Jacob Davich is a promising singer-songwriter, who has been creating a luscious folk-enduced sound throughoutu the past couple of years. Intially making his mark in the world in the form of acting, Davich has been prominently building a whole new name for himself in music. With his latest single in tow, "My Father's Gun," he starts off 2017 with an enticing listen, that gets into the very core of his heart and soul. I had the pleasure of catching up with Jacob Davich this month for an insightful interview which you will find below.
What is the inspiration behind your new single, "My Father's Gun"?
At the time of writing this song I was in a very strange head space. I had just come off of a long streak of writing songs that were beginning to feel repetitive, and that was really bothering me. So I put myself into a head space that basically said, "Whatever you've been doing, do the opposite." So from there I went from writing a series of folky and inspirational songs that were getting boring, to this sort of dark, almost cowboy style of writing. While that was an experimental idea for me I found it to be very helpful!
Known notably before your prolific acting career before launching into music, what made you discover your passion for creating folk-laced sounds?
It was a very slow and well developed transition actually. I fell into acting without even looking for it when I was about 12, I just randomly got the first itunes commercial off the street and then one thing led to another. When I was about 15 I started listening to Fleetwood Mac, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Hendrix etc. I started playing guitar and continued acting until I was about 22 and over time music became more important to me than acting, and frankly I'm a better musician than I ever was an actor anyway.
I really enjoy the new single! What was the inspiration that went into creating it? What places in your mind did you channel to create it?
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I really set out to write something completely different than I ever had before. So I started messing around with these classic minor chords, and I found a sort of haunting melody. Once I sat down and forced myself to come up with the story I knew I had a song I could be proud of. However the most thrilling process this song went through was for sure the recording process. Hearing the strings, horns, and those Marty Robbins style backup vocals get layered onto the track, was truly a thrill in itself.
What are your favorite venues to perform at? and if you had to choose, do you feel more comfortable in the studio or onstage, and why?
My favorite venues I've played have been more on the intimate side. I really really enjoy playing to an audience that sits quietly and listens, but that's a lot to ask for sometimes. So if I could just play for people who really appreciate the live music experience I would only do that. But the studio is awesome too! I enjoy trying to put together the puzzle pieces of a new record in the studio. Because it is a puzzle! Working with fellow great musicians in the studio to pick the right puzzle pieces for each song is definitely something I live for.
Critically acclaimed from the start of your music career, what are you hoping to accomplish with the new record?
Along with continually building my fan base and increasing my value as A performer I'd really like to get a publishing deal. I enjoy being a professional songwriter and really like the idea of writing for other artists and having other artists record my songs. Of course I'd always save a few special songs for myself!
How do you write your songs? What is the process like? Does it take you days, weeks, even longer? How does the perfect Jacob Davich piece come together?
My writing process is very... how do I say this, open to interpretation. I like to mix it up. I once read that Paul Simon said that when he was younger in the Simon and Garfunkel years, he would always write lyrics first and then music. He was basically writing poems and then putting them to music. Then later during his solo career he started writing music first and then lyrics. So I believe inspiration changes, and I like to let mine change. Sometimes a mood will strike me, or an idea that I have to get down. Sometimes I just have to be a professional and write a song whether I'm inspired or not. Whatever it takes to get a song down right?
What inspired you to pick up the guitar? How did you create a sound throughout time that is so uniquely your own? Do you play any other instruments as well?
I was really into hip hop when I was in middle school, and if you asked me in 6th grade if I wanted to play guitar I'd probably say nahhh no thanks. But then for god knows what reason when I was in 8th grade I suddenly became obsessed with music from the 60's and 70's. The first two songs on my itunes purchased list were "Welcome to Atlanta" by Ludacris, and "American Pie" by Don McLean, so it was an interesting transition. It wasn't long into 8th grade that I discovered James Taylor and took to those acoustic guitar finger picking styles with great haste. I also took after Mark Knopfler's strat electric guitar style. A couple years later I started bugging my pops to teach me how to play all these wonderful Billy Joel and Elton John songs on the piano, fortunately for me my pops is one of the best piano players I'll ever see so he obliged. I learned most songs one note at a time and fortunately for me I have a good memory so I remember most all the songs I learned throughout those years.
This year is already shaping up to be a huge year for you. What do you hope to accomplish in the New Year?
I hope to really sink my my teeth into the "Industry" of music this year. I hope to make new relationships with supervisors and publishers, and finagle myself a publishing deal. I hope to write songs for other artists, and hopefully have some other artists contribute to my career if I'm lucky. Most of all I hope to start an ongoing conversation about the quality of music that we all enjoy, and hope that my music makes it into that conversation! Much love ya'll, thank you for your time.
