Jared McCloud has a new release, Vacancy, coming out with a show at the 331 Club on Sept 7, 2024. It’s been a decade since the last release but the latest feels like a wiser continuation of the music with all of the lessons learned and gained in 10 years.
Your new album, Vacancy, is coming out 10 years after your last album, please tell us about Jared of 2014 and Jared today.
Oh, the things I could tell younger Jer… run! 2014 me was just starting to see years of hard work paying off. I had gone through a bitter divorce and turned that into writing and touring as much as I could. It felt like it was all finally paying off and I was right where I was supposed to be. I wasn’t responsible for anyone or anything but me and was still a kid in many ways.
I have learned a lot about patience and perspective. I went through some really wonderful times, as well as the hardest time of my life. There was a time I thought I’d never touch an instrument or write a song again. But I learned a ton about myself. I became a dad, and later a husband. I started to try and take care of myself for the first time maybe ever and eventually I found that part of me again that wanted to write and perform. So call it older and wiser, but I feel like myself again for the first time in a long time.
It feels like there must be a story, person or moment that led to Hello, My Name is Standing Joke. Can you tell us about the inspiration of the song? (Or maybe you’re in the same song challenge group as Sarah Morris, who has a similarly named song.)
No, I’m not in the group- I was only in one songwriting group but I was always late with my submissions and was consequently kicked out of it…twice. The tune was honestly a little tongue-in-cheek joke about this business and where I stacked up in it. You’re made to compete with everyone doing better than you are, and it just kind of became a joke after a while. You should be having fun and instead you’re worrying about what you don’t have and what everyone else does. It’s a treadmill, but luckily I was able to see what was happening after taking so much time off and was able to stop competing with everyone else. You should only be competing with yourself. So the tune wasn’t meant to be ‘sour grapes’ or anything, more like “if I make a joke about myself first, then no one else can make it”.
A Kind of Love that Will Tear You Apart and Vacancy Blues are two songs that couldn’t have more different beginnings. A Kind of Love… sounds like a celebration; Vacancy Blues feels like a hard day ending. Are there major themes/emotions you put into the album or just life over 10 years?
It’s funny you mention that, because the subject of the two are similar. “Kind Of Love…” was the first song we recorded for the record, and sort of brings the listener up to speed from the last release. Love lost and all that, but I love juxtaposing sad content over upbeat music. I think it paints a more interesting picture.
“Vacancy Blues” was written a long time ago during a pretty trying time. I wasn’t sure I was who I needed to be and put that into this song. I usually don’t write so directly- so this one is a bit more vulnerable for me. But they both, and the rest of the record for that matter, deal with loss, love, life… all of it, but the most important one is survival. Hopefully the arc of the songs gets that message through.
I assume it’s your children’s voices at the end of Stars and Hearts. That must be fun and rewarding to combine two loves. What do your kids think about the role of music in your life/lives? Do you think they might be future performers?
My kids are the coolest. For a long time I considered myself a guitar player, but now I’m a Dad who also plays guitar. The best part of making this record was playing the demos or new mixes I’d get for them. As soon as the tune was over I’d get “again!” Until they had it memorized. They know all the words to every song now and request “Daddy music” more than anything else they listen to so I think I might be onto something. They’d also ask me all about touring and writing as I was making this record. I think they like that their old Dad used to be someone.
“Stars & Hearts” is about them and how they changed me as a person, and what I’ve learned from them, but also about how quickly life goes by and how I want them to have a full happy life. It’s sort of something I wanted them to have after I’m gone. Having them sing on it was a no brainer, and they are very, very excited for everyone to know that they are on the record. Now they’re telling me that they’re in my band… They definitely have the music bug- but they’re both great dancers too so maybe they’ll be pop divas or something. Keep an eye out for them, that’s my retirement plan.
Please tell us about the album release show.
Sure thing! The big release show will be at 331 Club on Sept 7th at 10:00 with very special guests HebbaJebba. 331 has become one of my favorite places to play- great sound there and friendly staff so I feel pretty lucky to be able to do it there. I hope all your readers can make it!
(Photo credit – James Donskey)
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