Louder Than The Music

World renowned Grammy and Dove Awards winning band Jars of Clay have just released their eleventh studio album, 'Inland'. The band's keyboard player Charlie Lowell talks to LTTM about why they've decided to release an album independently for the first time.

Tell us a little bit about your new album 'Inland' and what the inspiration behind it was?

We are rounding our 20th year as Jars of Clay. We knew that if we were to move forward and create another record, we needed to do some reflective work. What is left to do? Are we still capable of making something great- worth our time and the listeners time? The hard work in writing the songs was to put many of the voices we have accumulated over the years behind us. What does radio play right now? What do our fans need to hear? Are we being too honest? Is it marketable? These are all distractions from the real work, and keep us in a critical, analytical mind that strips creativity of it's power and authenticity. We worked hard on that and wrote over 40 songs. The image "INLAND" comes from the Odyssey where a sea-farer is charged with the task of leaving the ocean and heading inland with his oar until he meets someone that doesn't know what the oar or the ocean is. It's like our journey in life (all of us)- it's one thing to hunker down where we are comfortable and known and those around share our ideology, but it's a wilder more adventurous and mysterious process to head inland and embrace the unknown. This is where we feel called, creatively and friends and musicians.

Which is your favourite track on the album and why?

I really like the concepts in Human Race- the idea that we are longing for connection, but most of the ways we think we find it are electronic, and not true connection. They are "less than human", liking a webpage or commenting on a blog anonymously. We don't do cultural commentary very often, but I think it's creative and effective. I like the out of tune trumpet and the robot voice echoing the chorus line, all playing in to this concept of false connection.

What's your song writing process?

We simply meet up at our creative space, turn our chairs toward one another, and try to write in the moment. It's very collaborative, sometimes it starts with an idea (lyrically or musically) that one of us brings in, but many times, is formed and followed on the spot. Quite a rewarding process still.

If you could work with any song writer, who would it be and why?

Neil Finn has always been a favorite writer of mine. I grew up on Crowded House, and love his quirky turns and melodic sensibilities. He's not showy, but serves the songs with freshness and imagery.

Following years of being signed to record labels, you've released this album independently - talk us through that decision.

It's more possible than ever to follow a vision and create a team of like-minded driven people to carry it forward. We don't have bitterness at the label system, but the industry has changed so much over the years, and we are more in touch with our fans than ever, that it made good sense to keep things close, and find the people that are most enthusiastic about this record, and have ideas of how to increase our exposure in the culture. I will say, it is a TON more work upfront to get everything together and ready for release, but it's empowering and rewarding as well.

Having released an album independently, what advice would you give to any aspiring bands out there looking to do the same?

I think you need people around you that have counsel and experience and manpower, guard rails if you will, but those that see potential and feel the passion of what you are doing. Not just a suit that can make phone calls, but a creative partner.