Glide Magazine – SONG PREMIERE: STEVE DRIZOS OF JERRY JOSEPH AND THE JACKMORMONS REFLECTS ON MEDIA BARRAGE WITH GRUNGY ROCKER “STATIC”
Portland, Oregon-based musician/engineer/producer Steve Drizos will celebrate the release of Axiom on January 22, 2021 via Cavity Search Records. An eight-track collection of melodic rock, Axiom delivers guitar-fueled moments alongside tender, lyrically-driven pop warmth, offering up a hook-filled ride of open and honest soul-searching rock that both recalls the glory days of the 90s while feeling contemporary and fresh.
Currently the drummer for Jerry Joseph and The Jackmormons, when not on the road Drizos helms the board at his studio, The Panther, where he puts on his engineer and producer hat and has worked with countless artists, including Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers), Jerry Joseph, Chris Funk (The Decembrists), and Scott McCaughey (R.E.M., Minus 5, The Young Fresh Fellows).
Setting out to play as many instruments as he could on the record, and sing, Drizos did enlist the help of a few friends, and his wife (The Decembrists’ Jenny Conlee-Drizos), but manned the project by writing, recording, producing, and mixing it all himself at The Panther.
A record that took Drizos out of his comfort zone for more reasons than just being him from beginning to end, Axiom is the sound of a man coming to terms with certain aspects of his life, dealing with depression and anxiety, and working hard to keep his sobriety. The result is something he is very happy with.
Having finished his biggest goal for this record – to finish the record – his next goal is to have people hear it. He hopes that listeners can take something from it, or relate to it and him. “if someone can find something relatable in the lyrics, especially someone who might be struggling with some of the things I sing about on the record, and not feel so alone and isolated, that’s the biggest goal,” he says.
Today Glide is giving you a chance to hear part of the record with a premiere of the standout track “Static,” a true guitar rocker. Balancing grunge and indie rock, the song is a gritty and hypnotic reflection on the constant barrage of media we are saturated with on a daily basis. The song definitely feels like it could have come out of the Pacific Northwest in the early 90s, which makes sense considering Drizos’ musical background. The addition of angelic backing vocals, dramatic piano, and spaced out synth adds an expansive lushness to the song, making it a fine moment in the spotlight from a musician who isn’t usually front and center.
Drizos describes the inspiration and process behind the song:
“Static is an observation of the incessant barrage of noise and chatter all around us, largely generated by talk radio, cable news, social media, etc. And how the things that we really need are drowned out by the things we want or what makes us feel good. The track features Rebecca Sanborn (Blue Cranes, Swansea) on backing vocals, Jenny Conlee (The Decemberists, Casey Neill and the Norway Rats, Ashleigh Flynn and the Riveters) on piano and synth, and Nate Query (The Decemberists) on bass.”
LISTEN:
Photo by Jason Quigley