An Interview with Jet Lag Motel

The new EP from Jet Lag Motel hits pretty hard but does so with a catchy pop feel, bringing together colorful, bright guitars with an edginess and delivering it all with an approach that makes it super easy to get into it all.

Baythorne Days is a record that comes through with an addictive sound, rooted in a bit of a pop-rock style, but branching out into elements of alternative and even hints of punk.

The hooks throughout this record can feel anthemic, and even a bit old school, but a lot of them like the first track, "Baythorne Days" have this crowd-pleasing, hands in the air sing along kind of sound.

By the second or third time around, you will probably be singing right along with it. This is a song about the old days. Returning to your stopping ground and remembering what you may consider to be your past life there. This, mainly because it feels like so long ago.

The song is about being someplace that served as a chapter in your life, something that's relatable to plenty of people, myself included.

The way the singer articulates the lyrics really gives the song a liveliness.

You can just hear that it came from an authentic place. He's telling you part of his personal journey.

All this while coming through with a banging chorus.

The guitars have a pretty balanced but edgy sort of heaviness to them, performing these great progressions that feel vivid and memorable.

The release also showcases a bit of a live performance energy coming from the band. The way they bounce off each other and connect gives off this feeling of synergy, almost like they recorded this whole thing in one room, all at once.

Now, obviously I wasn't there, so I'm not sure how they recorded it, but it definitely gives you this exciting live sort of aesthetic, and that makes you want to go see the band perform it, right in your face. If they're able to capture that kind of energy on record this well, then seeing them live would probably be awesome.

"Sorry" is another track that really has a catchiness to it. The way the lyrics are phrased makes it pop, and you can hear some more of that pop drive coating.

As I mentioned before, this whole record is really catchy.

Another song from the record that gives off a personal sort of perspective lyrically, along with a bit of grunge, is "Don't Change", which also delivers guitar hooks and melodies that are very engaging, and the whole thing has this rich tone.

This also comes from the level of fuzz those guitars are giving you.

A lot about this record is very dynamically balanced. It still has the right energy and heart, which is probably the most impactful aspect, but everything can be heard crystal clear.

Of course, this also has a lot to do with the mixing of the record and how it was recorded, to which we owe engineer and producer Nathan Bankston .

The balance of the tones, energy, and edginess, in combination with bringing that pop aspect into play constantly, is killer.

This is a very memorable record.

Throughout it all, you can hear that some of the driving force behind this release is the drumming. These are not drums that just sit in the pocket, but rather add an electric energy and liveliness to some of the songs, and you can tell that some of the other instruments really push off of that.

It seems that the band got a chance to work with Taylor Carroll, drummer of a band you may have heard of called Lit. 

Taylor came on board to co-produce and perform the drums for the record.

After listening to this EP, I wanted to have a chat with the band to find out where this all came from, how it came to be, and what might be coming up next for them.

So, while you listen to the record, have a read through of our interview with Jet Lag Motel below.

Remember where you heard it first.

Hey guys and thanks for taking some time out for us! Let's start with Baythorne  Days! 

It is such a pleasure to be interviewed by Buzzslayers! Thank you guys for the  opportunity to tell our story. It is me, Brian who will tell our story! 

Where did this EP come from and what is it about? 

This is actually a great story. 

Steven Jasik and I have been writing together for almost two years now. We  released our first EP, No Vacancy, which we self-produced, and that eventually  led us to SSK Records and Steven Machat. Not long after, I got a call from  manager, Jason , telling us that Taylor Carroll from Lit was interested in working  with us. Needless to say, we jumped at the opportunity and headed out to Los  Angeles to record at The Kitchen with producer and engineer Nathan Bankston. The funny part is that Steven and I never stop writing. We always have voice  memos flying back and forth, and Apple labels them with whatever location  they’re recorded in. Since Steven lives on Baythorne Street, every demo he sent  me had “Baythorne” at the top. One day, while writing lyrics, I jokingly started  calling the song “Baythorne Days.” It was never meant to be the title, but the  more we talked about it, the more it took on a life of its own. 

For us, Baythorne became a fictional place. It’s the town where your first love  happened, where your first heartbreak happened, where all those unforgettable  memories live. It’s that place you can always go back to in your mind, even if it  doesn’t exist on a map. 

The best part was when we got into the studio. Before we even explained the  song, Nathan Bankston looked up and asked, “So… where’s Baythorne?  Northern California?” Steven and I just started laughing. We knew right then the  title had done exactly what we hoped it would. 

That idea became the thread that tied the entire EP together, so naming it  Baythorne Days just felt right. 

