Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter and bassist Jasmine Cain who discusses her new LP “White Noise,†as well as her upcoming tour. Breaking down her creative process, as well as a few standout tracks from the LP, Cain lets us know exactly what makes her brand of rock a special one.
Review Fix: How did this album come to be?
Jasmine Cain: Getting started on this album was an emotional and financial roller-coaster ride. We had been discussing this album for over 2 years with a guy that wanted to become a financial backer for the band. During that process, we had contacted so many producers including Bob Marlette and Gary Smith, but after it being drawn out so long, everyone kind of got tired of the talking and wanted to get started and, well…the money just never came, so it was completely abandoned…or so we thought. After we had pretty much given up hope that we would have any financial help on this album, we were approached by another long-time friend and fan of the band, Michael McKelvy. He had donated to my Kickstarter campaign the year before and was interested in helping us get started on this project. At this point, I was pretty jaded when it came to promises, but Michael didn’t hesitate and before I was even ready, the check arrived in the mail with a note that said “Make a great record”. That shot me into top speed and we began writing immediately. I couldn’t believe what he did to help us make this record. It was just incredible. I have 4 previous albums that I have self-funded and I was just expecting to have to do the same with this one as well, but he totally expedited the process which made it possible to get it into everyone’s hands much faster.
Review Fix: What song on this album has the best story behind it?
Cain: Every song has a story to it, but I have two that stick out. This first one is on the song “Hole”. We were on tour and had just woken up after a show in the band house in Deadwood, SD. My keyboard player and co-writer, David Michael Thomas, and I were the only ones awake and I started the coffee. I was telling him about the weird dreams I had the night before and he said, “I haven’t had a dream in so long…..” We both put down our coffee cup and said that sounds like the first line of a song. He jokingly wrote it on a napkin next to him then asked me how my throat was feeling, because I had a horrible cold at the time. My response was, “Everyday it’s a little worse”. Next thing you know, we’re in full songwriter mode and completed half the song. Now you’d think the rest would’ve come as easily as the first, but the truth is, shortly after that, Dave checked into rehab and this song wasn’t finished until almost 2 years after it first started after he had gotten sober and stayed that way for about a year. It turned out that the 2nd part came much quicker than the first, if that’s possible. But they were not written at the same time at all.
My second favorite story has nothing to do with the song as much as it has to do with the way we wrote it. I’m a 1 or 2 person co-writing kind of person. I don’t like writing in groups and especially with people that don’t write songs regularly. With that being said, the band and I were in my basement and we had exactly 1 hour to come up with a bunch of songs to perform for our then producer, Lincoln Parish who was coming over to review them. We had nothing. I was frantically trying to come up with an idea and so we just put our heads together and wrote “Fool’s Gold” in less than 30 minutes. I didn’t have lyrics when Lincoln arrived, but he loved the melody and the song so much, he gave it the green light to make the record. I wrote the lyrics based on a story my Aunt Nina had told me about her divorce from her husband she thought had a “heart of gold, but she was left behind with a fist full of fool’s gold”. I thought it was profound and wrote the song based around that preface.
Review Fix: What inspires you musically?
Cain: Life, mostly. I hear a lot of stories and I absorb them all. I get introduced to all kinds of music from friends and I like the way it leads me in different directions. This album takes a little stroll down the progressive rock side of things and all of that can be credited to Kevin Bebout and his affinity for progressive metal. I listen to his playlists and get all kinds of great ideas.
Review Fix: How did it feel to work with members of Full Devil Jacket, Accept, Steel Panther & Cinderella?
Cain: You know, they’re just friends of mine so it didn’t seem like a big deal at first, but now that you mention it…it’s pretty fucking cool to have that kind of talent on this record! I try to surround myself with great artists and musicians who can pull the best parts out of me, just by being themselves and certainly, there are some incredibly talented guys on this album. Sometimes I listen to this record and think, “OMG, Michael Starr is singing a duet with me!” and “Holy Shit! Jeff LaBar just played a totally signature solo on that song!” It’s pretty damn cool actually.
Review Fix: How do you prepare for a lengthy tour?
Cain: Sleep. (I wish) No, usually it means I’m making sure that everything is functioning properly and our set up and show is efficient as possible. I wear so many hats that I rarely rest before a tour. I’m on fire pretty much 24/7 anyway, so it’s not a lot different for me one way or another. I mainly try to get in better shape to keep from hurting myself and make sure my voice is working the way it should. It’s a practice just like anything else.
Review Fix: How do you want this album to be remembered?
Cain: I’d like people to know this album as the one that really made things click for me. I’d like them to recognize the songwriting and know that I’m at the top of my game right now. This is the best album we’ve ever made and this is the best I’ve ever performed. I’ve totally hit my stride.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Cain: Well, you never really know what’s next, unless you’re a fortune teller, but I can tell you what my goals are. I intend to have a new music video out for our first single, “Break Even” very soon, and we’re working on a lyric video for the song, Fall to Rise with Ralph Saenz (Michael Starr) of Steel Panther. Also, I am really hoping to do some touring in Europe this Winter. I have always wanted to do that, and I think we would do well there. In the meantime, it’s balls to the wall (no Accept pun intended….maybe) touring around the clock doing all the major motorcycle events this year. I’ll be living like a gypsy on the highway all Summer and Fall. Our tour dates and information about the new album, “White Noise” are listed on our website at www.jasminecain.com.
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