Today, we sat down with Jay Draper and The Subterraneans to discuss their inspiration to write music, heroes, and much more! Be sure to check out the music of Jay Draper and The Subterraneans on Spotify below after the interview!
Interview:
What is your inspiration to write your music? Is it your surroundings?
If you mean, why do I create music? I guess it’s a bit of an existential thing. I have no idea why I’m here or what I’m supposed to do with this life, and I’m not convinced anyone really does, so I guess I feel I might as well make something I’m proud of with the time I have. I suppose it feels validating. As for the type of things that inspire the subject of my songs, it can range from my own internal and mental health struggles to the psychological and philosophical strain this world we’ve made for ourselves can often lead to. I guess you’d call it the modern human condition. That and whatever books, art, movies and other music I happen to be into at the time.
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
I actually probably got into music a little later than some of the kids around me. At the time everyone was into things like New Kids on the Block and stuff like that, and it never really spoke to me so I thought I just didn’t like music that much at the time. Then I discovered Pink Floyd and it just clicked. After that, I started getting into stuff like Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden, Prick (the typical edgy stuff teens were into in the 90s), and then eventually discovering older stuff like Bowie, Eno, Gary Numan, The Stooges, Joy Division. Music has been my passion ever since.
Is there someone you looked up as a hero?
Bowie for a long time now has been my ‘hero’ (pun intended), but I also really look up to people like Brain Eno, Iggy Pop, Scott Walker, and anyone who I feel tries to push boundaries. I’m a pretty big Residents fan as well, so I guess whoever is behind the masks of that group would be up there for me (If you know then you can probably guess who I’m talking about).
If you weren’t a musician, would you be doing today?
Probably not answering these questions for starters. I don’t know. I like being a smart-ass. Maybe looking for a way to monetize that. I also like doing visual art, so I’d probably put a lot more energy into it if not for music, I guess.
What advice do you have for our fans out there that want to create music?
Not to sound all Nike marketing team or anything, but honestly, just do it. Don’t worry about making something great, or being super proficient. The only way to learn and get better is to practice. 90% of things I write I usually end up hating, and out of the 10% I like enough to use for something, usually 50% of that I end up hating years later anyway. It’s worth it though for the stuff I’m truly proud of, and the process itself is often part of the point for me. Sometimes just the act of creating can be enough.
Music:
