Jasmine Cain is back after a 3-year hiatus with her more ambitious & well-made solo album to date. Grande Rock had a chat with Jasmine about her new album, the guest appearances, Michael Starr and lots of other things… read below.
Hi Jasmine… welcome to Grande Rock. It’s been 3 years since your previous album. What happened in the meantime?
J: Thank you very much for having me! The last record I did was an acoustic album called “Modern Day Gypsy”. The band was transitioning and with the member changes, we needed time to develop a sound that fit us as a whole and figure out which direction we wanted to go because everyone was so multidimensional. We were on hold for 2 years with a financial investor who made a lot of promises and just didn’t come through. After we made the decision to move forward on our own, a new investor stepped forward and it went really quickly from that point forward.
When did you start working on the tracks for “White Noise”? Did you have in mind to cooperate with guitarist Lincoln Parish (ex-Cage The Elephant) initially or it just came about along the way?
J: We spent time with several producers including Bob Marlette (Saliva, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson) and John Smith (Goodbye June), but Lincoln Parish came as a suggestion from longtime acquaintance and music attorney, Jim Zumwalt. We had a meeting with Lincoln and felt like he was a better fit for the raw alternative rock feel we were going for.
How important was it that you finally cooperated with Lincoln for your new album? Would the final result have been different if it hadn’t been for him?
J: I think the final result would’ve been somewhat different if we went with a different producer, but Mills Logan (Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan) who has been involved in my career since the beginning and I were very hands-on in producing as well and we have a definite system. This album was much more experimental than any of my previous rock albums though because of Lincoln.
And why did you name the album “White Noise”? What does it declare?
J: I mainly see if as an overabundance of information and I had a hard time simplifying my head and my life to get a clear message and thought process to really build this project from the ground up with meaning. I wanted my message to be clear, but I wasn’t clear when I began. It took me a while to fall into a momentum. I was also questioning whether or not I had something of value to say. I always go through this self-doubt process whenever I do a new album because I just want it to be so great.
Do tell us a bit about the guest appearances of Jeff LaBar (Cinderella), Gerry Finn (Killer Dwarfs), Jeff Caughron (Full Devil Jacket), Christopher Williams (Accept), Kevin Bebout, Kenny Greenberg, Philip Kelly, Amber Rose, Paige Logan & Charlie Parra?
J: Most of them are just friends or former band mates of mine, so it was fairly informal having them sit in on the album. It’s kinda like, “Hey, I’ll buy a few beers and meet you at Mills Logan’s studio”. I’ve worked with Kenny and Amber on previous records and Jeff and Christopher were band mates and co-writers on previous projects. I toured with Jeff LaBar all winter and appeared in his music video for “No Strings”. It was all very low key. The one that was a geek out fan moment for me was when Ralph Saenz (Michael Starr) agreed to make a vocal appearance on this album on “Fall to Rise”. That blew my mind really. Kevin Bebout and I have been together for a couple years, and since he is the “"Kramer Guitar Guy”, he designs and builds all the guitars for Steel Panther and our band. He was incredibly involved in this entire project.
How did the vocal duet on “Fall to Rise” with the “one & only” Michael Starr occur? Michael is a hell of a singer but also a great guy. How was your time in the studio?
J: Ralph Saenz (Michael Starr) has to be one of the nicest people on the face of the earth. I mentioned previously how Kevin Bebout works closely with Steel Panther building their guitars. He casually asked him if he would be interested and he agreed. He sent over a vocal track within a few days and then went to Europe to perform to sold out stadiums for the next month. It still blows my mind. I love his sense of humor. I asked him what he wanted to be paid and he said a $20 ITunes Gift Card and a fruit bowl. He’s so humble even though he’s one of the greatest rock vocalists of our time.
Make a comment about each track… (just a line or two)
J: “Coming in Hot”: Life in the fast lane, four on the floor rock track with a Motley Crue feel.
“White Noise”: Title Track. Information overload…
“Break Even”: A more mature approach to going separate ways…
“Hole”: Self-destructive realization…
“Fool’s Gold”: Falling for a heart of gold and realizing it’s an imposter…
“Good Life”: Knowing everything you touch is doomed…
“Into the Grey”: Self-Forgiveness…
“Nightingale”: Knowing fairy tale relationships are a hoax…
“1995”: Back road reminiscing rock anthem…
“Any Given Sunday”: Beware of false prophets…
“Fall to Rise”: Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, sometimes you have to burn to truly rise above.
The album was produced by Lincoln Parish, (ex-Cage The Elephant) and Mills Logan (Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan) also mixed it. Did you achieve the sound that you had in mind 100%? Would you change anything if you had the chance again?
J: I feel like we got what we were after. Mills is very particular about the entire process and when he gets invested, he sees it through. We were really hyper critical without over thinking it. We let the performances naturally happen, but then we fine-tuned them. These are the best vocal tracks I’ve ever had on an album.
Did you talk with any labels in order to release the album or did you want to go independently since the beginning?
J: We did a soft release in search of interested labels, but while we were searching, we realized we would be burning our entire summer of touring without having a new product and most likely if we were to be signed, the label would want to re-record the songs anyway. We postponed the official release for 3 months and just promoted it independently.
Which are the pros & cons of releasing your album independently? Do you need a strong PR label to all the dirty job or what?
J: I’ve never been signed to a label and I’ve released 5 albums independently. I’ve sold over 35,000 albums collectively on my own. I’m completely debt free. Having a label certainly helps with marketing and distribution, not to mention tour support... but I’ve never gotten to experience that. I just have a really hard core, dedicated fan base in the motorcycle industry that I’ve spent years acquiring and that’s how I sell albums and tour extensively.
Do you have any touring plans or have you booked any live shows around the US?
J: I just finished a short run through the central part of the US during the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. We did 18 shows in 22 days and performed in front of an estimated 1.8 million motorcycle enthusiasts, who filled the streets to celebrate this milestone in the history of Sturgis (which just happens to be my birthplace as well). We have many more tour dates this summer. They’re all listed on our website jasminecain.com.
What do you have in mind to accomplish with “White Noise” that you haven’t done with your previous solo works?
J: I’d like to get more attention outside the motorcycle culture. I already have that wrapped up. I want to explore new demographics and countries. I think we would do incredibly well in Europe. The sooner we get over there and start performing, the better for us. Also, I’m very interested in getting some placement in TV and film. To me, nothing immortalizes a song in history quite like being featured in a movie.
What are your personal & musical future plans?
J: My newest personal goal is health and fitness. I was a body builder and a sports athlete all throughout my youth and high school days and after several knee injuries and a broken back, I kinda gave up on myself. But I’m really ready to dedicate myself back to fitness and be healthy again. I think I can be a little badass if I just get started. I was so depressed about it for so long, but I've met some strong people who have shown me that I’m far from done improving myself.
As far as musical goals go, I’m just continuing to challenge myself as a writer, performer, and singer. I come up with new ideas every few seconds. The more creative I am on a day to day basis, the more creative I am overall. My ideas get better and my performances are stronger than they’ve ever been.
OK, time for our “weird questions”!!! Which one of the Goddesses from the ancient Pantheon would you like to be and why?
J: Athena. I’m a powerful girl and I’m a protector of the ones around me.
Would you try a sexy photography for the album if it brought on more sales or not and why?
J: Depends on what you consider sexy. I’m more about subtle sexy that leaves more to the imagination than blatant T&A, but I think it goes hand in hand with the rock persona. Sexy is intensity and power and confidence. I’m totally into that.
Is rock music a place for ladies or not?
J: Why wouldn’t it be? It’s about rebellion. Women have as much right to rebel as anyone. The social standards that are expected of women and the way they are picked apart from the top to the bottom on every hair, freckle, wrinkle... it evokes anger and rebellion. I think women have a lot to say. I wish they would say it rather than just writing songs objectifying themselves. I realize it’s really hot when a women just straight up puts her sexuality out there and reveals her desire, but there is so much more that makes up a real woman. We aren’t empty shells inside. It’s time we said something that meant something. Shock value only goes so far and then becomes a dead end.
What are those things that you do not like in the music industry nowadays?
J: I don’t really worry about what I do and don’t like about it. I can’t change that. I can only change what I do and how I react to it. Initially I had a hard time getting any kind of credibility, but I rarely have that problem now. If I don’t like the way something is working, I just change it. I’m in charge of my own destiny and I love a good challenge. Again, it forces me to get creative and get passed it.
Which is the most underrated musician of all time?
J: Doug Pinnick of Kings X…
Which are the best 3 female-fronted rock albums of all time according to you?
J: Alanis Morsette – “Jagged Little Pill”
Juliette and the Licks – “Four on the Floor”
Heart – “Dreamboat Annie”
Who is the sexiest Rock Star of our time and why?
J: Male or female? I’m completely a disaster around Miles Kennedy. I can’t even speak. He is a ridiculous singer and guitarist and he smiles a lot. He seems really approachable. That’s sexy to me.
Which do you consider to be the best female vocalist in rock history?
J: Ann Wilson. No question!
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
J: “Appetite for Destruction”. It’s so raw. It makes me want to punch things.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
J: Pink Floyd – “Dark Side of the Moon”…
Which are those 3 rock ladies that are even hotter & sexier than any Porn Star out there?
J: I don’t know any porn stars. I guess I need to get out more.
Which one of the Seven Deadly Sins you consider yourself to be?
J: Pride…
Thx for taking the time to do this interview Jasmine. Wish you the best for the future. Any last words? Have fun & take care!
