Jake Vera On the Making Of “Purgatory”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Purgatory" and the story it tells?
So with Purgatory being a pretty dark topic, I felt the tone of the song fit the subject matter perfectly. Purgatory is an intermediate state of life after death, where one's soul must be purified/ suffer before entering into heaven.
I wrote the lyrics to convey the final and confused thoughts of a lost soul going through this process. I tried to make the lyrical portion of the song a bit more open to interpretation as well, that way it would be a little more accessible/ relatable to any listeners.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this song?
The whole process was pretty quick and natural so nothing really stood out too much in that regard, just a lot of small epiphanies when coming up with vocal melodies heh
When you're recording in your own little dark bedroom, there's not much room for excitement haha
What are you most proud about "Purgatory?"
It'd have to be my vocal performance, I'm very happy and proud with how it turned out! Production elements aside, the vocal melodies sound very smooth and still have that emotion that I like to convey in all my music!
Every composer has a unique style. How would you describe your musical "voice" or signature style? What sets your compositions apart?
I take the "less can be more" approach and try not to over saturate a song with too many lyrics. I tend to hold notes more frequently to showcase my vocal ability while letting as much emotion shine through as I can.
I'd also like to think I'm pretty versatile. From my other music I've worked on, I can switch up my approach entirely for any song/ genre should it be required.
I'm completely biased though, so take that with a grain of salt hehe
Are there strategies you use to maintain momentum and inspiration?
Aside from listening to and working with other artists, I always remember why I make music to begin with: I simply love it. I don't have any expectations of becoming the next big thing. Writing and producing music for people to listen and relate to is what drives me. It's an outlet for self expression, and something I genuinely just have fun doing.
Now don't get me wrong, if I were to become wealthy and successful from my craft, that would be stupendous :)
