Welcome to The Truth in Us Art. I am your host, Rob Lee. And today, I have the privilege of being in conversation with producer, engineer, mixer, drummer, and audio visual technician. Please welcome Jack O'Connell. Welcome to the podcast.
Jack O'Connell:Hello. Thank you for having me.
Rob Lee:Thank you for coming on and making the time. And, yes, it's good to talk to you people in the audio realm, the music realm. So, yeah, well, we'll get into it. But before we get too deep, I want to start off with what's your story? What's the Jack O'Connell story?
Rob Lee:Where did you grow up? And, you know, we'll we'll start off there, and then, I got a few more bullet points in there.
Jack O'Connell:Sure. Yes. So, born and raised in Baltimore City, grew up in Hamden. And then when I was 6, moved to Towson. And, yeah, lived there till I graduated college, and my mom moved to the Eastern Shore.
Jack O'Connell:And I started living on my own and kind of bounced around, suburbs of Towson, White Marsh, Cockneysville, Parkville, and now I'm in Canton. So yeah. A bit all over the place.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Not far from my neck of the woods. That's that's really cool. And, yeah, I I've seen, what are those those lines that I'll probably ask later about some of the performances and some of the work you've done in the city. So that's gonna be interesting.
Rob Lee:So describe, like, your creative background because I I see that music has been very much a big part of your life from, you know, the single digit ages to, to now. So, like, if you will, could you describe your creative background? And, and if you will, what do you enjoy most about playing music?
Jack O'Connell:Sure. Yeah. So I can remember I can remember loving music as far back as, I mean, forever. I mean, my and my parents can tell you too. I remember there was always music playing, especially when I think back, it's like they might be Giants and Beach Boys and, my parents had this Austin Powers soundtrack.
Jack O'Connell:And there's just I remember I was just immersed in music immediately, and I enjoyed it so much. And I was always kinda interested in the behind the scenes stuff too. So so yeah. And then I I learned about, a lot of alternative music from my babysitter, actually. It was 99.1 WHFS.
Jack O'Connell:That was, like, that was kinda, like, I mean, I guess, where, it was kinda downhill from there with, like, Blink 182, Good Charlotte, some 41. But, I mean, it's funny because before that, I it was in 1st grade, maybe I was listening to Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and, you know, I still admire those bands. I mean, I still have this pop sensibility in a lot of my, production stuff. So well, I don't listen to them real too much anymore. They're still, you know, with me.
Jack O'Connell:But anyway, yeah. So a lot of WHFS and those bands I still listen to today. And, yeah, started playing drums around 10, 11. So I think like 2,004, and started taking lessons. Did that for about 8 years, before I went to college.
Jack O'Connell:And then I mean, started playing in bands when I was about 12. Yeah. Like, yeah, kind of just, like, a year or 2 after I started taking lessons. Because I I remember I I just love the aspect of a band and especially a rock band. I thought I thought that was so cool.
Jack O'Connell:And then I started getting into some bands. There was this, place called Music Workshop, off York Road, and I got into some bands there. And I'm still friends with some of those people I I play with today. What else? I played jazz band all 3 years of middle school, and that was interesting because it was a whole different ballpark.
Jack O'Connell:And I had to learn how to read music. And and I I I hit really hard. I hit I I played way too loud, and I kind of still do today. I would sell my people like my, the conductor used to be like 1 and a 2 and a jack play soft, and it would be
Rob Lee:every single time.
Jack O'Connell:So yeah. Playing the liturgy band in high school, played in a couple of musicals Yeah. In high school. That was cool. And yeah.
Jack O'Connell:And then got into some more semi serious spans throughout high school and college. Yeah. And, in one now, and, I play some cover gigs.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Jack O'Connell:It you know, it's it's a lot.
Rob Lee:No. No. I I dig it. And, you know, in in many respects, when you when you've mentioned, like, kinda, like, is it you're what, like, 28, 29, something like that. Boy, man.
Rob Lee:Yeah. So, like, looking at it, I was, like, yeah, you've grown up in this this this kind of space where you mentioned, like, yeah. You know, I was 10, and this album came. I was like, excuse me. What?
Jack O'Connell:I I know. Well yeah. And now I'm I'm looking at, you know, like, anim of the state turned, I think, 20. Oh, no. I mean I mean, it's over 20.
