A Dirty Dozen with JASMINE CAIN – November 2019
According to a recent press release: “Nashville based Alternative Pop / Rock artist JASMINE CAIN has released the official lyric video for “Let it Go.” The first single off of her upcoming, seventh studio album, SEVEN, “Let it Go” is available to stream / download via The Label Group / INgrooves. Multi-Award winning, Sturgis, SD, native, Jasmine Cain moved to Nashville in 2003 and went to work paving the way for female fronted rock in the motorcycle events industry. Jasmine covers everything from Classic and Modern Rock to revved up Pop and Metal.” We get Jasmine to discuss new music, influences, and much more…
1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?
My thought process behind the creation of SEVEN was to do something outside the box for me. I purposely wanted to work with writers that were completely different from me in order to achieve peel back a new layer of the onion. I felt like in the very first writing situation we had achieved that uniqueness that would ultimately be our main vein for this record. It had programming and more of a pop element than any of our previous albums. However, there is a standard that I always try to uphold. A good song is a good song, no matter how it is performed. That will always be #1. I think any first time listener will recognize a good song and appreciate the realness of that. As far as any hidden gems for diehards, they will immediately recognize any song I’ve written with Paige Logan. She and I have written at least one song for every single album of my career.
2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?
I had a very vivid dream when I was about 4 years old. I dreamed that I was on a stage as an adult with a huge crowd and I was playing bass (which I didn’t know how to play at the time) and totally into it. I then walked to the front of the stage and jumped into the crowd (which I do to this day) and disappeared into the masses, but my spirit floated above the crowd and I could see everything from the sky. Everyone was having so much fun and the energy was so alive and positive. From that day on, every time I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered it the same way – a rockstar!
3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?
I’m a complete melting pot of what I grew up with and what I’ve learned over the years. My initial introductions to music were nothing but country music… old school country, like Willie Nelson. Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings. My parents burned all my rock albums that my older brother would bring me to listen to. My brothers and I had a little country band and would perform at municipal bars all over South Dakota. We loved it! Later when I left home, I joined a bluegrass music show during the summer to make money before I went to college. I yodeled 7 nights a week and learned about bluegrass and celtic music. I was completely fascinated by the instrumentation and the skill of these players. I learned how to project as a singer and really “feel” the music a few years later in a blues band and I immediately went out and bought every blues album I could find to study. That lead me to a mainstream jazz project which I absolutely loved. It was so different than anything else I had done. Ultimately I found my home in rock n roll, where I could incorporate everything I learned and studied over the years into the songs I was writing and performing. You can’t deny the energy that rock music brings to the table. It’s infectious. It’s an escape from reality. I feel completely comfortable here. But when writing, I still bring in all the elements of the styles I’ve learned in the past. I love having so many colors to paint with.
4. Who would be your main five musical influences?
Chris Cornell, Brandi Carlisle, Steven Wilson, Willie Nelson, and Led Zeppelin.
5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?
Can I bring back Chris Cornell? That would be the ultimate dream for me. I have studied his songs and songwriting style for my entire life. His lyrics are pure poetry and the angst in his voice is just so real and emotional. The sound of his voice immediately puts me in a head space that’s almost a meditation. He forces you to really listen to what he’s saying. He was brilliant and I still can’t believe we’ll never hear another song from that man. That sucks.
6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?
I would describe our music as high energy with intelligent lyric content in a driving melodic rock format. I don’t think I’ve ever had a comparison to anyone that made me cringe or I’ve disagreed with. If they did, I’ve already forgotten about it. I try not to dwell on negative things.
7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?
I love being able to create music that can change a person’s life in 3 minutes. It’s the ultimate superpower.
8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?
We tour so much, that there is rarely an acoustic jam after the show or outside of a rehearsal. Our guitarist will play his electric unplugged just for warmups or exercises to keep his hands working. Honestly, our ears are happy for the rest. Kevin is our drinker and so there usually a brewery in our travels at some point during the day. I love to cook, so when we are somewhere longer than a few days, I will cook. But, it’s rare that we are anywhere for more than a day, so most times we just hit local restaurants or have food backstage on our rider. PK and Jordan are gamers, so that’s the first thing that happens when we arrive somewhere with a TV. I set up an office somewhere and Kevin cracks open a beer. That’s pretty much the scene.
9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?
I don’t usually get star struck, but sometimes I feel like I don’t want to bother someone that we are performing with. Most recently it was Tom Keifer. I’ve met him several times before too, I don’t know why I just couldn’t bring myself to approach him. He’s a bit intimidating to me, but like the sweetest guy ever. I have no idea why I feel that way.
10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?
I would own a coffee shop somewhere and when I felt like playing, I would just grab my guitar and play songs I had written. It would be such a creative and relaxed atmosphere. I feel like I could do that or else I would probably be a full time gardener or something. I like dirt. Lol.
11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?
Early on, I trusted people that I thought had my best interest at heart and I was wrong. I let them lead me on for a long time and they never came through and I was angry at them for dragging me around, but more angry at myself for allowing it. I have way less tolerance for bullshit now and I recognize things when they start to happen. I realize that time is much too short to allow that to happen.
12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?
Wow, tough question. I think any Tool or Puscifer album would be incredible to be involved in just because of the great lengths they go to in order to get the perfect sound and vibe for a song. It just seems like it would be creative and fun. But, could you imagine being part of the Vulgar Display of Power album by Pantera? What a fucking rush that would be! Those dudes were just fun to be around anyway, so I’m sure the recording process was a blast. Sign me up for that.
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Category: Interviews