Each song captures a different chapter of relationships and growing up. “I Wanna  Know” is about the curiosity of getting to know someone, wondering where you  stand, and questioning what you mean to the other person. It’s probably one of  the songs fans tell us they relate to the most. 

“Sorry” is actually about when I first met my wife. My life could have gone in a lot  of different directions, and thankfully my compass pointed toward her. She’s the  best decision I ever made. 

“Wanting” captures that rush of finally taking the leap into a relationship after  wondering “what if” for so long.

And to close it all out, we wanted to pay tribute to one of our biggest influences  by recording INXS’s classic “Don’t Change.” 

When we stepped back and looked at it, we realized we’d accidentally created  something bigger than just five songs. We had built a collection of moments that  almost everyone has lived through. That’s what Baythorne Days is all about. 

I am hearing several approaches here! Who are some of your biggest musical  influences? 

Since we all grew up in the ’90s and early 2000s, that era had a huge influence  on our music. We all love bands like Third Eye Blind, Better Than Ezra, Incubus,  Sublime,Elbow, Spoon, Alice in Chains, and of course the entire Seattle grunge  movement. Those artists really helped shape the way we think about songwriting  and melody. 

Steven and I also have some unexpected influences. Steven grew up listening to  a lot of country music before finding alternative rock, while I started out with  artists like The Beatles, Elton John, and Janis Ian. Then I discovered KROQ in  Los Angeles, and that completely changed my musical world. It opened the door  to alternative music and a whole new way of thinking about songs. 

We also love a lot of today’s alternative bands. Groups like Young the Giant,  Dexter and the Moon Rocks, CHVRCHES, and almost Monday are making  incredible music right now. We also have a soft spot for the reggae-rock scene  with bands like Dirty Heads and The Elovaters. We’re always listening to new  music, and I think that’s important. It keeps you growing as a songwriter instead  of chasing the past. 

One of the coolest things about Jet Lag Motel is that after we finished recording  Baythorne Days, we found the rest of the band, and everyone shared a similar  musical DNA. Our bass player, David Brown, loves everything we’ve talked about  but is just as happy spinning Paul Simon records. Dave G., our rhythm guitarist,  brings a love of punk rock into the mix, and our drummer, AJ, is right there with  us on all of those alternative influences. 

What’s really fun is that all of us collect vinyl, and our record collections are all  over the map. You might find Chet Baker sitting next to Led Zeppelin, or Elton  John beside Alice in Chains. Those contrasts are part of who we are as  musicians.

Personally, as a lyricist and songwriter, I’m drawn to great songs more than great  genres. If a song makes me feel something, I don’t really care what category it’s  in. That’s probably the biggest influence on the music we make. 

How did this all start for you as a band? 

It really started with a friendship. 

Steven Jasik and I had known each other for years through life in general, and  one day we decided to see what would happen if we sat down and wrote  together. We both had music careers in our pasts. Two guys, two guitars and and  off we went. There wasn’t a grand plan to start a band or chase a record deal.  We simply loved writing songs. 

The very first song we wrote together was “Mexico,” and almost immediately we  realized we had something special. Our writing styles complemented each other.  Steven has an incredible instinct for melody and guitar textures, while I naturally  

gravitate toward lyrics and storytelling. Before long, one song turned into two,  then five, and eventually enough material for our first EP, No Vacancy. 

That project opened doors we never expected. It introduced us to SSK Records,  Steven Machat, and eventually led us to Los Angeles to record Baythorne Days with Nathan Bankston and Taylor Carroll. Every step seemed to build on the last. 

Once Baythorne Days was finished, we knew we didn’t just have a songwriting  partnership anymore. We had a band. The final piece of the puzzle was finding  musicians who shared our vision. That’s when David Brown on bass, Dave G. on  rhythm guitar, and AJ on drums joined the lineup. 

The chemistry was immediate. Everyone brought something unique, but we all  loved the same kinds of music and wanted to make songs that connected with  people. There was never a conversation about chasing trends or fitting into one  particular genre. We just wanted to write honest songs that people could hear  and say, “I’ve felt that.” 

Looking back, Jet Lag Motel wasn’t something we planned. It happened naturally  because of a friendship, a shared love of songwriting, and a lot of voice memos  that slowly turned into a band.

Did you work with an outside producer on this one, or was it all you guys?

We worked with Taylor Carroll from Lit and Nathan Bankston at the Kitchen LA studio.  Taylor Got hung up out of town the first few days so Bankston took the lead and  definitely understood our sound. Taylor ripped out some amazing drums on all the  tracks. This was the first session I did not play bass on as I wanted my dear friend Javi  Colon to step in and share his style with our music. Steven and I always help producing  as we know where we want to go. We are following Baythorne Days with 3 new singles  and Bankston will be producing us in our studio in San Antonio. 

