Much of songwriting must come from true life experiences. We take these little ideas and build them into fully formed songs to share our lives with the world. Our new friend Hidden Jungles does just that.
We had a chance to chat with the songwriter and get deeper into his story. Enjoy the interview here:
1. First off, where did the name Hidden Jungles come from?
The name “hidden jungles” comes from a memory I had as a kid a long time ago. I was about 6 or 7 years old and I remember stepping into my first room in our new house when we moved to Kansas City. My first bedroom, I was kinda scared and kinda optimistic at the same time. How do I make this feel like home to me? How do I take an empty space and fill it with something?
So I told my mom I wanted to paint a mural. This little kid wanted to paint a mural in his room. So I got what I needed the colors, brushes, some newspaper to lay down on the floor, and I just started to let my imagination go. I didn’t care what anyone said, I just went for it, and out of that came the jungle. The trees, flowers, plants, animals, everything that I wanted to be immersed in was right there. I lived in an “actual” jungle.
Tarzan and The Jungle Book were my favorite Disney movies growing up so I took inspiration from their set designs and just made this piece of art that I remember to this day. Hidden Jungles means to create without restriction. To discover something new. To find your place in the world. To make your own way, your own path and love those around you even though you might be different. It is a representation of me as an artist, my reclusiveness and my ambition.
My goal with this project is to reconstruct pop music. To take an empty space, an empty canvas, like pop music, and create something new. Something I want to be surrounded by and immersed in.
2. How would you describe your sound?
80s influenced dreampop with rock and folk elements.
3. Which artists have had the biggest influence on Hidden Jungles?
Owl City, Passion Pit, Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, Twenty One Pilots, Glass
Animals, M83, Fun. LANY, The 1975
4. How does a song come to you? What is your songwriting process?
A song comes from just life experiences. Songwriting helps me clear my head and ask big questions that I wouldn’t know how to talk about openly. I usually start with an idea or theme, maybe even a word or action. I begin to dig deep down and start to expand on that with my own experiences or what I would want a listener to feel or think about.
5. There seems to be a message in your latest song “Here and Now”. Can you tell us about it?
The message of “Here and Now” is moving on. Moving on from the past. So many people get caught up in the past and never find a way to move forward from it. Past traumas or heartbreaks, anything that holds you back from looking to the future, and living in the moment. The line “It’s darkest just before the dawn” is a reminder to stay optimistic. Things will get better.
6. In what way do you try to connect with the listener of your music?
I connect with my audience through social media or live shows. It’s important to meet with anyone who gives my music a listen and have conversations.
7. Give us some advice you learned for other artists getting started in the new music industry? Always keep learning, make a show yours, and be unique.
8. What does the future hold for Hidden Jungles?
More music hopefully.
Keep up with more from Hidden Jungles HERE.
