Jake Clayton
Barnyard Stomp
Barnyard Stomp
DN: Talk about the record. Where did you get the idea from? What is the inspiration behind this album?
Before I moved to Nashville I was doing my own shows in Missouri and Illinois. I would record music on my home computer, then my aunt would make copies on her computer and we'd sell them at my shows. I eventually gave my music to Rob Daniels to check out and he brought up the idea of recording a professional album. We actually talked about it for over a year before we finally got the chance to do it. The concept of a barn party just fell in line. The backbone of the music is Country Music and we wanted to make music people can party to, dance to, and just have fun with. So we created a soundtrack to the Friday night barn party!
The main inspiration behind the album was the love for making music. In Nashville I am mostly hired to play someone else's music, which is great, but we both have been writing music for many years and we wanted the opportunity not only to play music, but to also create the music and record it. We decided to do something different and fun, something that we would want to hear on an album. The other inspiration was that playing for other artists, I never get a chance to play all the different instruments I enjoy playing. So we wanted to create music that not only allows me to use all the different instruments, but also gives me a chance to play some different styles as well.
DN: Who are the musicians that play on the record?
There are 3 other people that played on my album. The first is my producer, Rob Daniels. Rob is an Ibanez endorser and we toured the country together with the same artist for several years. He co-wrote and played lead and rhythm guitar on the tracks Barnyard Stomp and Rock Slide. Next is Jack Gavin. I've toured with Jack Gavin 'off and on' in the Tanya Tucker band for about 4 years. Jack also spent many years in the Charlie Daniels Band. He's a true Nashville pro and I couldn't have found anyone better for the job! Jack played on tracks 1-3. Last is drummer Troy Luccketta. Everyone knows Troy as the drummer for the multi-platinum rock band Tesla. Troy was producing a Country record in Nashville for an artist named Ashley Norton and he called me in to record some tracks on the album. I soon asked him to play on my album and he agreed! I had no idea Troy was so much more than a rock drummer. He recorded drums and percussion for 8 of the tracks on my album and some of it just blows my mind!
DN: Who are some of the bands/musicians that influenced you?
The Dixie Chicks are huge influences on my playing and writing. They are great players! Garth Brooks' fiddle player, Jimmy Mattingly, is my biggest influence when it comes to fiddle. In the beginning I learned to play by watching him on Garth's dvds. Jerry Douglas is another influence that comes to mind. His slide playing is unmatched! I'm a huge fan of the Eagles and I've recently became a big fan of groups like 30 Seconds to Mars. I always enjoy watching Steve Vai. Not only is he a phenomenal musician, but he's a great showman! That's what it's all about, entertaining! I have some favorites, but I keep an open mind and listen to a lot of different things.
DN: Do you have any projects that you are currently working on right now? Any in the future? Any plans to tour?
We're already planning my next album so whenever I get downtime from the road I'm at home recording ideas. I have a lot of plans for the future. I plan to do a series of themed solo albums and I also want to start creating instructional books and videos on my approach to music and how it allows me to play so many different instruments.
Entertaining live is my passion! Right now I am touring with a Country artist named Sunny Sweeney. We're playing shows all over the country this summer and we're also one of the opening acts for Brad Paisley on his H2O II tour. I really want to get my band out on the road as soon as possible. We're working to make that happen and hope to be out touring in support of my album by the Fall. I could live on the road!
DN: Any interesting stories you would like to share with us about the recording process?
I think the most interesting thing about recording was working with Troy Luccketta from Tesla. Walking in his studio and seeing all the Platinum albums hanging up was a trip. I'm thinking this is my first album and I have someone of this caliber lending his talents to my record. It was definitely a kool experience. Troy and Jack brought the edge to the music that we were looking for. It's very exciting to have them both on my record.
DN: What was the most challenging aspect of creating this record?
With me playing all of the instruments, we had to make sure everything lined up and flowed as if it were a full band playing. I had to know each instrument's part and how that particular instrument would interact with the others. So we had to think everything out completely before we started. We demoed the songs so extensively that we basically ended up recording the album twice! Once to get the arrangements and the parts down, then once again with the proper production. It was very challenging and I think we both got a little burnt out towards the end. It was a great learning process though and I think we've figured out some ways to make it a little easier next time around.
DN: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering support creating this album?
Yes! I don't want this to sound like an awards ceremony, but there's definitely a handful of people that helped make this happen. Rob Daniels helped in every step of the process and took care of things I had no idea of. This would have not happened without him. Troy Luccketta really got involved as well. His playing, his studio, his time! He offered anything he possibly could to assist me in getting this album done. Truly amazing and a great inspiration! Jack Gavin also provided his services to help me with this project. His kind of talent does not come cheap in Nashville and to have his years of professional experience on my album was a blessing. He's been great to me. I also have to thank Sara White and Barry Williams for assisting us on the business end and helping with the resources to release this album. It's great to have these friends on my side. I really owe all of them! Literally! (lol)
Before I moved to Nashville I was doing my own shows in Missouri and Illinois. I would record music on my home computer, then my aunt would make copies on her computer and we'd sell them at my shows. I eventually gave my music to Rob Daniels to check out and he brought up the idea of recording a professional album. We actually talked about it for over a year before we finally got the chance to do it. The concept of a barn party just fell in line. The backbone of the music is Country Music and we wanted to make music people can party to, dance to, and just have fun with. So we created a soundtrack to the Friday night barn party!
