Where are you currently based?
Earth. But to be specific about it, I would say, Sydney, Australia.
How did you first start playing music?
I was encouraged into it at first, but gave up quickly after six months or so. Then one night, I saw the music video for Nirvana’s – Smells Like Teen Spirit on Rage. I realised I had a cheap electric guitar and crappy amplifier, covered in dust, that I could use tomorrow to express my angst.
What’s been happening recently?
Not much I guess. I’m kind of a recluse, but I want to record some new songs soon.
Your latest single ‘Evergreen’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I suppose my sound is punk, alternative rock with an early ’90s spirit and a twist of psychedelia. A lot of my influences come from all the grunge bands of that time. If I could find a time machine on eBay, I would prefer to go back then.
How did you go about writing Evergreen?
It was my first love and it was a tumultuous relationship. So, that’s what inspired me. I focused on that. Dug deep down into my memories and created Evergreen. For me at least, a song comes from the gut. It flows out from my veins, it hurts a little. Hopefully, the listener can feel the sincerity in it. I didn’t think too hard about the lyrics or the music. I just channeled my energy into my emotions, then everything spewed out from me. It’s a weird sort of meditation, but it works for me.
What does this single mean to you?
Evergreen deals with being in a tumultuous relationship and how it can drain you with its ups and downs. So, it is something deeply personal and means a lot to me, as the song is autobiographical.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
I recorded Evergreen in a friend’s studio basement. It was cold, rainy, and a miserable day. I recorded the song within half a day. The guitar parts were done first, then the drums, and then lastly I did two vocal takes. I produced Evergreen myself. It was mixed and mastered on the same day. I slightly remastered the track one night just over a month ago, because originally there was a guitar solo at the beginning of the track, but I decided to cut it out for the single, in order to make it more marketable for radio.
How did you approach the recording/production process?
I will practise the songs I want to record repeatedly, usually till I’m nauseated by the tracks. Songs are 100-percent complete when I decide to record them. It’s pretty simple, if you know the songs so much that it makes you nauseous. Oh yeah, lots of lollies and fizzy drinks help.
Please tell us about how you filmed and edited the music video:
Footage was self-filmed, taken from the past. I tried to give it good vibes, full of youthful fervour and fun punk-rock energy, but also a dark and chaotic visual to acknowledge the roller-coaster ride of it. I edited it using iMovie. I overlaid the videos and changed the colours. I think it was a bit unhealthy for me to revisit. It has a strong dose of purity though.
Where and when did you learn to film and edit?
I learnt it during the start of the pandemic in Sydney, but I guess it started a bit earlier than that, probably with my first single off of my debut EP, Gia , a song I wrote about Gia Carangi. It just grew after that, in regards to my skill in editing. Self-filming is pretty easy or filming itself, it is more about deciding what parts to use, I feel is the key in expressing the song visually and then combining it together with other components as a whole. Covid, lockdowns, and restrictions, gave me the reason and motivation to make my own music videos. So, filming and editing was self-taught.
How did the concept for the music video come about?
I just wanted to make it autobiographical, so, it’s a two minute glimpse into my own hazy memory and a true visual representation of the song itself.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
No one in particular at the moment. I don’t have Spotify, so mostly my old CD collection that is on my phone. Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Hole, Pixies,The Breeders, Iggy Pop, Ramones. I feel the days of buying a CD because of a single you like are done and dusted. It’s basically for free out there on the interweb, which makes it hard as a songwriter, it doesn’t feel as special for me as it used to.
What do you like to do away from music?
I like to spend time with my cats. I used to paint, expressionism sort of stuff, but stopped once I made the decision to focus on songwriting instead, however, I use a lot of old paintings for my singles cover artwork now. I sometimes like to play video games, but I haven’t played anything for a long time. The last thing I played was The Quarry.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2022 going into 2023?
I hate looking too far ahead, but there will be more songs to come and I should start touring.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
My favourite food right now would be nachos or Violet Crumble. Any cafe that has a nice view for me to stare out the window and daydream.
JOVI SKYLER – EVERGREEN (official music video)
https://www.facebook.com/joviskylermusic/