Pop rockers the Jacob Jeffries Band with their just released fourth studio album ‘Tell Me Secrets’ are quickly becoming a secret no more.
After buzzing throughout Florida with local newspaper covers and appearances at various prestigious music festivals, the Miami based band with their energetically fun and catchy piano-driven pop –rock tunes that you want to turn up real loud in your convertible, are quickly becoming the main attraction.
Together since high school, now 24, piano playing front man Jacob and Jimmy the guitar player, met drummer Mitch in local South Florida arts-music camp and well, here we are.
So, who is the Jacob Jeffries Band?
“We get the Billy Joel and Elton John comparisons all the time” said Jacob over the phone from his place in Miami as a bunny rabbit ran across his lawn, “but those guys are so far down the totem pole of my list of influences because I want to be more active and energetic and if I had a guitar I’d be running all over the stage.”
Instead his influences include Ben Folds, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Mraz and Tom Petty.
See for yourself their official music video for new single, “Suffocate My Heart” here: http://on.mtv.com/NXJgpM. Totally cool, powerful and dramatic.
Back to comparisons…
“I really wouldn’t compare our sound to that. I want to break freer a bit and we’re more comparable to something a little more R&B, a little more like Stevie Wonder-ish, but definitely rooted in, Petty. I’ve been listening to a lot of Petty and old country rock kind of stuff. “
Fans of Wilco and My Morning Jacket too, the band also loves to do covers. Check out ‘Uncharted’ by Sara Bareilles: http://bit.ly/MW93gj and ‘Boyfriend’ by Justin Bieber http://bit.ly/K9BTcM.
Why covers?
“I like the obscurity of doing covers. I like doing the b-sides of artists – we do a ton of Beatles and Tom Petty b-sides, the more obscure ones that many don’t know about.”
Tell me about this new record compared to the last three.
“The last 3 albums were all evolutionary, they’re all growing processes. The first two records were more little pet projects, a collection of songs that I went into the studio with and I had such talented and amazing accomplished producers down here in Miami and they kind of took control. And it’s not a bad thing it’s a learning experience for me. It was much smaller populated I feel like the first few albums.
This one, we went in more as a band- they were still mostly my songs– some of them co-written by the band, but mostly my tunes. I still went into the same studio with the same producers, this time though, my guitar player who I had been on the road with for years Jimmy, who I have played with for years played all the guitar parts not the studio musicians. So, this one was much more of a band effort. Were together so much now, were playing a lot of shows together, were traveling in a van together and bonding and it carries over.”
Jacob, who paid dues playing in small cafes knows the music industry grind.
“Everything is so unpredictable and it’s so easy to give up when you don’t get paid. And people walking by and not stopping when you’re playing outside. You gotta keep chugging. I am so fortunate like and happy that we have a fee now. The whole thing sounds so cliche but it’s so true. You cannot give up.”
What’s next for Miami living Jacob..
“I plan on moving to NY really soon. I love the city and go there often. We play Rockwood Music Hall a lot. We have random dates in the summer coming up for the band, private dates like ‘Sweet Sixteen’s’ to pay the bills and then we hit NY at end of August with a big show on the 26 at Rockwood Music Hall. It’ll be a big show.”
Listen up people.
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Purchase Tell Me Secrets on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/LIFspb.
Love him!!!!!! He is soooo talented!!!!