If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. But what about Los Angeles?
That place can be impossible, especially if you are an up-and-coming entertainer.
However, it seems like Jared Lee is beating those L.A.-is-impossible odds.
Since moving to L.A. and signing a publishing deal with BMG, the Boston-bred singer has opened up for Brian McKnight and recorded with multi-platinum producer Mike K.
Jared Lee released his debut EP, Falling Through the Holes, which dropped back in October. His debut EP has already been featured on the hit series American Idol.
Now, the up and coming singer is building buzz around Falling Through the Holes and the EP’s first single, “It’s Over (Goodbye).”
The soulful singer stopped by the GlobalGrind offices to show us what he’s got by singing a few singles of his EP and his cover mashup of Adele’s “Someone Like You” and Ne-Yo’s “Because Of You.”
We sat down and talked with Jared about his recording process, how his ex-girlfriend inspired his EP and the differences between East Coast girls and L.A. girls.
Check out the exclusive interview below!
GlobalGrind: What does Falling Through the Holes mean?
JaredLee: Falling Through the Holes is a metaphor for what I was going through at the time when I was writing it. This is what went on in my mind. I was picturing this field with all of these obstacles, and there are these holes, and I’m just trying to get to the other side.
When I was writing this EP, I was going through a breakup. So I was dealing with that. Then I think as a new artist in the industry there’s a lot of obstacles and tough things to overcome to get heard. It was the accumulation of those things that brought me to that metaphor.
How long have you been trying to make it big?
I’ve been at it for years, man. I signed a publishing deal a little over two years ago with Chrysalis, who is now BMG. I’m working as a writer on other projects, and it’s tough to get heard. You’ve got to come with really strong material. You have to get creative these days.
You talk about getting creative, is that where the Ne-Yo and Adele mash-up came from?
Sure, I mean, you obviously see a lot of people covering other people’s songs, and I love doing that. I like to try to put my own artistry into it, so that it’s not a exact replica of what those artists do, because that’s what makes those artists great. I wouldn’t want to take anything away from the original creators of those pieces of work.
Were you raised around music?
Yeah, I grew up in Boston and I was always around music. My dad sang, not professionally, but he had us kind of singing in the car at a young age and doing harmonies. I just loved it. I guess, to a extent, some of it came naturally, but I definitely worked at developing my skills. Then I picked up the piano and started to write my own songs.
Your first single is based on an ex-girlfriend?
It is based on a real live girl. I was going through a crazy break-up and a pretty dramatic situation with it. It’s kind of cliché to be like ‘it was therapy,’ but it really was. Most of the songs on there kind of revolve around that with the exception of two of them that are a little more positive.
So that means you’re not in good terms with her, huh?
Oh no, her? I don’t know what she’s doing. I don’t really care. Not like in a malicious way. I’ve 100 percent moved on.
Do you have girlfriend now?
No. I’m enjoying the single life and meeting new females is always a good thing to have as inspiration, as well. Relationships are tough, man. Emotionally, they kind of lock you down.
How do L.A. girls compare to East Coast girls?
Ohhh, man, they’re great. They’re different, man. New York girls kind of have the sophisticated swag. The difference is in L.A. everyone works in entertainment. Out here (New York), a girl can be like the head librarian or the head of a mutual fund company, so I think there’s a sophistication in New York that is not out in L.A.
However, L.A. attracts these incredibly beautiful, like, “oh-my-God-where-did-these-people-come-from” type girls. It’s like the hottest girl from every town moves to L.A. and wants to be a movie star. When you’re single that makes for some nice weekend nights.
