Roger Jaeger speaks with Basically Pop about his newest single, ‘Grandpa’s Ghost‘, in addition to his music, his inspirations, and what lies forward for him.
Are you able to inform us extra in regards to the inspiration behind ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
I by no means met my dad’s dad as a result of he died of lung most cancers earlier than I used to be born. My dad didn’t see him from the ages of about 6 to 22 as a result of my grandparents had divorced and my grandfather moved to Colorado and began a brand new household. For that reason I’ve been indignant at him for a lot of my life. However as I become old I notice how difficult life could be, and the way generally the individuals we see as villains are sometimes extra nuanced than we notice. I additionally take a look at my very own life and surprise if there are areas the place I’m like my grandfather, or if I’m able to making related selections. And so I’m wondering what it might be like to satisfy that grandfather, and what kind of recommendation he would possibly provide me.
What particular moments or emotions out of your previous influenced the track probably the most?
We visited the opposite Jaegers in Colorado after I was a boy – there was this complete different aspect of the household that I hadn’t been round in any respect. I met my grandfather’s widow and his different grandchildren. It was a complicated expertise on the time.
What message do you hope listeners take away from ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
That the outcomes of our lives are so largely influenced by even the small the alternatives we make, and that there’s alternative to dwell properly and go on one thing good to the following technology.
Are you able to describe any memorable moments in the course of the creation of ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
The track began in a lodge room at a on line casino in Las Vegas. I used to be there for a music enterprise convention and had time to kill earlier than the primary occasion so I began taking part in round on the guitar. I finger-picked this straightforward riff and the lyrics for the primary two verses type of fell out of my mouth. I don’t know the way I tapped into my grandfather’s story in that second, but it surely was one thing I deeply wanted.
Are there any explicit artists or songs that influenced ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
I don’t know that there’s a particular artist, however ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’ is unquestionably according to a method course I’ve taken over the previous couple years. I’ve leaned extra absolutely into the acoustic guitar, finger-picking, and simply proudly owning a extra Folks/Americana type. It appears like I’m proudly owning my roots and entering into the depths of who I’m and the place I’ve come from.
Are you able to share some insights into the idea and inventive course behind the music video for ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
The concept was to have somebody play my grandfather as he drove an outdated truck round. I sat within the again and sang the track as he drove – to represent how shut we’re, how I’m impacted by the place he went in life. The video ends with one other man driving the identical truck – he’s me as an outdated man, selecting up my grandson to spend time with him. The concept is that I need to provide my grandson the reward that I didn’t get from my grandfather – time collectively.
In what methods do you see your music evolving sooner or later based mostly in your life experiences?
I’ve actually loved digging into extra private life tales and circumstances for my songwriting materials the final couple years. I’m having fun with this storytelling course for now – I’m capable of be uncooked and sincere and other people appear to attach properly with that.
What’s subsequent for you after ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
‘Grandpa’s Ghost’ was the primary single from a full album that will probably be launched this Spring – known as ‘Wander’.
Discover out extra about Roger Jaeger and his music on-line on YouTube, Fb, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You’ll be able to watch the gorgeous music video for ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’ under.
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