By: Kat Harlton
Photos: Jen Van Houten
Vancouver based musician JP Maurice recently released his newest track ‘Rocket’ which is the first single from his latest album Boys. Some of you may recognize JP from his feature on CTV’s The Launch.
We had the opportunity to catch up with the rising artist to discuss songwriting, what he learned from The Launch, and what’s next.
Kat: Could you talk about the inspiration behind your single ‘Rocket’?
JP: I wrote Rocket after I had started the initial recordings for Boys. The song came to me in 5, maybe 10 minutes. I felt like i didn’t even write, but just pulled it down from the ether and it wrote itself.
Kat: What is your songwriting process like?
JP: I usually always start with a chord progression or a musical idea. Lately I have been doing all my writing on a piano. After that will come a melody and then phonetic sounds that eventually find their way into lyrics. A song idea is almost always birthed from an emotion I’m feeling or something I’m going through in life that needs to be cathartically processed through song!
Kat: Could you speak a little on your musical idols or role models?
JP: The Beatles are and have always been numero uno for me. I recently actually joined a Beatles cover band on the side! I also just attended the Sasquatch music fest this past weekend at the Gorge and saw my 3 favourite currently performing bands all in a row. Grizzly Bear, Spoon and David Bazan with Pedro the Lion. It was magical.
Kat: Have you ever been given any advice in regard to your music career that you felt you really connected with or made an impact?
JP: Trust your ears.
Kat: What’s on your playlist right now?
JP: I actually have my own playlist on Spotify called JP’s Jukebox! It’s full of tunes I really dig and also features some artists I’ve produced in the last couple years or so Like Blood Maachine, Roderick Campbell, Marty Zylstra, Folk Road Show and Benedict Marsh!
https://open.spotify.com/user/jpthemaurice/playlist/0lSIDf2FuqOwHD8ibIrKyJ
Kat: Can you talk about your experience on CTV’s The Launch, and what you learned from it?
JP: I learned a lot about managing my own expectations, which I felt like I did, and dealing with the pressure of being on television and in a big situation like that which I felt like I could’ve been better at. It was a bit nerve racking. I feel like if I were able to do it again I’d want to slow down the moment a bit more. The whole experience was extremely positive for me and everyone who worked on the show was so kind and supportive and the backing band were absolute killers.