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After many years of singing lead for indie band Neva Dinova, Jake Bellows has transitioned to a solo artist with the release of his debut album New Ocean. GroundSounds recently caught up with Jake to talk about his new LP and more, check out our exclusive interview below.
Can you tell us about the writing process and inspirations behind your latest LP New Ocean?
I can say that New Ocean’s over-arching message came from several years of trying to figure out why I thought music was important in the world. The inspirations range from, Joseph Campbell and his illuminating understanding of Mythology, to Nikola Tesla and his understanding of the Physics of energy and vibration, to Hazrat Inayat Khan and his enlightened take on the role of music and sound as far as it relates to human harmony and creation. As I came to explore these ideas, songs would come to me and, (often much later) I would understand the significance of these ideas through music.
What inspired the title New Ocean?
I live on the side of a hill in Echo Park. One evening I had a vision that the ocean had come to fill up all of the valleys, and the people of the city, terrified, had begun to scramble up the hills, scrambling desperately for a place at the top of the heap of condemned souls. In today’s culture, it was easy to imagine the kind of self-centered behavior that would ensue… Thousands of people, crawling and clawing their way, walking over each other’s faces like termites in the rain. I imagined there was a better way. I’m a little long-winded, but New Ocean represents that better way to me. To help your brothers and sisters, to love them.
We at GroundSounds really dig “I Can’t Wait”, how did this track come to fruition?
If you have ever had the experience of loving someone despite how they feel about you. Even if they don’t care right this moment, things will always change. So, I consider this a song about hope.
What has the transition from being the frontman for Neva Dinova to becoming a solo artist been like? What do you enjoy most about being a solo artist?
It is a little melancholy to play music minus some of my best friends, but otherwise the transition has been almost seamless. I like having the ability to talk with the audience to some degree. It’s like having a conversation but I don’t feel like I’m interrupting the whole show now.
What people, places, or books have inspired you as a person?
I wish that I could list them all, I feel like the list would be far too long for our purposes here. Suffice it to say that I would be nobody, without everybody and everything.
What music are you currently listening to?
Right this second, I’m listening to Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk. But I’ve been listening to some mind-blowing music from Alessi’s Ark and R. Fox, and loving the crap out of some Smokey Robinson and jamming to John Klemmensen and the party. Not to mention Underwater Dream Machine… Lana Del Rey, Kirsty MacColl, Depeche Mode, Whispertown, oh god, there is so much great music! We are lucky.
You are originally from Omaha, what is one thing a visitor should see, do , or experience?
Without a doubt, you should stop in to the Brother’s Lounge, the owners are good friends of mine and the jukebox is rad. Another good bar you should go to is called The Trap Room, they have an awesome HiFi sound system, courtesy of Cindy Parra, that once belonged to the to The Carpenters. Legit! and they sound GREAT!
What do you enjoy most about Los Angeles?
The weather is of course very accommodating. Beyond that, Los Angeles is uniquely located close to the ocean, the mountains, and the desert, and all of those places are worth spending some time.
Could you share some life advice with us?
I come to think that one of the most important things that a person can know, is what they are trying to do. And then try to do it.
What’s next, what are you currently working on?
I’m currently helping two genius friends of mine (Scott Miyako and Jon Watkins) to design an uber-HiFi speaker system. It is going to be totally freakin awesome!