The main inspiration behind the album was the love for making music. In Nashville I am mostly hired to play someone else's music, which is great, but we both have been writing music for many years and we wanted the opportunity not only to play music, but to also create the music and record it. We decided to do something different and fun, something that we would want to hear on an album. The other inspiration was that playing for other artists, I never get a chance to play all the different instruments I enjoy playing. So we wanted to create music that not only allows me to use all the different instruments, but also gives me a chance to play some different styles as well.
DN: Who are the musicians that play on the record?
There are 3 other people that played on my album. The first is my producer, Rob Daniels. Rob is an Ibanez endorser and we toured the country together with the same artist for several years. He co-wrote and played lead and rhythm guitar on the tracks Barnyard Stomp and Rock Slide. Next is Jack Gavin. I've toured with Jack Gavin 'off and on' in the Tanya Tucker band for about 4 years. Jack also spent many years in the Charlie Daniels Band. He's a true Nashville pro and I couldn't have found anyone better for the job! Jack played on tracks 1-3. Last is drummer Troy Luccketta. Everyone knows Troy as the drummer for the multi-platinum rock band Tesla. Troy was producing a Country record in Nashville for an artist named Ashley Norton and he called me in to record some tracks on the album. I soon asked him to play on my album and he agreed! I had no idea Troy was so much more than a rock drummer. He recorded drums and percussion for 8 of the tracks on my album and some of it just blows my mind!
DN: Who are some of the bands/musicians that influenced you?
The Dixie Chicks are huge influences on my playing and writing. They are great players! Garth Brooks' fiddle player, Jimmy Mattingly, is my biggest influence when it comes to fiddle. In the beginning I learned to play by watching him on Garth's dvds. Jerry Douglas is another influence that comes to mind. His slide playing is unmatched! I'm a huge fan of the Eagles and I've recently became a big fan of groups like 30 Seconds to Mars. I always enjoy watching Steve Vai. Not only is he a phenomenal musician, but he's a great showman! That's what it's all about, entertaining! I have some favorites, but I keep an open mind and listen to a lot of different things.
DN: Do you have any projects that you are currently working on right now? Any in the future? Any plans to tour?
We're already planning my next album so whenever I get downtime from the road I'm at home recording ideas. I have a lot of plans for the future. I plan to do a series of themed solo albums and I also want to start creating instructional books and videos on my approach to music and how it allows me to play so many different instruments.
Entertaining live is my passion! Right now I am touring with a Country artist named Sunny Sweeney. We're playing shows all over the country this summer and we're also one of the opening acts for Brad Paisley on his H2O II tour. I really want to get my band out on the road as soon as possible. We're working to make that happen and hope to be out touring in support of my album by the Fall. I could live on the road!
DN: Any interesting stories you would like to share with us about the recording process?
I think the most interesting thing about recording was working with Troy Luccketta from Tesla. Walking in his studio and seeing all the Platinum albums hanging up was a trip. I'm thinking this is my first album and I have someone of this caliber lending his talents to my record. It was definitely a kool experience. Troy and Jack brought the edge to the music that we were looking for. It's very exciting to have them both on my record.
DN: What was the most challenging aspect of creating this record?
With me playing all of the instruments, we had to make sure everything lined up and flowed as if it were a full band playing. I had to know each instrument's part and how that particular instrument would interact with the others. So we had to think everything out completely before we started. We demoed the songs so extensively that we basically ended up recording the album twice! Once to get the arrangements and the parts down, then once again with the proper production. It was very challenging and I think we both got a little burnt out towards the end. It was a great learning process though and I think we've figured out some ways to make it a little easier next time around.
DN: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering support creating this album?
Yes! I don't want this to sound like an awards ceremony, but there's definitely a handful of people that helped make this happen. Rob Daniels helped in every step of the process and took care of things I had no idea of. This would have not happened without him. Troy Luccketta really got involved as well. His playing, his studio, his time! He offered anything he possibly could to assist me in getting this album done. Truly amazing and a great inspiration! Jack Gavin also provided his services to help me with this project. His kind of talent does not come cheap in Nashville and to have his years of professional experience on my album was a blessing. He's been great to me. I also have to thank Sara White and Barry Williams for assisting us on the business end and helping with the resources to release this album. It's great to have these friends on my side. I really owe all of them! Literally! (lol)
