Jesse Smith & The Holy Ghost - Sound In The Signals Interview
You’ve been working on a new EP for your new project Jesse Smith & The Holy Ghost. When do you expect to have the EP out and what has been the process of writing music for this project? For fans of your previous material what can they expect to be different and similar from your past projects to this new project?
I’m hoping to have the EP out sooner than later. We are working out all the details of a partnership as far as a label and distribution. I’m really excited to get it out! The whole process of making this music has been an amazing experience. I started writing again at the end of last year. Matt Holmes and I started talking about a recording session and stuff just developed beautifully. We holed up in this little house in the middle of nowhere and hit it. The songs are just from the heart. Going into it I didn’t know what to expect, whether it was just for me or what it was. It’s a little different from the stuff I’ve been a part of in the past. It’s a blend of old and new. Most of the lyrics come from a personal place. It’s definitely not metal.
You have been out playing a few shows with this new project. What has the crowd reaction been to the new stuff?
It’s been great. Lots of love from the crowds. We are just a baby band so we are kind of figuring out the live show as we go. But it’s been great.
If you had to pick one song you think people should check out from your new project that would be the best starting point what song would you pick and why?
I think a song called “the lows”. It’s kind of a blend of what’s going on across the board. I wrote it about a buddy of mine. He got into some bad stuff and it’s about how I felt responsible for influencing that kind of lifestyle. The cool thing is that guy is now my bass player. And he’s healthier.
You are really one of the big iconic figures of nineties metal music (and definitely one of the more important drummers of that era of metal – in my opinion). Reflecting back on that now how does that affect the music you are currently making?
Awe thanks for the kind words. It’s nice to have some experience from the past as far as writing/recording/touring. But other than the fans that are at least open to hearing something new from me, I don’t really think about the past. I’m very proud of what we did in Zao. The good times and what we all learned from the bad times. I’ve tried to learn from my mistakes. I am trying to live for the now. I’ve learned a lot about myself, love, forgiveness and letting go. I feel more accountable for my words and actions these days. I think there will always be those little pieces of my musical influences in what im doing. Darker textures, riffs, rhythm. I sit down to write and whatever comes out is what im working with.
You were in ZAO for a long time and then you started a band called Gods shortly after. After Gods you kind of kept out of the spotlight for a while. What made you decide to start this new project and what is your overall message with the new project?
After I left ZAO and did the Gods stuff I was just lost. I felt like I was misunderstood. I was bitter and an addict. A joke. I just needed to figure stuff out, and unfortunately it took a lot of time, work and hundreds of slips. I really thought I’d never make music again. I did a lot of counseling, meetings, therapy, shrinks. And at the end of it all the final step for me was just being alone. For the first time in my life I was alone. Nobody left to blame you know? So I moved out to this farm and burned fires, just thought about all of it…. My life and the people I value. My family. What I had become and what I had come out of. And that’s when I started playing my guitar again.
The songs for the most part are about addiction, hope, loss,god, love. The only message I have is I want to be a good person. I want people to realize they matter. That we all have value. That love and forgiveness are real. I want to make music that people can feel something when the listen. Hopefully people will enjoy it.
Vinyl has become massively popular again. With it lots of albums have been getting re-issued. Broken Circles has been reissuing the Tooth And Nail ZAO albums. Have you had the chance to check out the pressings at all? What are your thoughts on the ZAO albums being pressed on vinyl?
I’ve heard about that. I would love to get a copy of those. I think it’s great that people still take interest in those records.
I guess that about wraps it up. Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. Do you have any closing comments you’d like to make?
Thank you so much for the interview. I’m excited about the rest of the year. We are doing some festival dates and a small run in September so check us out if you can. I hit the studio 8/16 to do another EP. It’s gonna be sweet. Thanks again.
www.jessesmithmusic.com
twitter@Jesse_SmithHoly
http://www.facebook.com/JesseSmithandTheHolyGhost
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