Start Listening To: Jake Sherman

Sherman sings straight from an open heart so you can shed a tear and dance under the moonlight.

From ragtime to the harpsichord, Jake Sherman’s influences were as vast as the spectrum of emotions his melodies operate on. Ever since his childhood, Jake was exposed to different genres of music that he’s learnt to fuse in his deeply touching tunes. On a recently released ‘live’ ep, he offers an insight into sessions with a band. It’s an extremely intimate experience that Jake wants to share with anyone who dares to stop and admire its melancholic beauty. Listen up, it’s a tale worth knowing.

Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

Hey, thanks for taking the time to read about me. I live in Brooklyn and I sing songs and play instruments.  I just put out an EP of some of my songs played live in a room with a band.  Listen to it, you’ll learn more about me than I can write here.

How did it all start?

I grew up listening to my mom play the flute and my dad play the harpsichord.  I had almost no exposure to pop culture as a kid, and the first music that really excited me was ragtime.  Later I got into jazz and gospel, but at the same time I was listening to the radio and discovering pop music.  These were two separate worlds in my head for a long time, but as I got older I began to combine them, eventually arriving at the music I make now.

If you were to describe your sound to someone who’d never heard you before, what would you say?

Pop melodies with jazz influence.

How are you feeling about the release of your Live EP?

The original session for the EP was just meant to document my new band featuring Kyle Miles on bass, Julius Rodriguez on organ, Jason Burger on drums, and Gabo Lugo on congas.  My songs were taking on new life with them, so I wanted to make sure we recorded together.  Then when the songs were ready to be released, I was fortunate that Dox Records took an interest and helped convince me that this was an actual record, not just a “session.”  I’m very excited for people to hear it as a complete statement.

We love the production on the EP. Can you tell us more about how you produce your music?

This was the first time that I produced by just getting great musicians in a room and playing the songs.  There’s not much a producer needs to do when the band is right.  On my previous records I played most of the instruments, so it was a much more detailed piecing together of elements. 

What inspires your music?

The lyrics are usually inspired by real life situations that happen to me.  The music usually happens in my head first.  It seems to already exist, I just have to decode it.

Can you tell us something interesting about yourself that has nothing to do with music? 

I have no nail on the middle finger of my right hand.  Isn’t that interesting?

How has Boston influenced your music?

Boston has a ton of brilliant young musicians because of Berklee and New England Conservatory (two high level music schools in the area.)  I was lucky to play with amazing musicians from a very early age there.  I also played on the weekends at Wally’s Jazz Club starting when I was sixteen.  Wally’s is a huge part of the Boston scene, and has helped many young people learn.

What advice would you give for anyone trying to achieve a similar sound to your band? 

Listen a lot and pay attention to the details of the things you like.  But be true to yourself when you make your own stuff.

If your music were a film or TV show which would it be?

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (original version).

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?

Astrolounge by Smashmouth (produced by Eric Valentine.)  It’s probably my biggest influence in terms of production.

What do you hate right now? 

It’s hard to tell what facts are real so everyone is confused.

What do you love right now?

The feeling of connecting with an audience.

Is there any new music from 2021 that you’re enjoying?

Figmore, L’rain, Mathieu Bogaerts, Sam Evian

What comes next in the Jake Sherman story?

I’m trying to figure that out.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Young artists: don’t believe people when they tell you you’re great at something that you know you need to work harder at.