A Dirty Dozen with JESSE PROCACCINI from THE LAST SECOND SAVE – April 2023

According to a recent press release: “The Last Second Save was created by songwriter Jesse Procaccini to channel his creative vision and inner-most thoughts. The 2-song single “Baltimore,” produced by Will Beasley and Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, The Dangerous Summer), has elevated his music and opened the door to a new era in his expression. In the single “Baltimore,” Jesse teams up with fellow Maryland songwriter Ben DeHan to pen verses worthy of that city’s literary history. This song illuminates the possible by imagining what’s right around the corner and a new future that starts with a first step. B-side “Next Best Thing” is an upbeat journey through an old memory whose verses are reminiscent of The Starting Line covering Tom Petty.” We get Jesse to discuss new music, influences, and 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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest release was a two-song single including the songs “Baltimore” and “Next Best Thing.”  “Baltimore” features Ben Dehan who is a Maryland pop punk songwriter best known for his days on Warped Tour with his band American Diary. The first song “Baltimore” captures the literal world of the city of Baltimore and how growing up in a tough situation can make you better in the long run. “Next Best Thing” is about growing up in a broken home and desperately trying to escape. Both these songs were recorded by Will Beasley in Richmond, VA. Mixed and mastered by Paul Leavitt who is best known for working with Yellowcard, Senses Fail, The Used and The Dangerous Summer.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

When I was 12 years old my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She thankfully is still alive and fighting. As a kid I needed an outlet to talk about the stuff going on behind the scenes in my life. Music, more importantly writing music became that escape for me. I was able to write lyrics and songs expressing how I felt about my current situations and sometimes write about characters that weren’t me that had a different life than mine.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Growing up in the early 2000’s punk era I gravitated a lot towards bands like Relient K, The Starting Line, Dashboard Confessional and Blink 182. Getting to see Relient K play in a run down American Legion as a teen captivated me. The show was overcrowded, loud and dirty. Being my first show ever and hearing the crowd sing all the words to every song was exhilarating. I wanted a crowd to sing my songs with me someday.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Chester Bennington without a doubt. His vocal/screaming ability has and never will be replicated. It’s a shame he’s gone.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

Video games on PC and I play soccer twice a week. Music, Video Games and Soccer are my weekly therapy sessions.

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?

My lyrics try to be upfront and center. I want you to feel something as a listener. We’ve all experienced love, loss, breakups, and tragedy. I want you to feel those emotions when listening to my lyrics. Someone once told me that I sound like an out of tune Wish version of Mark Hoppus… all I can do is laugh… and nod my head in agreement.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

John (drummer) brings the food and booze. Damian (guitar) shows off his muscles and would bring an electric with one of those mini amps to play on. Andrew (bass) tends to leave his sunglasses in random places.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I took a picture with MC Hammer about 10 years ago. He wasn’t wearing parachute pants.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best thing about being a musician is meeting the people that are impacted by my songs. Getting direct messages from people around the world saying that a song of mine got them through a tough day means everything to me. I would probably work with computers if I wasn’t a musician. Technology is awesome!

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Do you listen to other genres of music besides pop punk? Yes, I do. My Spotify playlist is filled with Hip/Hop, Country, and Rap. I think rap lyrically can be so intricate and the storytelling behind modern country songs grabs me somehow.

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?

I think one of my biggest regrets is not getting my music out to my peers earlier on. I was self-conscious about what other people thought and I took a break from music for many years. I started playing live again in 2022 and it’s been over 10 years since the last time. I’d tell my younger self to put yourself out there early, develop and don’t worry about what other people think.

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?

My dad and I used to listen to Tom Petty on an old vinyl record player. Would love to sit in on the Full Moon Fever album recording session. I played “Free Fallin’” on repeat an entire summer in my teens. Even had the record player outside at one point and the vinyl warped/melted in the sun… sorry dad.

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Category: Interviews