by hernameisEL
in Alternative, Art/Life, Audio/Visual, Music, Product Placement, The Red Sneaker Diaries
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The Red Sneaker Diaries →{Jimi Cravity} @hernameisEL

#139 ↔ Home Grown

Charlie, John, Rachel… Amber? No, he hasn’t penned a song bearing my name… yet. But I do feel like his music was written, arranged, and performed for me. Good music, like a good suit, should feel as though it was tailored to fit your soul. And, if done correctly, others should hear it and want to know where they can go for an auditory upgrade. All directions point Under The Helmet.

Jimi Cravity is, well, by all accounts, ordinary. He is a songwriter, a musician, a philosopher, quiet, humble, and extremely well mannered. It isn’t until his electrifying live performances that he comes alive and shows us all that we are mere mortals (and not just because his helmet is space cadet-esque). The passion is sincere and evident. Genius is relative, much like the rest of life, each person has a working definition of “genius” which is limited or expanded by their individual lived experiences. So for you, I won’t place the “genius” label on his music. I will just say that it is really, really, really, damn good; for the sake of argument.

As far as my personal taste is concerned, I think it is genius. #Epic. Each song has a story. Each story has a time and space in which its truth lives. An intro, a verse, a guitar riff, (a ridiculous drum section beneath a chorus & ad-libs layered outstandingly as heard below on “In Her Shoes.”) Each component plays its part in the construction of timeless music. Whether it is original music or a crazy Coldplay or Gnarls Barkley cover, Jimi Cravity and his Popular Muse Academy are forces to be reckoned with. “Architects of their futures,” they want to bring you into the fold, pass you a pen and ask you to transcribe your soul; challenge your legacy. I believe I can get behind that logic.

The debut album drops January 29, 2010. Prepare yourself for Atlanta born and bred alternative-rock.

Introducing, or reintroducing, the man Behind The Frames: Jimi Cravity. Hit the jump.

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{In Her Shoes}← The Fave

{Exclusive} Interview

All about Jimi Cravity. What is the origin of your name and helmet?

The name Jimi comes from being a tall, thin, black guitarist in Atlanta, people thought the name was fitting. Cravity is a spinoff of one of my favorite songs “Gravity” by John Mayer. I just switched the G with a C: Cravity. I always want to hold on to the theme of that song, staying where the light is. The helmet is for protecting the genius; I’m preparing to go where no man has gone before.

Introduce your band.

The band consists of, John Key Jr. on drums, Paul Anderson Jr. on bass, India Shawn on vocals, Alex Jacques on keys, and yours truly on guitar/keyboards & vocals.

What is your pre-show ritual?

Vocal warm-ups and an invocation of Jesus Christ to help us out rock out for his namesake. Also, water, green tea and jumping jacks never hurt.

Who are your musical inspirations?

The sonic gems that inspire me are from Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Incubus, Coldplay, Otis Redding, David Crowder Band, Phil Collins, the artist formally known as Prince, John Mayer, Cee-lo, and Outkast.

What is the Popular Muse Academy?

The Popular Muse Academy is a fellowship of architects that are innovators, thrivals, and mavericks. For more check out…. http://www.underthahelmet.blogspot.com/

What is your label situation?

I’m an artist on the Popular Muse Academy’s label. We’re contemplating courting major label interest. To be or not to be…lol.

Dead or alive what musician/artists would you like to work with?

Alive I would like to work with Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Ray Lamontagne, and Alexandra Patsavas. Dead I would like to work with Ray Charles and Jimi Hendrix.

You are being featured on the Comcast Bands-On-Demand. What does it mean to you to be recognized in such a large forum?

Being featured on Comcast Bands On Demand is great. It feels really promising to be in such a large-forum. Truly, I feel like it’s only the beginning, and I’m enjoying it. In the future, I would really love to get my music on Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Hills. I would also like to hear it on soundtracks similar to the twilight saga.

How has music changed your life?

Music has changed my life because it has, and is, forcing me to be a maverick. It has changed my life because it has brought me into a place bigger than the universe. There’s seemingly an infinite amount places a creator can go in his creations, and I feel that way about songs, chords and melody. Ruth Einstein, my seventh grade cello teacher, helped me become a burgeoning musician. Music has opened Pandora’s box for me.

My hands down favorite song of yours is “In Her Shoes” what was the inspiration/process behind it?

“In Her Shoes” was written with a story in mind. I wanted to tell the story of Rachel and I wanted Rachel to be able to relate to every person in the entire world. She has walked in a billion people shoes in one life. She has been homeless, an orphan, and a widow, depressed, addicted, rejected, and unfortunate. Everyone in the world has at least been in one of the shoes in the song. I think about how a person like that would react to finding love, and that’s why she cries don’t leave me, she’s crying for love to stay. And by love I don’t mean romance. I mean the thick, hard, friendly, charitable love that characterizes decades and decades of faithful commitment. That’s a love to cry for.

Many of your song titles are names of people. Who are they and why are their individual stories significant?

Yeah a lot of my songs are names of people. I see songwriting as the ability to tell a compelling story and so that’s what I’m aiming for with Charlie, In Her Shoes, Come On John, and others. I’m a rocker cleverly disguised as a screenwriter. I want the songs to paint pictures and stream stories in minds. I think one day all the songs will come together in a movie or a play.

I am a firm believer that you should thank people and tell them you love them while they can still appreciate it. Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for believing in you?

First of all I would like to thank God for believing in me. I think his belief is the best and I’m a sucker for what he thinks. I would like to thank my incredible team The Cleveland Agency and The Popular Muse Academy. To Calvin Willis, Justin Adams, and Paris Kirk, thank you for your support and undying commitment to the cause. To my band mates new and old thank you for your musical edification. To Abou Thiam, thank you for believing in me when no one was around that speaks volumes. And I love you all, unconditionally, I get misty-eyed just missin’ y’all.

What mark do you want to leave on the world?

The mark I want to leave on this world is the love of God. Imagine a fountain, inexhaustible, living, joyful, incomprehensible, unfathomable, and all-satisfying. I want to bring people to the fountain; I believe the fountain is God. I want my life to count for him and leave his mark on the world, which is love.

How can fans and future fans gain access to your music?

Fans and future fans can gain access to my music by purchasing my [Untitled] debut album off itunes and amazon, January 29, 2010. In the meantime, songs are streaming on my myspace and my next show is November 18th @GA STATE 8pm…

Any last words?

My final thoughts are thank you sooo much for this interview. Amber you are a talented writer and an amiable person. Stay tuned for my debut album top of the year. Follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/jimi_cravity and last but not least, LONG LIVE THE POPULAR MUSE: JIMI CRAVITY!!!!