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Here at Impact 89FM, our staff has the opportunity to interview a lot of bands, artists and other musicians. We're excited to be highlighting those conversations and exclusive live performances.
Hello, everyone. I am Rachel Fulton. I am the podcast director and a news producer for Impact 89 FM, Michigan State's all student run radio station. And this weekend, we are approaching Stoop Fest, which is a music festival that occurs here in Lansing, Michigan. And I have the privilege of being here with Jhariah, who is going to be a performer this weekend. Thank you so much for joining me today.
Jhariah:Of course. Thanks for having me. It's great to talk to you.
Rachel Fulton:Yes. I just wanna get to know you a little bit here. First off, can you just tell me a little bit about your background, where you're from, and, how you kinda got into music and everything?
Jhariah:Yeah. For sure. Well, I'm from the Bronx in New York originally. Born and raised there. And, I I got into music actually through through production initially, I guess you could say. Well, I mean, I started playing piano when I was 9. My sister had, like, this old toy piano that, like, my parents thought she would play. She never did. So I kind of taught myself piano from there. I would like I didn't understand how to read music or, like, what the notes were. So I would, like, look up videos of people playing songs and, like, write down what they were doing, which is, like, my way of transcribing, I guess, because I didn't know how. And, you know, I I learned a lot of songs myself that way until, eventually, I got into music production. One of my middle school teachers was just, like, kinda getting into it himself and had downloaded, FL Studio. And he was like, hey. I feel like you would enjoy this. You know? You enjoy music and you enjoy making things, so give it a try. You know? And I, like, fell in love with it. You know? I started, like, producing all these crazy, like, dance tracks and dubstep and and house music and just, like, all the stuff that every bedroom producer is doing in, like, 2012. And that kind of started me on my journey that would eventually lead to writing songs. You know? Like, by the time I was, I think, like, 15, I think I I just gotten so into, like, rock and pop music and, like, started to love specifically, like, I I feel like I started to fall in love with, like, vocals. You know what I mean? And that was the one thing I always was really scared to do, you know, which is why I stuck so closely to, like, playing piano and producing. And I think at that point, I just felt like I really needed to, like, have this sort of break through. Like, I felt like I wasn't able to fulfill, like, the person that I wanna be unless I just kinda stepped up and and did the thing. You know? So I started singing and writing songs, and, I think it it was it kinda worked out perfectly that way just because I had spent all these years, like, just producing and, like, learning the craft of, like, how to do this stuff. So it's then when I when I started writing music, I realized that I had, like, all these influences from, like, such a, like, a wide range of music from, like, dance, like, rock and pop and and hip hop and all this stuff. And having that sort of, like, preliminary you know, like, having all that production experience, I think, helped me sort of bring those ideas together. You know? So I've been doing that for the last few years, and it's just kinda continued from there. You know, people seem to have caught on a little bit, and I I just keep trying to get a little crazier with it each time.
Rachel Fulton:Can you tell me a little bit about the type of music that you focus your work around?
Jhariah:Yeah. So I would say I guess, like, sort of the the slogan is, is no genre all drama. You know? Like, it's the idea really is that there's no sort of, like, genre, like, label that I want it all to fit under. You know? Like, I'm just trying to pull from, musically pull from the places that make me happy and that inspire me. And I I think I kinda carry the belief that if you for any person, I think, but especially, just because I know myself, I feel like all the music I like and everything that speaks to me, it's like my belief that there's always gonna be a through line, some kind of through line between all of the things that you like even if they're vastly different. So making my music is kind of about trying to find what it is that connects all of the weird, like, different things I like to listen to and trying to capture that in in my own music. You know? Yeah.
Rachel Fulton:That's really awesome. I feel like when you see an artist, they just try and focus maybe on one genre. And sometimes they do put in a few here and there, but they don't really say that. They're just like, no. I'm this. But that's, like, a lot of people are just like, oh, I'm this. But that's, like, a lot of people are just like, oh, in a few here and there, but they don't really say that. They're just like, no, I'm this, but that's really cool that you don't really, like, label yourself as one specifically, so I love that. Before this, you were telling me that you also have a band on the side that kind of travels with you. So do you guys just perform locally, or do you try and travel as much as you can? And how does the band kind of incorporate with that as well?