Jack O'Connell:And that even that in itself is insane to me, and it it's it scares the crap out of me. But
Rob Lee:Yeah. Don't don't do it to yourself. Like and and it's funny, you know, HFS was kinda, like, one of the things that brought me in. Like, I I lived right at that kind of Baltimore, Towson line and, that Govans area, and I was just, like, like, kinda messing with the Dow one day, and I was like, what the hell is this? And Lincoln Park brought me in.
Rob Lee:That's that's that's ultimately what pulled me in, and and that kinda helped develop, like, my love for, like, talk radio and some of that stuff earlier in the day with, the sports junkies and all of that stuff. And then later in the day, it's like, oh, we're gonna flip formats, and we're we're well, we're gonna flip to more music oriented stuff. And then when the formats flipped, I was like, I'm sitting there listening.
Jack O'Connell:I was like, what the hell is this? Yeah.
Rob Lee:And I kinda shifted to, K Rock, and I was, you know, doing that for a while. So I'm very much in those sensibilities. And, yeah. So and and as a music lover, like, I'm I'm a person person that enjoys music. I dig music.
Rob Lee:I, you know, doing a project is coming up soon. And the organizers asked me, they was like, would you would you be interested in, like, curating, like, a list of songs that you like? I was like, Look, Look, I got some stuff. I got some stuff now. I think there's certain skills like obviously training's a piece of it, obviously, school and repetition.
Rob Lee:What is it, the 10000 hours or I'm hearing school and repetition. What is it? The 10000 hours or I'm hearing a new one that it's really probably 10 years early. That's that's kind of the thing. What skills and I'm and I'm looking for something that falls out of that sort of natural, hey.
Rob Lee:I'd you know, I drummed here for a while or I did that. I hung in bands. But something that you gained that makes you feel like you're really effective as a musician or as a per as a music person because you're more than just a musician. You're a music person.
Jack O'Connell:Yeah. I'd say dealing with people is is a big thing. I just from being in bands at such an early age, learning how to interact with musicians, not not only in a musical standpoint, but in emotional standpoint, And being their friend and, you know, understanding understanding people. You know, it really it's cliche, but I would say a band really is like a marriage, and you you need to know those person's, you know, strengths and weaknesses and what, pushes their buttons and what they enjoy. And I actually have I've been working at Towson University for close to 10 years now since I, since I was a student.
Jack O'Connell:And a lot of that is dealing with clients. And I think even that just gives me a little even that much more experience, with with that. And and then yeah. I mean, as far as a musical standpoint, just practicing with music that you love and just listening to tons of music. It it sounds so simple, but, even from a, production standpoint or a mixing standpoint, the more you listen to music, the more I feel inspired to keep creating.
Jack O'Connell:But also I get motivated to, you know, make a record that sounds like what I love. How can I take my my material to the next level and and be like this band or be like this producer? So so that is really huge and just, I've learned to just keep staying in time, you know, learning how to play with a click track and and being, just keeping a solid tempo because that's huge with the studio. And then also learning knowing when to improvise. That that's another thing with doing the sub, doing the cover gig stuff.
Jack O'Connell:I've been doing more recently in Fells Point. A lot of the set lists Yeah. That I I take that back. They're not really any set list. They're they're they just I'm just throwing songs.
Jack O'Connell:And it's important to be have an open mind and one from the get go know a bunch of songs like all the classics, but also know how to improvise and put your own spin on things and be your own musician and not have it be this, you know, stale, you know, kind of just going right off of the recording because Yeah.
Rob Lee:Yeah. If someone wants to listen to
Jack O'Connell:the recording, they'll listen to the recording. Yeah. I I like to put my own spin on things, and and I that's I'm always flattered when people ask me to play on their stuff because I'm like, well, like, any drummer can, like, play it same beat, but but everyone really does have different ways of doing things. And it's, but, yeah, that's what makes music so fun for me.
Rob Lee:Yeah. And and that actually gave me, like, the sort of, like like, secondary, like, question with that of, so what do you recently write? What is what is something that you found really tricky in terms of the improvisation there? Like, cause I I dig that notion of going to see music live. Right?
Rob Lee:And and I know that's something that the way that we do it has changed considerably over the last few years. And I remember, I I think it was maybe 2019 or the tail end of 2018. And I went to see, with my with my girl, I went to see, Tori Rai in DC, and I was just like, this is great. And he was debuting a new album and all of that stuff. And it's this one track on there, who am I?
