Project Description

Interview with

JACOB LEE

Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs

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“The thoughts that skim across the surface of our minds are stones that usually, eventually sink. Jacob Lee, not only graced with the ability to catch these stones, has discovered how to keep them afloat, drag them to shore, & carve them into something even more beautiful”

With his sophomore record near completion, Jacob Lee has released four independent projects since his debut in 2015 – accumulating over 250 million streams/views worldwide. Mentioned by The Brag as ‘One of the biggest artists in Australia you’ve never heard of’, Jacob has intentionally flown under the scope of the industry, developing a relationship with fans akin to that of family. With lyricism deeply engrained in philosophy, theology & thought, Jacob Lee has shone a torch on meaningful storytelling like no other in his genre.

Whilst selling out shows back-to-back throughout Europe, running his own independent record label, writing for himself & others, working on Lowly Lyricist, (his clothing & canvas brand), authoring his first book & touring the globe, Jacob is soon to finalise ‘Conscience’, his 2^nd full length album. Described as the perfect evolution from ‘Philosophy’, it has been said that Jacob has successfully put into words the questions & doubts so many individuals his age experience. Amidst this, Jacob will also be revealing his acoustic ‘Conscious Sessions’ orchestral record, a featured remix package of his most sought-after songs, & his first ever book – ‘Jacob Lee’s book of Lyricism – (Vol 1)’.

Supporting the likes of Jonathan Davis (Korn), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Dennis Lloyd, Una Healy (The Saturdays), Boyce Avenue, Sick Puppies, Jamie Lawson & Sheppard throughout the UK & AUS, Jacob Lee has become a voice for those who crave more from life. His evocative way of storytelling & unique perspective has resonated with millions and painted the landscape for younger artists to do the same. Jacob’s proven ability to organically build legions of loyal fans through authentic, thought provoking music has placed him as one of the most influential young songwriters of this era.

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For any new fans, where did it all begin? When did you start writing your own music? Has it always been a part of your life?
I would say my love for music began with two separate passions. As a child I intuitively fell in love with words. I would seek out pictures or sketches through Google images & develop imaginary worlds from the subjects that inspired me. Drawings of birds, or ships, or personified objects became protagonists in my short stories & allowed me to refine a creative expression before I even knew what ‘creative expression’ meant. I’m unfortunately unable to recall the first time I deliberately sat down to write. (This is probably ideal as it would’ve been dreadful). As far as I can recollect, there was no defining moment that pushed me toward this particular passion. I think I was just lucky to find something I loved early on in life.
The other side of the coin is the joy I found in singing. As I grew up, I never really cared for instruments. My father taught me acoustic guitar, & I played French horn for a few years in primary school, yet for whatever reason, I never felt as called to those as I did vocals. I was in every choir the school had to offer; every local talent quest, & uploaded numerous covers to YouTube in the early days of its inception. It brought me purpose equally as much as writing did, & eventually I discovered that I could pair the two, initiating a path with lyrics.

Do you find writing is a chore, or do song ideas just come to you naturally?
It honestly varies. When I was starting out, writing music was only ever something I did when I felt a calling to do so. It never felt like a job, because it wasn’t yet. As I established myself in the industry, I came to realise that the continuous demand to bring out music sat higher than the frequency in which I was inspired. This realisation introduced willpower & self-discipline to the art as I sought to uncover ways to remain as creatively stimulated as possible.
Even though I feel I’ve definitely discovered a fair few methods which inject creative energy into my system, sometimes you just don’t feel like being creative. This is where it helps to be proficient in other areas of the business. An entrepreneurial mind is equally as valuable as a creative mind nowadays, & refining both is the first way to ensure your independent journey stays lucrative.

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What music did you listen to growing up? Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
When we were kids, my parents would frequently drive my brother Luke & I to Noosa or Mooloolaba. Each & every commute was met with the same soundtrack. Frank Sinatra & Robbie Williams. ‘It was a very good year’ & ‘Mr Bojangles’ are two songs that spring to mind from my childhood & are the gateway for so many memories. As of late however, watching Childish Gambino live at Splendour was an absolute eye-opener of how an artist should perform. Absolutely miraculous human.

