Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Lovejoy and Nathan Coker, Sonic Sons Records.
Jacob, Nathan, Sonic Sons Records, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’m (Jacob Lovejoy) from Columbia, Missouri. I moved to Auburn, Alabama for college. Immediately after moving to Auburn I was introduced to the thriving indie rock scene there. The town is nearly one third college students, so the music scene is very youthful. A lot happened to get me doing the things I’m doing now. I met a lot of hip people too. A guy who was drumming in one of the scenes more popular bands was also the one recording their demos. His name is Michael Whelen and he and I do a lot of peer review; it’s been an honor learning this trade with him. Michael recorded the Lady Legs EP, a band who was signed to the Birmingham label, Communicating Vessels. Michael introduced me to Austin Arias who had taken an internship in a recording studio and also helps track with Sonic Sons. I was always interested in recording and I have always been writing songs, using Ableton and all that jazz. A few weeks after I moved to Auburn met Rose Farrington, who is now lead singer for dreamy indie band Dogwood Lung. A while after meeting Rose we made an electronic pop album together. We recorded all the vocals with an SM58 in my living room and we truly didn’t know what we were getting into. After working with Rose, I continued to work on small projects and receive feedback from as many sources I could. After some time in Auburn I started a funk band that tried recording, and I started a country band with my friend Cannon Hyche which discontinued because everyone playing in there got nice jobs. However, recording the music for my own groups gave me the next few opportunities which jumpstarted “Sonic Sons.” Sonic Sons started with me and Cannon recording a demo for the Birmingham band, Beegles. The Beegles came to me after they had to abandon their previous demo. I was honored to work with Beegles because they were such a cool group of guys. They were good looking, and popular, and where ever they were there was a good time being had. Beegles was a fantastic band while they existed. They had an amazing stage presence with the most engaged fans. It’s unfortunate that the band folded, perhaps in result of being too ambitious, but they’re all still currently involved in other projects. One of the members of Beegles was Nathan Coker, who I had seen around but never gotten to know. Nate was the front man and mastermind behind the band Bobby Rocknroll, which was coming to surface within the scene. Nate has opened up for big names with his previous project but now Bobby Rocknroll is his primary focus. Nate had gotten his first full-length album recorded by the only existing studio at the time in Auburn, AL. He unloaded his savings into it, so he was eager to let me record his second full-length when he heard I’d do it for free. “Of course, I would record Nate’s band for free,” I thought. “Such an amazing band to let me practice making a record, I ought to pay them!” Nate and I became close friends while recording his album. It’s nearly finished, and should be out in the next month or so. Sonic Sons began with the intention to record as much local music as possible, and concluded as a source to promote Bobby Rocknroll. We still accept clients, however, now we charge money. There’s a single from a band out of Missouri that’s being released soon as well as the demo from a folk band from Cullman, AL. We, Sonic Sons, are here to learn. We are simply a hub of song writers and creators who need a little help getting their music out there. We work alongside a graphic designer, Emily Stevenson, who had an internship with The with Agency in Atlanta. (emilystevensondesign.com) There are also a couple of photographers who help us, Ervin Elzie and Juan Reyes. I moved to Atlanta to keep learning about recording music and producing records.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
We record all genres of music. Between myself and our other assets we can cover multiple general across many instruments in the studio, so we’ve taken on clients who are just solo acts but want a full band on their record. We use the software Pro Tools to record the music. Pro Tools is the industry standard digital audio workspace. I think the biggest misconstrues message from Sonic Sons is that we are competitive. We are not competitive. From the engineer to the artist – we are looking to move up. We a looking to learn. We want to record a project for someone in hopes that the person who will record their next one is going to hear it. We can record small acts and big acts. The message is simply that the process doesn’t have to be “extra”. We live in an age were anyone can produce a record and put it online for their friends and family to hear.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
*my browser reset, here is my answer to the question regarding success: Being self-sustainable entirely from one’s art is a great way to measure success in my opinion. No one is an overnight success. Even someone like Post Malone whose fame appear seemingly overnight, you can’t ignore the road to artistry Post walked to be able to write his own songs and record his own music. Also, on the same note, I think most people these days innately feel successful when they see a pleasing number on a check in their name. To me, I feel more successful on the day I waste less hours. Producing records is sort of a freelance type job; I don’t clock into work. So, whenever I find myself thinking “what am I going to do now?” it’s on me to get back to whatever track needs me so I can get as much accomplished as possible. In this profession it is easy to not want to take breaks when you’re working on something. It was put to me one time by a teacher that working on a record is like chasing a rabbit – if you take a break, it will run away from you. Making records is a creative process that doesn’t happen fast. I think always having something new to show for yourself is important to one’s path to success.
**many artist experience loneliness: The best way to overcome loneliness as an artist, in my opinion, is to get out of the house and see what the world has to offer. Atlanta is a wonderful place for doing this. There are so many opportunities around the city that invite musical artists to their space. There are lots of great open mics and weekly jams around the city. I played at Aisle Fives Super Jam this summer where I met so many young players who go to different places each week to meet other musicians. Just look around! Atlanta is amazing.
***The role of the artist in the music industry has changed drastically since the times of Fleetwood Mac. Back in the day, when recording a record, everyone had less chances to get the part correct because they recorded to tape. If we were to go further back, we’d remember that you used to have a degree in electrical engineering to work in a music studio. The ease of use to digital recording has changed a lot of things, one of which being the new recourses and techniques to compose songs different and develop new genres. Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails exemplifies this concept arguably better than anyone. He uses the computer almost as if it’s an instrument inside of the rock band.
I think this leads to the biggest challenge that artists face today which is that it’s easy to be ignorant of all the stuff that is out there. Young people want things immediately at the tips of their fingers and that’s just not how It works. I think many young artists don’t think they have to be as talented because we have so much power inside the computer now.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Our website is the best way to learn more about our artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: sonicsonsrecords.com
- Email: booking@sonicsonsrecords.com
Processed With Darkroom
Image Credit:
Ervin Elzie
ehlzi.com
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