Rob Lee:And I was like, this is amazing. And the album comes out around the time of my birthday. The it's I'm, like, yeah, this is gonna be great. I get up, have it loaded to Spotify, and I'm, like, let's go. I get in there, and he changed the mix.
Rob Lee:I was, like, oh, this sounds different. I was like, yeah, the lyrics are great. The live version was better, so I had that live experience as my reference point for the first time I've heard that song. So that's that's my thinking in, like, live music. So, definitely, when someone adds a little stank to it, something different, I I dig that.
Rob Lee:And so for you, when you're doing something live, when you're improvising, when you're working on a a tune, because you said you're throwing songs at times. What was something that comes to mind? I was like, this was a complicated improv. This was we were trying to figure it out.
Jack O'Connell:Yeah. So, usually, if, you know, the musician will turn around to me. I do a lot of duos. They'll turn around and say, do you know this this song? And a lot of times, I'll just lie and say I do, and they'll just they'll just play it.
Jack O'Connell:And even if I say no, we'll we'll do it anyway. You know? I'll usually say, like, you know, give me, like, give me, like, 4 bars, and then I'll come in afterward just so I get, like, the general groove. But a lot of the stuff that, you know, especially the bar tunes is essentially kind of the same the same groove, you know. And I if I get a little leeway like I said, I can get, I can get into it.
Jack O'Connell:The the trickiest stuff is when the songs have a lot of kinda parts to it, when it's not just kind of like a straight thing or, you know, like, I would say when someone asked me to play message in a bottle by the police, it's Yeah. It's always different. And Stewart Copeland didn't even play that song the same way every time in the studio. And he is such a better drummer than me, anyway. But I always feel I kinda get this I get this kind of feeling that, oh, I'm not gonna do this song justice.
Jack O'Connell:I'm gonna make I'm I'm gonna kinda fail this song. You know what I mean? But in the bar context, no one no one cares. You're really just there to have a good time. But, also, you have to know who you're playing with because that will change the game as well.
Jack O'Connell:You know, I I play with several different people. And if musician a plays message in a bottle, it will definitely be different than the way musician b plays it. Now it's gonna have the same essence, of course. Yeah. But, you know, I've found over the years that, you know, a lot of people don't play the recording play the song exactly like the recording and put their own spin, which I can I can respect?
Jack O'Connell:But you also have to at the same time, you have to be cognizant that I'm learning the song sometimes on the fly. And if I did have an opportunity to learn the song, I learned it from the recording. We didn't have rehearsal. I it's very rare, that I have any sort of rehearsal with with a with a cover with a cover band. With with my original bands, that's a different story in writing music, of course.
Jack O'Connell:But
Rob Lee:Yeah. And we'll we'll talk about that a bit. I think I think this one is is this is kinda like pre rapid fire, but I wanna get more of a a brief answer on this one because I just added it. So I just wanna get something that's brief on it. So peeling back the onion a little bit, as a creative and working with creatives, musicians, artists, all of that good stuff, and spending a long time, a big chunk of your life.
Rob Lee:And again, I'm kind of mesmerized at the age thing. What, like, secret or trait do most creative people share? Like, what is that thing? Is it courage? Is it fear?
Rob Lee:Is it, you know, the desire to create, I guess? What is that trait for you if you were to peel the onion back and it's like, here's the dirty little secret about creatives?
Jack O'Connell:It's it's funny, and and this isn't to rip on all singer songwriters. But I truly believe that anyone super creative or especially singer songwriters, there's, like, some screw loose in their head. Like, it it's I I found they can they can write I've worked with some people. They can write some of the best songs I've ever heard. But there's some sort of personality thing going on that they're not that they're not easy to work with.
Jack O'Connell:Or they're they're, like, keeping themselves from being able to take that next step, creatively. And, but but it kinda goes back to, like, what I said about dealing with people.
Rob Lee:Yeah. You
Jack O'Connell:need to just know, you know, how to get get through to them and get the most out of them and the best out of them. And, that's really, you know, what I do as a producer. Yeah. Also, when back in the day when I was doing playing in original bands, it was the same kind of thing. You got you gotta be friends with with the people you're working with.
Jack O'Connell:And then if you if you can't be, then there are other people that would probably will will respect you more for what you do, and the ideas you have to bring to the table and, and, you know, you'll work with them. But it's it's usually I I get along with most musicians. It just kinda depends on what wavelengths we're on, what kind of music we're interested in, what our philosophies are with production, and Yeah. How things sound. So
Rob Lee:Where is that sort of common ground at? And, you know, in me doing this, you can imagine that I'm bringing in various guests, doing research, all of that different stuff. It's definitely similar, and there's probably probably about a handful of just they didn't didn't work out. It's rare that I do a free conversation. We're improving right now, you know, if you think about it.
