After releasing his 2019 breakthrough hit “Honeypie,” Jawny has been carving out an area for himself within the alt-pop world. The artist, born Jacob Lee-Nicholas Sullenger, has been chopping his tooth in Los Angeles ever since — signing to Interscope Records and releasing two energetic initiatives, For Abby and The Story of Hugo. All of it has led to his debut album It’s Never Fair, Always True (out March 3), which additional showcased his sonic experimentation, hopeless romantic-tinged songwriting and indie pop ethos.
Ahead of his headlining tour with Wallice on March 10, Jawny broke down each observe from his new LP.
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From ill-fated like to deep seated anxiousness, Jawny breaks down what impressed and influenced his debut album.
“Intro”
Self-explanatory I do know, however that is what opens the file. A mantra repeating itself time and again, nearly prefer it’s a dream state and the individual dreaming it’s making an attempt to say one thing sufficient occasions that it turns into true.
“Strawberry Chainsaw”
I assumed “Strawberry Chainsaw” could be the right strategy to open this file. It’s upbeat, it kicks off the story being instructed for this file and units the tone lyrically. The listener who hears this album for the primary time can have an image painted of any individual who’s deeply in love with any individual and loves them via their good qualities and the unhealthy. It’s all downhill from right here. Love doesn’t final ceaselessly on this case.
“Lalala”
This was truly the primary tune I wrote for this file in 2021 (very long time in the past, wow). It was my first time again writing in a very long time as a result of I had taken off to clear my head and discover inspiration once more. This tune got here so quick to me, like a whirlwind. After it was carried out I knew that this was the start of one thing. I didn’t know what simply but however I do know proper then and there that I had begun writing my subsequent file and that this wasn’t simply making music for the sake of creating it. It had a function and I had a drive once more.
“Wide Eyed”
This was the final tune I completed for this file. I knew story-wise by this level what the through-line of this file was and the place it was going after which I made a model of this tune that’s nothing just like the one which’s out at present. There was a complete completely different post-chorus part, the refrain was fully completely different and I truly left the studio very joyful and happy with it however that didn’t cease me from coming within the subsequent day and altering every little thing and it turned the tune you hear at present.
“Adios”
“Adios” is the start of the top in a method; at the very least storyline-wise. I feel it may be my favourite tune on the file. Something in regards to the refrain resonates with me so strongly and the second half of the refrain is definitely lyrics from a totally completely different tune that I had written a 12 months prior that simply wasn’t working for me. I’m very joyful all of it labored out although as a result of now that is certainly one of my favourite songs to carry out stay.
“Take It Back,” that includes Beck
It’s Jawny, and it’s Beck. What else is there to say? This deserves to go No. 1 on alt radio.
“Death Is a DJ”
My total thought for this tune was to show my anxiousness about dying and getting older into an upbeat tune that I’d be compelled to sing and play each night time on tour. Exposure remedy, if you’ll. Well, I did it, and I suppose I’ve to go put my cash the place my mouth is.
“Giving Up on You”
I made this tune the identical week in the identical studio that I made broad eyed. If you discover the drums in each songs sound considerably related as a result of it was the identical mic setup in the identical room. I wrote the road “Flowers grow in cobblestone” desirous about The Mamas & the Papas like “There’s a rose in Spanish Harlem”.
“True”
I wrote “True” on my guitar with my voice memo app open on the highest of an deserted zoo animal exhibit in Los Angeles California. There is an outdated zoo that has been became a park/path space and I climbed all the best way as much as the highest of what certainly one of these outdated rock buildings reveals was, pulled out my guitar and began messing round with the phrases and development that ultimately turned “True.”
“Everything”
I wrote “Everything” speaking about a few of the anxieties I had spoken about earlier however this time in a extra critical method. This wasn’t an upbeat tune. This didn’t have any of the tongue in cheek strains. This was extra actual, and I had no intention of ever placing this tune out. After the day I wrote it, I saved it shut for a few months earlier than displaying it to somebody who I belief loads and was snug sufficient round to let him hear. He made me play it for him 3 times in a row earlier than convincing me to let folks hear this tune and put it out into the world.
“Fall in Love”
I wrote “Fall in Love” three and a half years in the past. Well, I attempted to. I wrote an exquisite tune however saved making an attempt to show it into one thing that it wasn’t. I’d attempt to make it an indie tune. I’d attempt to make it a pop-leaning tune. None of these variations had been unhealthy however all of them simply felt like a parody of what the tune was actually about. I saved discovering myself going again to my piano and enjoying it for about two years till lastly a pal of mine checked out me and stated, “If you like the song like that, why not just record the piano ballad?”
“I Look Better When I’m in Love”
I had the road “Ashtray glitter on my tongue” for a few months however no tune I had written spoke to me sufficient to make use of it as a jumping-off level. That was till the day this tune took place. Something about it spoke to me that day so strongly that I felt like I wasn’t even writing a tune, the tune was already written and I used to be simply uncovering it piece by piece. It can be a part of a 10-minute cohesive tune piece that’s damaged up into two songs. The final being “Selfish Hate.”
“Selfish Hate”
The day that I wrote this I knew it was the finale for this album. There is a narrative for this one however I feel I wish to have one factor from this album that I maintain for me.
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