Rising Stars: Meet Jay Frydenlund of Ypsilanti MI

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Frydenlund

Hi Jay, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Chirp started in 2015 in Ann Arbor, MI as a group of friends playing music together, looking for a one-syllable animal sound for a name. There have been many lineup changes over the years- I’m the last remaining founding member, but we’ve been touring and releasing music consistently over the last decade. Through the years and member changes, we’ve always brought a mix of originals, covers, and improvisational elements to our live sets, without an intention to stay within any particular genres.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m not sure it’s ever a smooth road in this industry. The music industry and Michigan have a lot in common in terms of the condition of the road. Some major challenges have been replacing various members over the years, staying creative in an inherently stressful business, weathering the covid years, figuring out marketing and how to stay afloat as a project financially, what to order at White Castle (don’t get the clam strips)- the list goes on and on. It’s always worth it at the end of the day. Because music is the best thing in the world. But, yeah, sucky moments are inevitable.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Something that I feel makes Chirp unique is our ability to jump around genres and always (by “always” I mean usually) find some kind of pocket. We also pride ourselves on the pocket. Pocket is love, pocket is life.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Stay hydrated. Sleep when you can. No Subway. Listen to everything. Keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/chirpmusic
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chirpmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chirpband
• Twitter: https://x.com/chirpband
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/chirpmusic
• Other: https://www.chirpband.com/