Rob Lee:And, it's rare that I say, hey, let's have a pre talk. No. Everybody's busy. You know, here's the questions. You've got any questions.
Rob Lee:Let's let's talk about it. But really, you know, it's getting into it. And and generally, they they the conversations go well. And I have one example with a guest that he wanted to chat beforehand, and I'm glad we did because he was a dick. And I was like, oh, I'm glad this didn't turn into a podcast.
Rob Lee:It's just would've wasted both of our time. Yeah. And, you know, it's a few people that they just, you know, came into it because there's, you know, it's probably about 10 episodes that were recorded that was just like, I can't use. And it's the nature of, you know, people just not taking it serious. People just, like, preoccupied with something else, and they're into it.
Rob Lee:But I think they're into it the idea of I I wanna have my story out there, but me in being the producer, being the editor, being the curator, I I'm trying to be considerate of this doesn't make you look good. This actually makes you look bad. So knowing what comes out in that final wash but, again, it's knowing that people are sensitive. So if I tell someone, like, yo, this sucked. We should probably do this again, You know, I had to be mindful of that, but really has the feeling.
Rob Lee:You know, it's like, this didn't go well. We should do this again. So, yeah, that's that's something. Like, definitely, when you're doing things that feel improvisational, you're doing things that you're you're working in many pockets. Like, you're like I said, it's a you're a music person.
Rob Lee:You're more than a musician. You know, everything is in that title. And that's the way I kinda look at what what I'm doing. I'm facilitating the storytelling. I'm not doing a storytelling facilitating it.
Rob Lee:And if it makes a person come out not great, it's like trying to be able to get past and get into a place where a person can trust you, like, with sharing their story for 1. Because sometimes, you know, it's like, the reason I started doing this artwork is because a relative passed. And I was like, that's a really emotional story. Thank you for sharing that. I wanna do it justice.
Rob Lee:Ultimate edit. Yeah. I I I think it's important to, and that's why I'm I'm really into doing preproduction
Jack O'Connell:what before I start working on records. It's just to kinda learn what the artist's vision is and to see if I truly think that I can help them get there. And if our, you know, our philosophies kinda match. You know? Because sometimes, yeah, just I'll have to say, you know, I don't think I'm the best person for the job, and and, you know, I I wish you all the best, but it just from our conversations and just what I've gathered, I think, you know, something else, should happen.
Jack O'Connell:So that I and I've learned that over the years. It's not always been the case. Sometimes I'll just go into a project and not, you know oh, cool. Music. I'm gonna make music.
Jack O'Connell:But it really it really is more than just writing songs and pressing record and, you know, shooting them out on Spotify. Like, it's really
Rob Lee:It's an investment of time, of energy, of you know, you're working hours upon hours on a thing, like, you know, this was a light week for me this week. You know? It was, like, only 5 interviews I was doing. But in it, it's like you know, I would tell people, like, you know, it's probably, like, 2 to 3 hours put into the production cycle for 1 podcast. So the moment when someone and I would imagine the same thing applies from the studio standpoint.
Rob Lee:Right? Where someone just doesn't show up, and you're like, I'm booked. Everything is ready to go. I'm like, I'm not gonna get that 3 hours back. So, you know and it's like, let's pivot, you know, if we need to, but just kinda understand, like, understand, like, what goes in it.
Rob Lee:It's not just, like, we're recording this. I don't do I don't send out unedited podcast. You know what I mean? Like, let's levelate this a little bit. And even today, I put out a second episode, and the guest hit me, like, yesterday.
Rob Lee:You know, that's a part, and then when I talk about this thing, can you just remove it? It's like, sure. And me and him did this interview, like, a month ago, and I was like, you sat on that one for a while, bro, didn't you? And and and that's just what it is, but I think having that that that leeway and that sort of, like, flexibility to to do that sort of thing. So I I wanna talk about, like, all the venues because that's what you've done.
Rob Lee:All the venues you've worked in you've played in all the venues, virtually all the venues. So if you will, describe your first gig, like, one that's, like, yeah, this one sticks out. And I know, you know, you you were describing, like, what, 12, I believe, was, you know, when you first started playing in the bands and what have you. But describe your your first gig and something that was a very memorable gig. It may have been something weird happened.
