Roger Jaeger speaks with Primarily Pop about his newest single, ‘Grandpa’s Ghost‘, in addition to his music, his inspirations, and what lies forward for him.
Are you able to inform us extra concerning the inspiration behind ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
I by no means met my dad’s dad as a result of he died of lung most cancers earlier than I used to be born. My dad didn’t see him from the ages of about 6 to 22 as a result of my grandparents had divorced and my grandfather moved to Colorado and began a brand new household. Because of this I’ve been offended at him for a lot of my life. However as I become old I understand how difficult life may be, and the way typically the individuals we see as villains are sometimes extra nuanced than we understand. I additionally take a look at my very own life and marvel if there are areas the place I’m like my grandfather, or if I’m able to making related decisions. And so I’m wondering what it might be like to fulfill that grandfather, and what kind of recommendation he would possibly provide me.
What particular moments or emotions out of your previous influenced the track essentially the most?
We visited the opposite Jaegers in Colorado once I was a boy – there was this complete different aspect of the household that I hadn’t been round in any respect. I met my grandfather’s widow and his different grandchildren. It was a complicated expertise on the time.
What message do you hope listeners take away from ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
That the outcomes of our lives are so largely influenced by even the small the alternatives we make, and that there’s alternative to stay nicely and go on one thing good to the following era.
Are you able to describe any memorable moments throughout the creation of ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
The track began in a lodge room at a on line casino in Las Vegas. I used to be there for a music enterprise convention and had time to kill earlier than the primary occasion so I began taking part in round on the guitar. I finger-picked this easy riff and the lyrics for the primary two verses type of fell out of my mouth. I don’t know the way I tapped into my grandfather’s story in that second, however it was one thing I deeply wanted.
Are there any specific artists or songs that influenced ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
I don’t know that there’s a particular artist, however ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’ is unquestionably according to a method course I’ve taken over the previous couple years. I’ve leaned extra absolutely into the acoustic guitar, finger-picking, and simply proudly owning a extra Folks/Americana type. It looks like I’m proudly owning my roots and stepping into the depths of who I’m and the place I’ve come from.
Are you able to share some insights into the idea and artistic course behind the music video for ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
The concept was to have somebody play my grandfather as he drove an previous truck round. I sat within the again and sang the track as he drove – to represent how shut we’re, how I’m impacted by the place he went in life. The video ends with one other man driving the identical truck – he’s me as an previous man, selecting up my grandson to spend time with him. The concept is that I want to provide my grandson the reward that I didn’t get from my grandfather – time collectively.
In what methods do you see your music evolving sooner or later primarily based in your life experiences?
I’ve actually loved digging into extra private life tales and circumstances for my songwriting materials the final couple years. I’m having fun with this storytelling course for now – I’m in a position to be uncooked and trustworthy and other people appear to attach nicely with that.
What’s subsequent for you after ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’?
‘Grandpa’s Ghost’ was the primary single from a full album that will likely be launched this Spring – known as ‘Wander’.
Discover out extra about Roger Jaeger and his music on-line on YouTube, Fb, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. You’ll be able to watch the gorgeous music video for ‘Grandpa’s Ghost’ under.
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