Are you performing live right now? 

This is a great question because we kind of started backwards. Steven and I  went into the studio with no intention of becoming a touring band. We just wanted  to record a handful of songs that our friends and family could enjoy. Then, while  we were still finishing our No Vacancy EP, everything changed. We got signed,  and before we knew it, we were in Los Angeles recording our second EP,  Baythorne Days. 

That’s when we realized it was time to build the band we’d always imagined. We  were fortunate enough to put together an incredible lineup, and now we’re finally  ready to take these songs to the stage. 

We’ll be starting to perform live in September, and we’re excited because we  already have some great shows lined up. We’ve taken a little extra time getting  everything ready because we wanted to create more than just a concert. We’re  putting on a full experience. Our live show features custom visuals created by a  two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and our bassist, David Brown, has an  extensive background in professional live sound and studio engineering, having  started at Virginia Beach Master Sound. Between the music, the production, the  sound, and the visuals, we’ve worked hard to make every show something  people will remember. 

We honestly can’t wait to get out there, meet everyone, and finally bring these  songs to life on stage. 

Now that this is out, what's next for you guys? 

We’re definitely not slowing down. At the end of August we’ll be back in the studio  recording three new singles with our producer, Nathan Bankston, who will be  flying in to work with us. We’ve already started pre-production, so it’s exciting to  see these songs beginning to take shape.

The first single is called “Marina del Rey,” and I honestly think it might be my  favorite song I’ve written so far. We’ll also be recording “Saturday Night” and “Up  and Down.” Up and Down is a much more intense and emotional song, so I’m  especially excited to hear how it comes together in the studio. 

After that, our focus is getting out on the road, playing as many shows as we can,  and continuing to release new music. We don’t want people waiting years  between releases. We’d rather keep writing, keep recording, and keep giving  everyone something new to listen to. 

And once these songs are out… hopefully we can come back and talk with you  guys again. Wink, wink… nudge, nudge. 

What would you say people can expect from this release? 

Steven: I think people can expect five high-energy songs that fit right into the  soundtrack of their lives. Whether you’re heading out on a road trip, getting in a  workout, hanging by the pool, or throwing a summer party, these songs were  made to be turned up loud. 

Brian: I come at it from a little different angle. I hope people connect with the  emotion and the stories behind the lyrics. Every song on Baythorne Days comes  from a real place or a real moment in our lives. We all go through the highs, the  lows, the excitement, the uncertainty, and the relationships that shape us. If  someone hears one of these songs and thinks, “I’ve been there,” then we’ve  done exactly what we set out to do. 

The best music makes you feel something, and we hope this EP gives people  both the energy to have fun and the connection to keep coming back to it.

What kind of advice would you have for other bands out there trying to get  somewhere? 

Steven: Work hard. Stay dedicated. There really isn’t a substitute for putting in  the time and believing in what you’re doing. 

Brian: I completely agree with Steven, but I’d add a few things. Write what you  genuinely feel, not what you think people want to hear. The best songs happen  organically, and people can tell when you’re being authentic.

I’d also say to be respectful to everyone you work with and never stifle creativity.  Some of the best ideas come from unexpected places, so create an environment  where everyone feels comfortable contributing. Kindness goes a long way in this  

business, and people remember how you treated them long after the session is  over. 

Finally, don’t forget to have fun together outside the studio. When you build real  friendships with the people you’re creating music with, that connection naturally  finds its way into the songs. A band isn’t just a group of musicians. It’s a group of  people who trust each other, and that’s where the magic really happens. 

Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music? 

Steven: Just a huge thank you! Seriously, thank you for listening, supporting us,  and believing in what we’re doing. And this is only the beginning. We’ve got so  much more coming. 

Brian: I don’t think people can imagine how much it means to us that they’re  listening to our music and connecting with it. As songwriters, you always hope  something you create resonates with someone, and when it does, it’s an  incredible feeling. 

I also want everyone to know that we’re approachable. If you send us a  message, an email, or reach out on social media, we’ll do our best to answer. We  really want to build a community around Jet Lag Motel, not just a fan base. 

Our hope is that every time we come to a new city, we’ll already have friends  there. We want to know the people who support us, hear their stories, and learn  how our music has connected with their lives. The more we know about them, the  better we can connect through our music. At the end of the day, that’s what this is  all about… bringing people together, one song at a time.

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