Rob Lee:It may have been like, yo. This was the gig where they threw a pizza at the drummer, and I was like, woah. No. And the drummer was me?
Jack O'Connell:Yeah. Yeah. Luckily, that hasn't happened yet. Yeah. I mean, I'm I'll preface.
Jack O'Connell:Yeah. It's a little exaggeration. I I don't think I've played every single venue in Baltimore, but all
Rob Lee:It's a good line, though. It's a good line.
Jack O'Connell:All the big ones, you know, that SoundStage, Rams Head, you I mean, the list goes on. But any that just a general music lover would would know around Baltimore, I've played. But, honestly, probably around 2,005, I wanna say, was my first gig. It was probably the record theater in Towson with one of the bands I was in at the music workshop. I was in a bunch of different bands, but I think we were called ostracize.
Jack O'Connell:And, I'm still friends with, most of those guys that was in the band. You know, I don't think we were very good or at least up to the standards that I have now. I I'm think I'm sure you could find some videos somewhere, and cringe along. But, but, no. I I remember being really excited though because I grew up going to the record theater
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Jack O'Connell:Watching bands I loved. And and I it was so weird just standing on that that stage. I thought it was it was I thought it was, like, off limits to me. It was really weird. Like, Kate, I thought you, like, had to be famous to stand on the stage.
Jack O'Connell:Like, I was I was so immature about the whole thing. I I didn't understand any of it. I just knew, okay. They're putting a drum kit up there for me. I'm just gonna play the crap out of it and do my thing.
Jack O'Connell:And but I'll never I'll never forget it. It was that was, that was amazing. And then, honestly, the show that sticks out the most is my former band, The Chance, open for the band tonight alive. They're they were a pretty pretty big band at the time. They're from Australia.
Jack O'Connell:They were a a pop punk alternative band. And, I still it's funny. I I remember the day I got the email that we were playing. I was in sociology class at Towson, and I remember just being, like, yes. Like, audibly in in the old class.
Jack O'Connell:I I got the email. I'm just, like, you know, dicking around on my computer. And I get the email, and, yeah, we got to open for tonight live. It was so awesome. It was a packed house.
Jack O'Connell:And funny enough, the band Echo Smith, who's arguably bigger than tonight alive now, they were the first band on the bill. They had were just starting now. They have that, cool kids song. I don't I don't know if you know them, but Yeah. But yeah.
Jack O'Connell:So they played. And, yes, that was Autobar in, like, I think 2013, I wanna say, like, in the fall. And that was surreal. They were they were so nice. And and, yeah, we had so much fun.
Jack O'Connell:But we were nervous, though. We're we're nervous as hell. Because there's a line out the door. I remember walking walking past the line. Oh, that's the that's the drummer of the chance.
Rob Lee:My friend
Jack O'Connell:friend Chad. Oh, that's a guitar player chant. Like, you're like, what? But it's fine, I think, back now.
Rob Lee:Yeah. I I I think I I still get caught on it. I still get the even now, I get the nerves. And and going on stage just to do my thing, and, ultimately, I try to bring it back to, like, really, what am I doing? I'm just talking to people who are more talented than me.
Rob Lee:That's really what it is. Right? And but I remember it was 1 year I I was doing a Baltimore podcast festival, and and I'm on there and it's a group, and I've never done, like, a festival. I'm like, okay. What is this gonna be about?
Rob Lee:And I'm still friends with the, the podcasters that went on after me and my my ex cohost. And I just remember I got starstruck with this this one thing, the bar the bartender at, what was it, Wind up space. That that just to set the stage. It was such a weird thing. He was like, the bartender was like, oh, you guys drink for free.
Rob Lee:You guys are the talent. I was like, the talent? I was like, oh, this is so new for me. And, and I had, like, a double shot of whiskey. I forgot everything I was supposed to say before getting on the stage.
Rob Lee:I was like, oh, no. I'm doing the intro. Oh, no. I got nothing.
Jack O'Connell:Yeah. Yeah. No. It's it's always it's always crazy being on on stage for the first time. But but then when especially when you start interacting with the audience, it I it starts to get more comforting, I think.
Jack O'Connell:And, and yeah. And I've met a lot of my I mean, I've been blessed to meet a I've been able to meet a lot of my idols over the years, and they really are just people and, you know, nice I've I've always had good interactions. So That's dope.