J: Thank you so much! Everyone join up with me on social media so I hear from you! Twitter@jasminecainrock and Facebook/jasminecainrocks. Love you all! Keep rockin!
J: Thank you very much for having me! The last record I did was an acoustic album called “Modern Day Gypsy”. The band was transitioning and with the member changes, we needed time to develop a sound that fit us as a whole and figure out which direction we wanted to go because everyone was so multidimensional. We were on hold for 2 years with a financial investor who made a lot of promises and just didn’t come through. After we made the decision to move forward on our own, a new investor stepped forward and it went really quickly from that point forward.
When did you start working on the tracks for “White Noise”? Did you have in mind to cooperate with guitarist Lincoln Parish (ex-Cage The Elephant) initially or it just came about along the way?
J: We spent time with several producers including Bob Marlette (Saliva, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson) and John Smith (Goodbye June), but Lincoln Parish came as a suggestion from longtime acquaintance and music attorney, Jim Zumwalt. We had a meeting with Lincoln and felt like he was a better fit for the raw alternative rock feel we were going for.
How important was it that you finally cooperated with Lincoln for your new album? Would the final result have been different if it hadn’t been for him?
J: I think the final result would’ve been somewhat different if we went with a different producer, but Mills Logan (Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan) who has been involved in my career since the beginning and I were very hands-on in producing as well and we have a definite system. This album was much more experimental than any of my previous rock albums though because of Lincoln.
And why did you name the album “White Noise”? What does it declare?
J: I mainly see if as an overabundance of information and I had a hard time simplifying my head and my life to get a clear message and thought process to really build this project from the ground up with meaning. I wanted my message to be clear, but I wasn’t clear when I began. It took me a while to fall into a momentum. I was also questioning whether or not I had something of value to say. I always go through this self-doubt process whenever I do a new album because I just want it to be so great.
Do tell us a bit about the guest appearances of Jeff LaBar (Cinderella), Gerry Finn (Killer Dwarfs), Jeff Caughron (Full Devil Jacket), Christopher Williams (Accept), Kevin Bebout, Kenny Greenberg, Philip Kelly, Amber Rose, Paige Logan & Charlie Parra?
J: Most of them are just friends or former band mates of mine, so it was fairly informal having them sit in on the album. It’s kinda like, “Hey, I’ll buy a few beers and meet you at Mills Logan’s studio”. I’ve worked with Kenny and Amber on previous records and Jeff and Christopher were band mates and co-writers on previous projects. I toured with Jeff LaBar all winter and appeared in his music video for “No Strings”. It was all very low key. The one that was a geek out fan moment for me was when Ralph Saenz (Michael Starr) agreed to make a vocal appearance on this album on “Fall to Rise”. That blew my mind really. Kevin Bebout and I have been together for a couple years, and since he is the “"Kramer Guitar Guy”, he designs and builds all the guitars for Steel Panther and our band. He was incredibly involved in this entire project.
How did the vocal duet on “Fall to Rise” with the “one & only” Michael Starr occur? Michael is a hell of a singer but also a great guy. How was your time in the studio?
J: Ralph Saenz (Michael Starr) has to be one of the nicest people on the face of the earth. I mentioned previously how Kevin Bebout works closely with Steel Panther building their guitars. He casually asked him if he would be interested and he agreed. He sent over a vocal track within a few days and then went to Europe to perform to sold out stadiums for the next month. It still blows my mind. I love his sense of humor. I asked him what he wanted to be paid and he said a $20 ITunes Gift Card and a fruit bowl. He’s so humble even though he’s one of the greatest rock vocalists of our time.
Make a comment about each track… (just a line or two)
J: “Coming in Hot”: Life in the fast lane, four on the floor rock track with a Motley Crue feel.
“White Noise”: Title Track. Information overload…
“Break Even”: A more mature approach to going separate ways…
“Hole”: Self-destructive realization…
“Fool’s Gold”: Falling for a heart of gold and realizing it’s an imposter…
“Good Life”: Knowing everything you touch is doomed…
“Into the Grey”: Self-Forgiveness…
“Nightingale”: Knowing fairy tale relationships are a hoax…
“1995”: Back road reminiscing rock anthem…
“Any Given Sunday”: Beware of false prophets…
“Fall to Rise”: Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, sometimes you have to burn to truly rise above.
The album was produced by Lincoln Parish, (ex-Cage The Elephant) and Mills Logan (Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Luke Bryan) also mixed it. Did you achieve the sound that you had in mind 100%? Would you change anything if you had the chance again?
J: I feel like we got what we were after. Mills is very particular about the entire process and when he gets invested, he sees it through. We were really hyper critical without over thinking it. We let the performances naturally happen, but then we fine-tuned them. These are the best vocal tracks I’ve ever had on an album.
Did you talk with any labels in order to release the album or did you want to go independently since the beginning?