Jhariah:Yeah. So, I mean, the band has been sort of this, like, growing entity for the past, you know, few years that I've been doing this. I mean, I started out, I made the the first record pretty much entirely on my own, like, everything, which was, like, a crazy experience. Wouldn't do it that way again, but I learned a lot. And then after that, I'd I'd never even thought about playing shows, like, at all. I thought about playing them maybe, like, one day a long, long time in the future, but it never when I was writing the songs, I literally I was, like, so scared to even sing in the first place to put the songs down that I performing wasn't even in my mind. You know? So after that, I sort of had to start. Once playing shows became a thing, I had to find people and be like, hey. I have these, like, crazy songs that weren't written on real instruments that I never thought I'd perform and now are gonna perform on. Like, do you wanna help? And it was a process. You know? I mean, the first backing band they have, we did our first show, and they kinda quit. You know? They're like, yeah. This is just like it's too much. It's just like it's a lot. And to be fair, like, yeah, they are a lot. You know? So for a long time, like, the band was just like me and, like, a drummer, you know, and that was a setup, and I think that didn't feel quite right. And it's just it's gone through a lot of iterations. You know? So, eventually, it was a different band. It was drums and guitar and bass, and then we added horns. You know? And there's, like, sax and trumpets sometimes, and it's just kind of continued to grow. But, I mean, at this point, I feel like I've really found a great group of musicians. Like, they're all some of my favorite players, like periods, some of my favorite people, some of my favorite musicians, and they kind of, make the live show what it is. You know? I I honestly don't play a lot of shows locally just because the band is from, like, all over, and it's, like, such a logistical nightmare trying to get everybody submitted. Like, it's stuff like today where we wake up and our, you know, like, our saxophone player is picking up the band, and, like, the band plays like we don't have a band. You know? So we only ever all get together if we're gonna be together for a while, I guess. So stoopfest is a good excuse for us to, like you know, we've all been missing it. So it's a good excuse to get out there. Yeah. And then the man also on this on this newest record, like, the entire band has has played to some extent on the record. Some, you know, some more than others, but everybody's on there. And it's it's been really great sort of, like, going back to making the records, like, the way I want to and doing them on my own, but still getting to sort of bring people in and be like, hey. I have this crazy part. Like, you wanna try playing it? And they're always down.
Rachel Fulton:Yes. That is an incredible journey. Wow. And in the spirit of Stoop Fest, is this your 1st year attending this or even as an artist performing? Yeah?
Jhariah:Yeah. 1st time attending, 1st time playing.
Rachel Fulton:Oh my gosh. How excited are you?
Jhariah:I'm so excited. I've been wanting to go to SnoopFest for years, like, just to experience it. So the fact that, like, my first time going is gonna be playing is kinda crazy.
Rachel Fulton:That's gonna be so much fun.
Jhariah:That's also crazy. I guess we're, like, headlining, which is a little, like you know? So many of the bands, like, on the lineup even this year, like, bands that, like, you know, if I could drive, I would have driven out hours to see the previous years. You know what I mean? It's, like, weird to think about, like, that we're kinda playing alongside them, and it's it's weird. It's crazy. I love it.
Rachel Fulton:Yeah. It's cool from the student perspective too because we're Michigan State here, and a lot of the things that attract people to this area is just for the university. I mean, there's a ton of our things. We have Lansing here and stuff too, but it's really cool to get, like, festivals like this where it attracts people from all over for the music aspect. So it's awesome, you know, like people like you that come and bring your talent here. So yeah, it's gonna be really exciting. And I know there's people that are probably listening that wanna come and hear you perform. What should they expect from your performance this weekend?
Jhariah:Oh, what should they expect from our performance? I what I'm hoping what I'm hoping the experience is like is all of us have been, like, dying to be together again and play music. Like, we just finished tour, and all of us, like, went home and we're like, when can we do it again? You know? So I just, like I hope with that, you can feel that energy on stage. You know? And it's gonna be it's gonna be a a really fun, crazy show. Like, we're doing some new music, and we're trying to just, like we're doing this set a little bit differently for Stoop Fest. You know, we don't do a lot of festivals, so I'm kind of experimenting with, like, a new, I don't know, a new vibe for it. So I don't know. If you've seen the show recently, it might be a little different this time.
Rachel Fulton:That is really cool. That's something to look forward to. And for anyone who is interested in seeing Jiraiya and attending Stoop Fest, him and his band will be performing on Saturday, May 11th. And they'll be performing on the Impact 89 FM stage, like I said. There's multiple stages, but this is the one that you definitely wanna focus on. There's a ton of great talent there. And he's gonna be performing from 9:30 to 10:15 at night. And more information can also be found at stoopfest.org if you're interested. And thank you so much, Jhariah. I'm so excited to see you guys this weekend, and I hope you're looking forward to your performance.
Jhariah:I am. Thank you so much. I'm excited.