We're chatting with the 2017 JAY Awards Finalists as we enter the last few days of voting and preparing for the JAY Awards (& Retro Christmas party!) coming up on December 5th
Those Lavender Whales - photo by Forrest Clonts
Jasper: What made the past year so great for you as an artist?
TLW: We were really happy to release our album, “My Bones Are Singing” this past spring and get to travel to a lot of new places playing those songs with friends.
Jasper: How have you grown as an artist over the past year and to what do you attribute that growth?
TLW: We’ve felt more focused as a group. That could be just having an album coming out, but it feels like we’ve really made an effort to move closer musically when we perform making things tighter and playing more as a family (less as individuals).
Jasper: How have you seen your arts community grow over the past few years and to what do you attribute that growth?
TLW: My favorite thing is seeing more murals around town. I love seeing murals in other cities. Seeing public art seems to scream to the average passerby that there is a thriving and working arts community.
Jasper: Why is art so important right now?
TLW: With so much negativity and uncertainty floating around, creating is a good response to express and process your views and feelings.
Jasper: What role does art play in your life?
TLW: There’s art on the walls of my house, I make up songs about doing dishes and going to work, my daughter performs dances for my wife and me in our house. I can’t speak for everyone, but art seems to always surround me and be intertwined with every part of my life. I just recognize it more at random times.
Jasper: What role does community play in the execution of your art?
TLW: From our meager beginnings emailing dorm room recordings to friends, to having our wider web of friends and family produce, mix, and master our last album, community has always played a huge role in our music.
Jasper: Who are some of your favorite local artists from an arts discipline other than your own?
TLW: Trahern Cook is a live painter who is always around local events. The way he uses the energy of where he is and allows people passing by to influence his painting is really amazing.
Jasper: Is there anyone you’d like to thank for their support of your arts career?
TLW: We love Columbia, and don’t think we could make the sounds we make in any other city. There’s such a vast array of different sounds and art coming out of this place that it’s great to be a part of it and be supported by it.
Jasper: Why should folks come out to the 2017 JAY Awards and Retro Christmas Party?
TLW: You get to sing along to some fun Christmas songs (if you want), get to dress up in some silly Holiday wear (if you choose), and get silly with a bunch of fun and friendly Columbia folks!
VOTE at http://jasperproject.org/jays
BUY Tickets at https://2017jays.bpt.me/
GIVE as part of #GIVINGTUESDAY at https://www.facebook.com/JasperProjectColumbia/
THANKS!