J: We did a soft release in search of interested labels, but while we were searching, we realized we would be burning our entire summer of touring without having a new product and most likely if we were to be signed, the label would want to re-record the songs anyway. We postponed the official release for 3 months and just promoted it independently.
Which are the pros & cons of releasing your album independently? Do you need a strong PR label to all the dirty job or what?
J: I’ve never been signed to a label and I’ve released 5 albums independently. I’ve sold over 35,000 albums collectively on my own. I’m completely debt free. Having a label certainly helps with marketing and distribution, not to mention tour support... but I’ve never gotten to experience that. I just have a really hard core, dedicated fan base in the motorcycle industry that I’ve spent years acquiring and that’s how I sell albums and tour extensively.
Do you have any touring plans or have you booked any live shows around the US?
J: I just finished a short run through the central part of the US during the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. We did 18 shows in 22 days and performed in front of an estimated 1.8 million motorcycle enthusiasts, who filled the streets to celebrate this milestone in the history of Sturgis (which just happens to be my birthplace as well). We have many more tour dates this summer. They’re all listed on our website jasminecain.com.
What do you have in mind to accomplish with “White Noise” that you haven’t done with your previous solo works?
J: I’d like to get more attention outside the motorcycle culture. I already have that wrapped up. I want to explore new demographics and countries. I think we would do incredibly well in Europe. The sooner we get over there and start performing, the better for us. Also, I’m very interested in getting some placement in TV and film. To me, nothing immortalizes a song in history quite like being featured in a movie.
What are your personal & musical future plans?
J: My newest personal goal is health and fitness. I was a body builder and a sports athlete all throughout my youth and high school days and after several knee injuries and a broken back, I kinda gave up on myself. But I’m really ready to dedicate myself back to fitness and be healthy again. I think I can be a little badass if I just get started. I was so depressed about it for so long, but I've met some strong people who have shown me that I’m far from done improving myself.
As far as musical goals go, I’m just continuing to challenge myself as a writer, performer, and singer. I come up with new ideas every few seconds. The more creative I am on a day to day basis, the more creative I am overall. My ideas get better and my performances are stronger than they’ve ever been.
OK, time for our “weird questions”!!! Which one of the Goddesses from the ancient Pantheon would you like to be and why?
J: Athena. I’m a powerful girl and I’m a protector of the ones around me.
Would you try a sexy photography for the album if it brought on more sales or not and why?
J: Depends on what you consider sexy. I’m more about subtle sexy that leaves more to the imagination than blatant T&A, but I think it goes hand in hand with the rock persona. Sexy is intensity and power and confidence. I’m totally into that.
Is rock music a place for ladies or not?
J: Why wouldn’t it be? It’s about rebellion. Women have as much right to rebel as anyone. The social standards that are expected of women and the way they are picked apart from the top to the bottom on every hair, freckle, wrinkle... it evokes anger and rebellion. I think women have a lot to say. I wish they would say it rather than just writing songs objectifying themselves. I realize it’s really hot when a women just straight up puts her sexuality out there and reveals her desire, but there is so much more that makes up a real woman. We aren’t empty shells inside. It’s time we said something that meant something. Shock value only goes so far and then becomes a dead end.
What are those things that you do not like in the music industry nowadays?
J: I don’t really worry about what I do and don’t like about it. I can’t change that. I can only change what I do and how I react to it. Initially I had a hard time getting any kind of credibility, but I rarely have that problem now. If I don’t like the way something is working, I just change it. I’m in charge of my own destiny and I love a good challenge. Again, it forces me to get creative and get passed it.
Which is the most underrated musician of all time?
J: Doug Pinnick of Kings X…
Which are the best 3 female-fronted rock albums of all time according to you?
J: Alanis Morsette – “Jagged Little Pill”
Juliette and the Licks – “Four on the Floor”
Heart – “Dreamboat Annie”
Who is the sexiest Rock Star of our time and why?
J: Male or female? I’m completely a disaster around Miles Kennedy. I can’t even speak. He is a ridiculous singer and guitarist and he smiles a lot. He seems really approachable. That’s sexy to me.
Which do you consider to be the best female vocalist in rock history?
J: Ann Wilson. No question!
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
J: “Appetite for Destruction”. It’s so raw. It makes me want to punch things.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
J: Pink Floyd – “Dark Side of the Moon”…
Which are those 3 rock ladies that are even hotter & sexier than any Porn Star out there?
J: I don’t know any porn stars. I guess I need to get out more.
Which one of the Seven Deadly Sins you consider yourself to be?
J: Pride…
Thx for taking the time to do this interview Jasmine. Wish you the best for the future. Any last words? Have fun & take care!
J: Thank you so much! Everyone join up with me on social media so I hear from you! Twitter@jasminecainrock and Facebook/jasminecainrocks. Love you all! Keep rockin!