks?

I think it’s definitely helped tremendously with grasping the basics of songwriting and to know that every instrument/ vocal harmony has a role to play. I focus more on what can help serve the song as a whole, rather than what might sound cool for the sake of my own ego.

(^)> You aim to revive rock and metal in the mainstream. What do you think makes these genres still relevant today?

There’s just no genre quite like Rock/ Metal music when it comes to expression and energy. You really get to hear what a person’s soul sounds like and what they’re going through. That and with the worn-out Hip-Hop/ Rap genre finally on the decline, it sets the stage for a new era. An era I intend to lead.

(^)> Human connection is a central theme of Lost. How do you convey that authenticity in both your recordings and live performances?

Aside from the lyrics, leaving in little details and imperfections throughout the record was very important to me. A slight vocal crack at the end of a take, fingers moving along the fretboard, white noise/ feedback in the background all just give the record a very intimate feeling, as if you’re in the room and a part of the recording process.

Perfection sounds boring. Most metalcore and modern rock bands I hear on the radio or on Spotify's editorial playlists sound like copy-and-paste material. Same structure, same sound, same lyrics, same production, overproduced and micro-managed to the point where I question if the people who made the record even enjoyed making it.

Don’t get me wrong, I recorded hundreds upon hundreds of takes throughout “Lost” to get the best possible performance I could possibly get. I also made sure to enjoy what I’m doing and not harp on little details that I know most casual listeners won’t even care about.

(^)> Alternative and rock music often deals with intense emotions. How do you channel your own experiences into music that resonates universally?

It’s kind of cartoonish and silly thinking back on it now, but I would just sit alone in my dark room and self-contemplate while listening to the tracks on repeat haha

Once I got in the right headspace and knew what I was singing about, it was just a matter of translating those emotions onto a metaphorical canvas. I also intentionally wrote the lyrics to be a bit broader to help resonate with a wider audience. Everyone is going through something and at one point or another, is a lost soul.

(^)> What was the most challenging track to create on Lost, and why?

Inside. Hands down the most difficult song performance-wise. Even the verses for some reason were just so much harder to actually sing than how I initially thought. I’m not even sure if I could sing the finishing section of the song live ha, but it was also the most personal and vulnerable song on the record. I still had an easier time when I was going through a Sinus infection and recording two other songs.

It made it all the more satisfying to have actually completed the song and I’m very proud of how it came out.

(^)> For new listeners, which song on the album best represents your vision as an artist?

Wasteland. My personal favorite track and I think it sums up both my style and my overall vision perfectly. The sweet melancholic melodies, the beautiful acoustic guitar work, the dark and introspective lyrics, and the aggressive/ electric alternative rock and shoegaze sections blended in perfect harmony.

(^)> Finally, what’s next for you — touring, new music, or experimenting with new sounds?

I definitely have some new music I’m wrapping up very soon and plan to have it released by springtime. I plan on tackling my next big milestones: a music video, and a high-quality live acoustic performance. I’m very excited to share with y’all!

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out  Jake Vera on the Pigeon Spins Playlist