We are halfway through our mammoth two-week Music Interview Marathon and today we meet duo Americana, roots rock, folk band Jeremiah McKinley who express their true brotherly love for each other and their music.
Band Name: Jeremiah McKinley
Members: Jeremiah Christian Smith (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboard) & Noah McKinley Smith (Vocals, Lead Guitar)
Genre: Americana, Roots Rock, Folk
Founded: May 2019
Originated From: Kernersville, North Carolina USA
Discography: Hanging On/Creekside (Single), Jeremiah McKinley (EP), The Basement Tapes (Album), Sing For My Supper (Single), Same Old Heart (Single) & It Ain’t Easy (Single)
How would you describe your music?
We would describe ourselves as dirty folk. We tell folk-style stories with a blues rock delivery. Folk music has always spoken to us being from a rural part of North Carolina. They are the type of stories that really speak to your soul and stay with you. Armed with a very raspy blues singing voice and electric guitar riffs, that is what we’ve set out to do.
We had a hard time picking one genre to be because we have been inspired by so many different kinds of music growing up. The folk genre seems to encompass so many different sounds, so that is what we’re going with.
What is your musical creative process like?
Every song is different. But they usually start with a story or a feeling that we’re thinking about at the time. Jeremiah has found that he does most of his lyric writing in the shower. He is not sure why but that’s when he gets the best writing done.
Now it seems that anytime he is playing a new chord progression or hearing a melody, he immediately runs to the shower to start writing.
He listens to a lot of audiobooks during the day and sometimes a word or a turn of phrase sparks an idea. Although sometimes one of us is just strumming a guitar and a new song falls right out of the sky.
How did the band form?
Long story short when Jeremiah got out of college, he picked up a guitar. Within a couple of days he was writing his own songs, and his brother Noah, having had guitar lessons as a kid, helped out and we decided to start a band.
How did you come up with your band name?
Growing up brothers don’t always get along and we were no different. One thing we did enjoy was making video game characters to share playing with. When we would go to name the character we would use my first name and my brother’s middle name. So when we started a band that was the natural choice. Just a mash-up of our names.
Who influenced you within the music industry?
So many. Noah’s guitar playing has certainly been influenced by John Mayer, Hendrix and some of the more ethereal tones of Lord Huron, Hippo Campus and Caamp.
Growing up we listened to all sorts of music and we have really been influenced by some of the great songwriting and voices of Amy Winehouse, The Black Keys, Jack White, Ray LaMontagne and Bob Dylan.
Have you performed live much and what was your favourite gig to play at?
With the pandemic surfacing just as we were starting out, we haven’t had a whole lot of opportunities to play and as a result, started having neighbourhood shows. We get out an old trailer to stand on and invite people from around to come have a party with us. You just bring some beers and a chair and we’ll bring the noise. Since things are opening back up we are in the process of booking some proper shows.
What is the best thing about being in a band?
We think the best thing is that we get to make and share what we want. These songs only pass through the filter of the two of us. There aren’t any rules and we get to attack writing and performing the way that we want. We are best friends and it is great to be able to share doing this with someone you already love hanging out with.
What is the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far as a musician(s)?
We’d say figuring out how to record music. We’re not very tech savvy and there have been some real growing pains in figuring out how to get the best recordings possible. We are very proud of what we have put out but very excited that each time we record we get better and figure out how things work more and more.
What plans have you got coming up this year?
A lot of dates. We are working on booking as many shows as we can for the upcoming year and are hoping to take the world by storm.
We are recording our second album. We have a lot of new material we are excited about and are aiming at a release in spring 2022.
What is your ultimate dream as a band?
A couple of things. First and foremost we want to make songs that matter to people. The kind of music you put on after a hard day or helps you cope with something going on in your life.
Secondly, we want to be able to live off of making music. We’ve never cared much for the money but it would be a dream come true to sustain ourselves financially through the music we write and play. That would be bananas awesome.
You can find out more about Jeremiah McKinley
by visiting their website and following them on Facebook and Instagram.
If you’re in a band or a musician and would like to appear on this blog, please contact me and I’ll forward you an interview template.
Also, check out my other Music Interview roundups from 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021.
