Marianas Trench, Down With Webster and Jesse Giddings are currently on the road and they’re bringing their Canadian fans face to face with their music – hence the name of the tour, ‘Face The Music’. The show is filled with fan favourite songs, covers and exciting outfit changes (sometimes pants aren’t even necessary!). They stopped at Hamilton’s Copps Coliseum on Saturday October 13th.
I had the chance to meet up with Jesse after his set to talk about the tour, feather logos, and Jamaica.
You are now two shows into the Face The Music Canadian tour with Marianas Trench and Down With Webster. How is it going so far?
It’s been a lot of fun. I get to tour with some of my best friends. I couldn’t have asked for a better tour to be on. Every tour has technical difficulties. We’re only two days in but I think we’re figuring things out. I think this is the biggest show I’ve ever played as a musician. It’s crazy.
You played The Supermarket, a small Toronto venue, a few days ago and now you’re at the Copps Coliseum. Do you have a preference between small or large venues?
They’re different. I love playing a little venue where it’s intimate and interactive. I love connecting with people, hearing their stories, and looking them in the eye and feeling like we connect on some level. In a big venue that’s difficult to do. You have to try and entertain the people in the bleachers but at the same time, it’s fun because I get to move and jump around and fill up the stage.
What are your tour must-haves?
Lots of water. I go on a bit of a super healthy diet when I’m on the road. Well, I try to. My secret is lots of tea with lots of honey. Don’t eat before a show so you don’t feel like throwing up. I haven’t done the Bieber and thrown up on stage yet.
Can you tell us the meaning behind your feather logo?
My logo is the circle with the feather. My friends call me Rufio who was one of The Lost Boys in Peter Pan. I think I live in Neverland. We never grow up, never get old. We’re forever young and enjoying life all the time. Rufio always wore a feather cap. I adopted the logo and for me it represents making the most of life and every opportunity.
When can we expect a full-length album or EP and what can we expect from it?
I’m going to be releasing a 6-song EP in February or March. I just released two songs for free on my Facebook page. I’ll be releasing another track over the holidays and then the next single in February. I’m already getting ready for the full-length album.
How would you describe your sound?
I call it beach pop. My music is inspired by my growing up on the west coast in Vancouver and California, living on the beach and all the sounds of the rock and roll and the pop music that was coming out.
How have your experiences, including your gig as a MuchMusic VJ and volunteer trips with Free the Children, influenced your music?
My job as a MuchMusic VJ gave me the opportunity to connect with so many people every day at New.Music.Live and to hear their stories. My trips overseas and travelling with Free the Children and working with them has also given me the opportunity to connect with so many people and hear what they are going through. That has always been the basis of everything that I’ve always wanted to do which is just encourage and inspire and love people. That’s why I set out to get a job at Much, and I did that. Now, that’s what I want to do with my music. I think there’s enough turmoil and trials in life and tough times and so many things in the world that come down on us like stress, school, and bullying. The last thing I want to do is make music that has anything to do with any of that. I want to make music that reminds people of the good times, and inspires people to believe and hope for the good times.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a lot of them. I’m really inspired by my friends in A Rocket to the Moon. They’re amazing guys and they write phenomenally. Their lyrics inspire me. I’m also inspired by Marianas Trench. I love Josh Ramsay and what he writes and how he produces music. He’s so talented.
I asked your fans on Twitter if they had any questions for you. @xsarahyoung wants to know “what has been the most rewarding part of pursuing music?”
The most rewarding part for me personally was that I never dreamed, when I was 12, 13, 14, that one day I would be in a band and play music. I never thought in my life I’d get to go shoot a music video in Italy. That was crazy for me. When I went there, I was like, if this is the only thing that comes from my music career I’ll be happy. [laughs] Now, I hope for more and I want more.
@AnnaSaraa wants to know “what are you most looking forward to in the near future?”
I’ve got another We Day next week in Vancouver, then I’ve got We Day Calgary, then We Day Winnipeg, then I’m in Los Angeles for a bit, and then we’re going to Jamaica to shoot the next music video for “Back To Me”. It’s got a really cool artist named Exco Levi on it who’s in Jamaica right now. It’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to it. So, the next few weeks I’m flying and travelling all across the country and throughout North America, and then I’m off to Jamaica. Poor me. I’m going to have a lot of fun.
Thank you, Jesse! Follow @jessegiddings and @BrighterMusic on Twitter for updates.