Rob Lee:So I got I got I'm gonna I'm gonna bring these 2 together. I wanna talk about, tell us about Ocanno Sound. Let's just talk about it.
Jack O'Connell:Sure. Yeah. So so that's my studio and really, you know, anything musically involving me. And I started I started saving up for recording gear in high school. It's, like, working at a coffee shop and, saved up for gear.
Jack O'Connell:And I was always interested in behind the scenes stuff, with music. So I I started reading more into, productions of music I liked and and started learning, Pro Tools in college. That was that was what that was what they they taught us, and I got some hands on studio experience on a on a console and had a big live room at the Center For the Arts. And and, yeah, I I just realized I I loved just taking taking songs and bringing them to life. So then when I when I graduated college, I started taking it a little more seriously, and I started recording, my friend's music, and and then it developed into to more artists.
Jack O'Connell:And, one thing I real I realized I really enjoy is helping singer songwriters help their vision come to life. I, they a lot of times they'll come to me and they'll be able to, you know, sing and play guitar and even bass on the record, but they need a drummer. So I'll wind up playing drums on their record and but it also will help me facilitate, you know, the production of it. And it helps me, you know, start from scratch. Give make a song skeleton and get a first draft of it.
Jack O'Connell:And then, yeah. We'll track drums and go from there. Yeah. But, but yeah. So I do production, mixing, engineering, and session drumming, on mo most of my most of my productions.
Jack O'Connell:I've been handing off mixing a little bit to, to some people that I trust. But but yeah. And yeah. Just try to make a cool environment for the artist and just make them excited about what they're working on and and wanna, you know, push themselves and put out cool music. And yeah.
Rob Lee:It's fantastic. So I wanna ask about, collaborating. I believe you're you're you're in a band with your brother. Was that a backyard games? Tell me about that.
Jack O'Connell:Yeah. So, I'm in a band with my brother called, yeah, called backyard games, and we, it's it's it's a long story, but, basically, my there was a period in time when I was, living with my mom and my brother. And my my brother and I kinda always had it somewhat of a similar interest in music, but there was there was a point in time where, my brother, Danny, picked up a guitar and just started writing songs. In particular, I remember Modern Baseball was a band that I liked that Danny got into. And he started writing these songs, and and they were just super quirky, but they were I thought they were brilliant and just super super catchy.
Jack O'Connell:And we because I was learning recording at the same time, I would just demo them out, his songs. And we got excited about him. So we, yeah. Eventually, we decided, okay. Here's a body of songs that we're, both really stoked on.
Jack O'Connell:So let's record them. So we we have, like, a 17 song album that I'm constantly working on. Unfortunately, with my full time job and, you know, other, other artists I'm working with, it's not always the first priority. But but yeah, it's been, it's been a really interesting thing, you know, being with my, being with my brother and, you know, we butt heads a lot. It's not always, we don't always see eye to eye.
Jack O'Connell:My brother is the main songwriter, but I'm the one, you know, kind of producing everything. So especially when, you know, Danny lives in Colorado, so we're there's this distance. And when we worked on the record, he came in and recorded all the vocals and all the acoustic guitar and kind of set the stage. But then it was kinda like, okay. I'm moving, you know, you can have free reign and finish everything.
Jack O'Connell:So, actually, the quarantine was one of the reasons why I got so much work done from it because I wound up outsourcing musicians, and I made this big Excel spreadsheet of, like, notes for each musician. And I I sent them out, these guys in Portugal. That that's a whole whole another story. But, yeah. I'm a part of this thing called Nela Mix, and I met these guys in Portugal.
Jack O'Connell:And they're awesome musicians, so bass and guitar and a bunch of editing, and now mixing are all outsourced. Shout out to Thiago Carvalho, who's, basically an assistant for me now. He's he's such a awesome friend and mentor to me. He's been a huge part of part of, the Backyard Games music in particular. Getting that done.
Jack O'Connell:But but yeah. So we're we're we start playing live shows once we got our first song out, which was last year. And its reactions have been awesome. So much better than I thought, they would be. I'm actually playing my first show with him in a while, next week in, New York City.
Jack O'Connell:So
Rob Lee:That's that's great. And we're we're we're a big fan of brothers on this podcast. I have a younger brother. He's like my biggest fan in podcasting. So shout out to Rudy.
Rob Lee:Yeah. So it's the last real question I have, and then I got some rapid fire questions for you. And this one, I had to, you know, really, really think about a I think music has a quick cycle. There's always something dropping. You know, we have, oh, this is the new releases that are coming out on Fridays, and it feels more like pushing out content versus making art.