You are scheduled to release your latest single “Silhouette” on May 1st. Can you share its origin and evolution?
I am, & I’m very excited about it.
I found myself inspired & alone one morning early 2019 & began writing something sad & melancholic. Despite the electronic nature of Silhouette, she was written acoustic, & performed that way for months prior to it arriving at the studio. I’m unsure what prompted me to write such downcast lyrics, I wasn’t experiencing anything at the time that would’ve inspired such a sombre theme… It kind of just emerged, as most of my songs do. Subconscious & intuitive. Once we began testing it out in the studio, we felt its potential lay within realms I’d not really ventured before. We dove down a dark, electronic rabbit hole that had us using vocal chops, vocoders, DFAM’s & my Moog Matriarch, which was completely new for a song of mine. I’m thrilled we decided to follow our intuition on this one though, & I’ll most definitely be delving further into this sonic landscape for future albums.

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We love our consciousness at Amnplify and I was fascinated by “The Ten Chapters Of Conscience”. How did you decide to put this together? What intentions were in mind during its development?
As someone who dives pretty far into philosophy, this album was bound to happen at some stage. My prior work is quite literally titled ‘Philosophy’, & my label, ‘Philosophical Records’, so it’s not like I’m approaching it ambiguously haha. Despite the fact that there are multiple songs on ‘Conscience’ that are unphilosophical, this record emerged at a time where I was enquiring endlessly about the fabric of existence. I’d ask myself frequently whether any of what we expose ourselves to holds any purpose or weight. I arrived at a place where I felt much of it didn’t, & the only reason purpose flickers within us is because the alternative would be terribly mundane. Therefore, to avoid living one hundred years of boredom we manufacture a purpose, place it upon our shoulders & tell ourselves we have much to do. When we don’t really…
Conscience (The song), is a dialogue with God. As is ‘Guidance’, & even though I wouldn’t classify myself religious, the speaking to a higher power seems very much engrained within us as a people, which is another concept that raises questions. All in all, ‘The ten chapters of Conscience’ are an accumulation of thought structures. They are ten songs written in a similar timeframe that helped me develop a deeper understanding of myself & the world around me.

Without getting too personal, can you briefly describe your conscious evolution and how that has affected your song writing and performance?
This is a really great question.
I’m quite lucky in that I’ve had the liberty of seeing quite a bit of the world. I’ve toured Europe multiple times, seen various parts of the States. Have spent time in Morocco, Kenya, Egypt, Japan & New Zealand, & have trekked up to the Everest base camp in Nepal. I’m of the belief that so much subconscious learning occurs when you’re exposed to a vast array of cultures. You’re forced to instantly recognise that your perspective is merely a drop in the ocean of perspectives, & each & every view is valid (Unless it justifies the emotional or physical hurting of someone). No matter how right you think you are, I’ve realised that a philosopher should never fully arrive at a conclusion. There is always a viewpoint you’re yet to reach.
I’d say my reflective thoughts & inquisitive mindset has definitely put me in a place to create introspective music. I’ve never been able to fathom the concept of ‘filler songs’, on an album. I feel as though each & every work should be single worthy & add some level of value to the listeners life. Whether it be in cheering them up, improving their perspective, introducing them to a new idea, sitting with them whilst they’re upset, or providing a particular atmosphere. This isn’t to say all music has to be deep, though I’ve never really liked the idea of content for content sake.

