Serious Songwriter: Jae Jin
Jae Jin
Location:
Baltimore, MD, USA
Tell us about yourself:
I'm a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Baltimore, MD. Independent and unsigned, I've self-released 4 albums and toured extensively doing 600+ shows over the past 6 years. I love writing and creating music that people all over the world can connect to.
Name of your most recent release:
Why are you a songwriter?
I have been writing for as long as I can remember and of course have loved music for that period as well. Just 7 years ago, after playing my original music for a crowd and having so many people respond to it positively, I realized that there was a gift there that I had a responsibility to develop further.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
As a songwriter, I'd say that winning the John Lennon Songwriting Contest a year ago is definitely up there. Again, it's just an accolade, but what it does is shows others a reason to take a closer look at your music and give you the credibility that suddenly opens doors and opportunities for others to seek out your songwriting expertise.
Share the most interesting writing experience you ever had:
There is one song I released that took a total of 6 years to come together from a writing standpoint, and then even after I felt it was complete, I recorded it 4 different ways until the last version felt "right." It's interesting because sometimes listeners will assume you just write something in the moment and then its done... which can be true. A lot of writers write that way, but for me, I approach songwriting from a poetry standpoint. The words you want to share must go through an intensive process... or at least an intentional one.
What makes you unique as a songwriter?
When you pull up my Spotify, and look at the top 10 most popular tracks, each is a different genre... pop, R&B, folk, singer-songwriter, Christian. Most songwriters I think kind of lean into one very specific genre or if they are in the singer-songwriter genre, the music for the most part has a consistent and similar sound. For me, I see songwriting as both experiential and experimental. I think it's important to approach each song with an empty canvas approach.
If you could write with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
Joni Mitchell, Matt Corby, or Matthew Healy (of 1975). Their writing is so poignant yet not over the top. It's raw. It's honest. I think that's what songwriting should be.
How can the Serious Songwriter community help you?
Honestly, just to read my words and understand me a little bit more, and then have that create another layer of context to my original music and then listening to that music is more than enough.
What can you help the Serious Songwriter community with?
I am happy to provide the limited knowledge I have if it can encourage and uplift others.
Fun Fact About You:
I boxed for 6 years and continue to train as it's the perfect way to create and sustain a balance between mind, body, and soul.