Rob Lee:When and from your vantage point, when do you feel like, you know, creative work is ready to share? Not necessarily it's finished. You know? Like, hey. I I you know, we've mastered this.
Rob Lee:Everything is good. But from an emotional standpoint, from a creative sensibility, when is creative work ready to share?
Jack O'Connell:So as soon as I'm ready to share, something I've been working on with someone, I and I believe it's the best I can possibly make it. I think it's ready to share. Now for someone like me, I can be my own roadblock a lot of times because of my insane attention to detail that my my my friends will tell you. Anyone that's worked with me will will tell you. But so I can be a little bit of a perfectionist, but I also I don't want to put anything out that I'm not a 100%, you know, emotionally fulfilled by and know that, you know, others will enjoy listening to it.
Jack O'Connell:But but but really, I think it's as simple as that. If if I'm excited about it, it's it's ready to go. And and it's it's just it's sounding like like it should. Like it should. If I if I'm working on something and I listen to it, and I think it's not you know, the instrumentation isn't supporting each other or, you know, just the song itself isn't working, then I'll keep at it.
Jack O'Connell:You know? And and it I don't unless I have a hard deadline or something you know, luckily, I haven't really worked with, you know, sign bans or anything where I have those kind of deadlines, but but I'll I'll work as hard on it until it's it's right.
Rob Lee:Okay. Dig
Jack O'Connell:it. Yeah.
Rob Lee:So I wanna move to the rapid fire portion of the podcast. It's gonna it's gonna get ridiculous. It's gonna get goofy. I'm just letting you know. I'll I'll
Jack O'Connell:try not to, like, ramble ramble on. You'll you'll have to cut me off.
Rob Lee:Oh, the these are these are as brief as possible. Okay. Sometimes they're just one word answers. Sometimes it's like, this is what it is. Right.
Rob Lee:So, I got 5 of them for you. First one, what's that one album that you could listen to for the rest of your life? I was gonna make it a song, but I think I think album is a little bit more, prudent.
Jack O'Connell:Easy Answers, Anthem of the State by Blink-twenty 2. And without that album, I I don't know if I would have even started playing drums or gotten into music as deeply as I am now.
Rob Lee:Nice. And and I'm glad that I kinda went with that question because I had what was your favorite Blink 182 album? And I was like, no. No. It's now been shift it's now been shifted to this question, so we're good.
Rob Lee:Yeah. That's that's way too hard. But yeah. I'm question. So we're good.
Jack O'Connell:Yeah. That's that's way too hard. But yeah.
Rob Lee:What is your favorite drink? I meant you mentioned coffee, you know, musicians and nightlife and all of that has a different vibe as well. So, you know, give us the rundown.
Jack O'Connell:Oh, man. I'm I'm super simple. I I mean, honestly, if I could pick Margarita, if if but but I'm not I'm not gonna be, like, chugging margaritas on on stage. I'm usually that's usually just,
Rob Lee:very festive.
Jack O'Connell:You know, like a little vodka soda with a lime. But if I'm if I'm out and about margarita, for sure, you give me a margarita and, like, some chips and guac. I'm happy all day. I'll I'll stay all day.
Rob Lee:That's great. What is your favorite post gig activity? Like, you know, some of us need to come down. Some of us, like, I'm just gonna hang out for a little while. I'm gonna definitely grab something to eat.
Rob Lee:What is that for you? What is that post gig activity for you?
Jack O'Connell:So a lot of my gigs are super late at night. This is a bad habit I've tried to get out of, but there really is nothing like winding down. You know, probably ice my arms a little bit or my hands, and I'll get Royal Farms, and I'll sit down and watch, like, some South Park or something. Like, that's how lame lame I am. If I'm playing with a friend, you know, or something, we'll we'll hang out after the show.
Jack O'Connell:But, honestly, a lot of times, the bar is closed after the gig, so we can't just chill afterward. But, you know or, like, if I'm if it's with my brother, we'll we'll hang with with his friends or or something. But, yeah, that's
Rob Lee:that's it. I mean, you know, as long as you're you're getting, like, the chicken tendies from the Royal Farms, then, you know, we're good.
Jack O'Connell:Chicken tenders and fries Always. All day. Nice 2 AM snack. Uh-huh. I love it.
