JFT On the Making Of “Maybe”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Maybe" and the story it tells?
It’s a breakup song written years after the fact. When a relationship ends and you go your separate ways, it’s mad to think that you have no idea what that other person is up to now. The tune explores how someone who was once so close to you is now a stranger and their life could have gone in any number of ways. It’s not about looking back with any type of regret or sadness; more just curiosity at how life can pan out in totally different ways and wishing them well.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for this song?
I’m not usually one to look back too much when writing my tunes and generally focus on the here and now and whatever seems to be going on in my life around that time. “Maybe” was a bit different in that it was a trip down memory lane and an exploration of some emotions I’d not thought about for a while. It’s a personal tune and the first time I played it live I did feel a bit emotional which doesn’t really happen for me so that was odd. I get a lot of comments about this tune in particular after I’ve played it live and I could see it was resonating with people so I knew it had legs.
How do you feel this song represents your artistic identity?
My whole thing is about writing relatable tunes in a non-pretentious, relatable way (basically using the type of language I use day-to-day in any old conversation). I write about stuff I’ve actually experienced and I’m not afraid to delve into thoughts, feelings and emotions about those experiences. I think “Maybe” is a pretty “human” tune, in that anyone who’s been close with someone before and now has zero contact with them can probably relate.
How has your music evolved since you started as a singer-songwriter? What have been some key milestones in your artistic journey?
Ohh blimey, it’s a big old journey isn’t it. I constantly feel like I’m starting out. In a way I’m at the beginning of this journey and there’s a lot of stuff I still need to learn. In other ways, I’ve been at it for over a decade. I used to sit on tunes for ages and not write any others, thinking I’ll never write anything better. Over the last few years, I’ve been really embracing “the practice” of writing songs and I’m writing all the time. Lots of it is garbage but there’s some good stuff that comes out - it works for me anyway! It’s wild looking back at the first stuff I recorded and released which I kind of cobbled together a mix and mastered myself. Working with other musicians, producers and mixing and mastering engineers has definitely helped me develop in taking the sound in my head and properly bringing it to life.
Do you have any memorable on-stage moments or performances that stand out to you?
Haha, there’s been plenty. I’ve played in a completely empty pub before (even the bar staff left at one point). There have been some really cool gigs though - one where when I started off playing and the gaff was fairly quiet so I shut my eyes a bit to get into the first tune and when I opened them the place was packed or when I saw that my friends or family have made the effort to come, that’s always cool.