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Your tour was cancelled due to COVID-19. Like most people you probably have more time free atm. What are you doing in isolation that’s non music? & do you have a view on the pandemic?
Hasn’t it been so fascinating watching how people have reacted to this epidemic… The majority of the planet has simultaneously been exposed to the same testing circumstance, & as dire as this situation is, it’s been very interesting watching how the general consensus has reacted. Noble qualities are only displayed in times of uncertainty, & I’m glad to say I feel many people have displayed compassion, bravery, curiosity & kept a level-head thus far in the quarantine.
I also feel as though isolation has forced people to come to terms with what’s actually important. Only a month ago would my social media feed be bombarded with the world ‘hustle’. ‘Outwork everyone’, ‘Put in more time than your competition’, etc, etc… Yet four weeks later those quotes have taken a backseat as people have been forced to halt & revaluate what genuinely matters. I’ve watched artistry flourish, quality time with family increase, the world & the people in it have allowed themselves to reset for the first time in decades. As I recently said in a social media post: “To see the picture clearly, you must remove yourself from it”, & the tragedy of this virus has forced us all into a new perspective. I believe good will come from this new perspective.
Regarding my time spent outside of music, it’s minimal. I’m currently writing my third full-length project & I literally haven’t left my studio. Although I did build a home gym when my partner & I moved into our property last year, so that’s been a blessing. My partner Nikki is also about a fortnight from giving birth, so making sure she’s cosy & happy is a priority of mine. Apart from that, I’m teaching myself piano, practicing guitar & filming things that don’t involve more than two people… Which has turned out to be a bit of a mission.
Oh, I’m also excited to announce that we’ve been working hard on a ‘Conscience’ Remix package, as well as my ‘Conscious Sessions’ acoustic album, Orchestral record, first book, & the launch of my clothing & canvas brand, ‘Lowly Lyricist’.

Getting back to music and the Covid effects, how did you enjoy your “No Tour” Tour? The full acoustic set and live Q&As proved popular. Do you think this break will create opportunities that you will keep when everything gets back to normal, or are they just stop gaps for the moment?
My career has taken a bit of a different path to most musicians… My income is mostly online, which means I’m quite accustomed to live streaming & broadcasts. In this regard, not much has changed for me at all. Although I do feel touring artists will now discover new ways to interact with fans, which will definitely prove beneficial in the long run.

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What are your plans or hopes for the coming year given the uncertainty of the future?
My booking agency is aware of the speed in which I’d like to jump back on tour when bans are lifted. Two of my tours have been cancelled at the very last second & as annoying as it was at the time, it’s made me so eager to get back out in front of people. Right before the world realised how serious Covid-19 was, I flew to Rome, only to be turned straight back around as all flights onward to Barcelona were cancelled. 45 accumulative hours in the sky to land right where I left off. I kind of liked it though.
Seeing as all travel is off limits until further notice, my goal is to just release as much music as possible. I have an incredibly talented team here on the Gold Coast who are working hard to ensure the release schedule stays on track… All in all, with the acoustic sessions, remix packages & such, I’m hoping to distribute over 35 tracks this year.

If you could work with any musician or band, alive or dead, who would you choose? And why?
Childish Gambino, because of absolutely every reason there is.

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What is the best thing about performing to a live audience, large or small?
The fact that you can see their eyes. Replying to comments online is nice, though unfortunately it’s so easy to forget you’re responding to a real, breathing, emotional individual. Deeper human connection is something I crave, & there’s no other setting quite like a show. When people arrive at a venue, it doesn’t just feel like a large group of strangers. The similar interest promotes an energy that makes friendships form easier, conversation flow more freely, emotions more socially acceptable. Everyone there has been moved by the same art & the energy always feels so much more tangible.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Right now? SYRE – Jaden
Artist – Can you guess? Childish Gambino
Movie – Revenant
Place to visit – The top of Everest (One day)
Venue to play – Red Rocks
Food – My mums crumbed chicken.
Drink – Almond Milk Latte
Person in History – Marcus Aurelius
Tattoo – I’m getting all my music slowly tattooed up my body. The next piece is the ‘Philosophy’ cover art.

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Check out JACOB LEE below
Website | Facebook  | Instagram  | Twitter 

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AMNPLIFY – DB