INTERVIEW WITH

JAY PETA

Title

Can you introduce yourself and tell us who you are and what you do for those that may not know you?

What’s up, I’m Jay. I sing in Crush Your Soul and Mindforce and produce hip hop (JAYPETA) shit too. I play drums too, but not in a band currently. 

You joked on a podcast about your dad being wrong about palm muting.  I agree with that.  You sound close to him and I’m assuming you've found over time that he’s right about some things. What’s one of the greatest life lessons he’s taught you?

Oh man, great question…honestly, my father and mother have really taught me everything about life.  So many great lessons.  One important lesson is that family is important, but complicated.  Nothing is easy. Another is cliche - never give up, there is always a way. 

You love hip hop and hardcore, which are seemingly very different, but in my opinion have a lot in common. What do you love about each genre? Why do you think you gravitated towards these types of music as a kid instead of something else? 

I love so much about each genre and at times even dislike some things, but mostly love the expression of raw emotion and the importance of style.  Growing up, my house was filled with 70s rock, Italian music, and Motown, so I was searching for my own music.  When I first found hip-hop, which was much earlier than HC, it still was somewhat not mainstream and dangerous.  I was transfixed with the delivery, groove and lyrics of both genres, and the styles of aggressive expression. 

Do you feel that hardcore and/or hip hop have contributed to your personal style? Was there a certain band, artist, etc. that you can name specifically as an influence on how you dressed at any point in your life?

Oh yeah, in every way.  I definitely was influenced by WuTang videos and back covers of HC albums of the time.  The biggest influence on my style though was my friend group in the 90s while I was a teenager.  An inner circle around bands like Death Threat, End Of One, All Out War and other lesser knowns.  Most of these guys were a little older than me and were into boosting Polo, graffiti, and underground hip hop.  They showed me the way and I came into my own in that era. 

Title

"But my philosophy really is less is more.  You never need a lot and you’ll feel it. "

Title

When writing music, it’s so easy to overthink it or overcook a beat. How do you know you’ve reached the point when a song is finished?

You gotta let the universe speak to you, man hahaha… but for real, you just know.  You also know when something just isn’t done.  You just get a feeling something is missing.  But my philosophy really is less is more.  You never need a lot and you’ll feel it. 

Have you ever had a moment making something artistically when everything seemed to line up, almost like you cracked a code?

All the time, and they are usually accidents.  Even when the best ideas aren’t accidents, there’s still somewhat of a magical aspect to the outcome.  You might have the craziest bow and arrow ever made, but it’s still magic when you hit the bull’s-eye. 
Title

“Even when the best ideas aren’t accidents, there’s still somewhat of a magical aspect to the outcome.  You might have the craziest bow and arrow ever made, but it’s still magic when you hit the bull’s-eye. “

Title

If money/obligations weren’t a thing, what would you consider the perfect day? What would you do, what would you eat, where would you be, etc.?

I’d be in my favorite city - Venice, Italy - surrounded by loved ones, eating calamari, drinking Montepulciano and smoking silver haze.  Honestly, any time I’m hanging with my family or best friends, it’s the perfect day. 

JAY'S PLAYLIST:

Find JAY:

@jaypeta_

@mindforceny

INTERVIEW WITH

JAY PETA

Title

Can you introduce yourself and tell us who you are and what you do for those that may not know you?

What’s up, I’m Jay.  I sing in Crush Your Soul and Mindforce and produce hip hop (JAYPETA) shit too. I play drums too, but not in a band currently. 

You joked on a podcast about your dad being wrong about palm muting.  I agree with that.  You sound close to him and I’m assuming you've found over time that he’s right about some things. What’s one of the greatest life lessons he’s taught you?

Oh man, great question…honestly, my father and mother have really taught me everything about life.  So many great lessons.  One important lesson is that family is important, but complicated.  Nothing is easy.  Another is cliche - never give up, there is always a way.

You love hip hop and hardcore, which are seemingly very different, but in my opinion have a lot in common. What do you love about each genre? Why do you think you gravitated towards these types of music as a kid instead of something else? 

I love so much about each genre and at times even dislike some things, but mostly love the expression of raw emotion and the importance of style.  Growing up, my house was filled with 70s rock, Italian music, and Motown, so I was searching for my own music.  When I first found hip-hop, which was much earlier than HC, it still was somewhat not mainstream and dangerous.  I was transfixed with the delivery, groove, and lyrics of both genres, and the styles of aggressive expression. 

Do you feel that hardcore and/or hip hop have contributed to your personal style? Was there a certain band, artist, etc. that you can name specifically as an influence on how you dressed at any point in your life?

Oh yeah, in every way.  I definitely was influenced by WuTang videos and back covers of HC albums of the time. The biggest influence on my style though was my friend group in the 90s while I was a teenager.  An inner circle around bands like Death Threat, End Of One, All Out War and other lesser knowns.  Most of these guys were a little older than me and were into boosting Polo, graffiti, and underground hip hop.  They showed me the way and I came into my own in that era. 

Title

"But my philosophy really is less is more.  You never need a lot and you’ll feel it. "

Title

When writing music, it’s so easy to overthink it or overcook a beat. How do you know you’ve reached the point when a song is finished?

You gotta let the universe speak to you, man hahaha… but for real, you just know.  You also know when something just isn’t done.  You just get a feeling something is missing. But my philosophy really is less is more.  You never need a lot and you’ll feel it. 

Have you ever had a moment making something artistically when everything seemed to line up, almost like you cracked a code?

All the time, and they are usually accidents.  Even when the best ideas aren’t accidents, there’s still somewhat of a magical aspect to the outcome.  You might have the craziest bow and arrow ever made, but it’s still magic when you hit the bull’s-eye. 

Title

“Even when the best ideas aren’t accidents, there’s still somewhat of a magical aspect to the outcome.  You might have the craziest bow and arrow ever made, but it’s still magic when you hit the bull’s-eye. “

Title

If money/obligations weren’t a thing, what would you consider the perfect day? What would you do, what would you eat, where would you be, etc.?

I’d be in my favorite city - Venice, Italy - surrounded by loved ones, eating calamari, drinking Montepulciano and smoking silver haze.  Honestly, any time I’m hanging with my family or best friends, it’s the perfect day. 

JAY'S PLAYLIST:

FIND JAY:

@jaypeta_

@mindforceny