Rob Lee:I I have one that's really ridiculous. I'm gonna save for the last one. So what is your, favorite movie genre?
Jack O'Connell:My father would say screwball comedies. He always gets mad at me. I'll be like be like, hey, dad. You wanna watch a movie? He'll be like, no, Jackie.
Jack O'Connell:I don't wanna not not a screwball comedy. Not screwball. And but so that's honestly, that's probably it. I do love a good, like, psychological thriller, though. Though, those are those are awesome, but, you know, like, Adam Sandler was my first.
Rob Lee:I got it. That's nice. Now this is the last one. This is so ridiculous, but, you know, I and, yeah, as I kinda touched on earlier, some of the bands you mentioned earlier as far as inspiration I'm on the same page. You know, HFS, the whole thing.
Rob Lee:Hay Rock, the whole thing. I pay attention to minutiae when it comes to music. Could you, since you're a drummer, could you describe the drummer face? And I think you know what I'm talking about.
Jack O'Connell:The drummer face. Yeah. I I've been told I I make a lot of weird faces. The drummer face is something that all drummers need to look past because if you think about it, you get super self conscious. You start thinking about it, and you'll you'll screw up the gig.
Jack O'Connell:But jar face is is anything that gives you that extra, like, 5%, I guess, to, like, just lay in to the kit. And, To me, like, I've been told people tell me that I look like I want to actually, like, murder my drum set sometimes when I when I play. I'd like I like smile a lot and just do, like, a just a just a mean mug kinda thing.
Rob Lee:That's amazing.
Jack O'Connell:But, yeah. No. Drummer faces are are are weird. You but you can't you can't be ashamed of it. Everyone's got their own.
Jack O'Connell:And honestly, like, I would rather have a drummer face and, like, look excited when I'm playing than just be like the you know, just be still the whole time. Like, no one, you know, I I I've always say, like, I can be watching, like, the shittiest band on stage. If they're having a good time, who am I to judge? You know what I mean?
Rob Lee:Like,
Jack O'Connell:if they're doing their thing and they're enjoying themselves, then all the power to them, you know? That's kinda my same philosophy with, you know, the drumming face and and being, you know, being excited when you're when you're on stage.
Rob Lee:So I dig it. And, yeah, the the last thing I'll say with that, I agree 100%. And as you remember, going to maybe a, convention, I think it was, a comic convention. And I just remember being there and initially, I wanted to be I wanted to be too cool for it. I was like, hey, man.
Rob Lee:I don't know about all this. And then I just see people really enjoying the thing that they enjoy without and I was like, that's the thing. And I was like and when you're going for it and you're in it, it was like, a dude taking a he was in a full cosplay as, Blade, and he really was in he had the gun. He had the sword. He did his pose.
Rob Lee:He had the fangs. I was like, that guy's going for it. I respect it. And I think that's the same thing. It's like you're performing.
Rob Lee:Just be into the thing that you're doing. Have a good
Jack O'Connell:time. Right. Yeah. I mean, I I play Santeria by Sublime. Like, every single night, I play the bar gig.
Jack O'Connell:And, yeah, is it my favorite song to play? No. But I'm just I'm gonna look excited, and I'm gonna get people excited as well. And yeah. If and even if I'm not excited and I see someone else excited, then that's that's all that matters to me.
Jack O'Connell:You know?
Rob Lee:So with that, I wanna thank you for for coming on to the podcast, and I wanna invite and encourage you to Telefon folks where to check out on social media, website, all that good stuff. The floor is yours.
Jack O'Connell:Yeah. So my, studio, O'Connell Sound, is at www dot oconnellsound.com. You can also find me on Instagram at jack on drums and at oconnell sound. My band, Backyard Games, is on Instagram as well at backyard games music, and, we have a linktree as well. Just linktree slash backyard games.
Jack O'Connell:And, yeah, I'm gonna I'm putting out a lot more music with backyard games as well as, I've been working with my friend, Mikey, who goes by the name Thong DeLong on, on Twitch.
Rob Lee:That's nice.
Jack O'Connell:We're putting out some new covers. And, yeah, I got a bunch of new projects I'm producing that I'm really excited about that just stay tuned for. But, yeah, just follow me at a jack on drums, and that'll be that should be, you know, where you'll find everything about me. So.
Rob Lee:Well, there you have it, folks. Again, I wanna thank, Jack O'Connell for coming on to the podcast, and I'm Rob Lee saying that there's art, music in and around your neck of the woods. You just have to look for it.
