Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerome Forde.
Hi Jerome, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been playing music since I was a kid. I spent most of my teenage years writing songs and playing in different bands. In my early twenties I stepped away from music to focus on school, work, and family. It wasn’t until I was in my late thirties that I started writing songs again. I sent a few demos around to different labels. One of them was a little Toronto-based indie label named (weewerk). They contacted me and were interested in what I was writing. Before I knew it I was releasing my first album (self-titled, 2023) and playing shows all over northern Michigan. It’s been a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to putting out some new music soon.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been smooth at all. It’s hard enough just trying to survive these days, much less having the time to make music on the side. I spent the last ten months in Alpena working as a rural carrier for the post office just to try and save up some money. It was hard work with long hours. I didn’t play or write or record anything while I was there. No time to. But I managed to scrap together enough to get my family back to Traverse City. We found a nice little house that we moved into just a few weeks ago. And I’ve already started recording again. I’ll be releasing a new single next month called, “When the Blues Come Falling Down.” So I guess I don’t mind if the road isn’t smooth, so long as it gets me where I want to be.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What am I known for? I’d like to be known for writing songs that make people feel something. I’m not into writing songs to tell a story or convey a message or whatever. These ways of writing songs thinks of songs like tools or instruments to get something or somewhere else. But for me, a song (a great song, I mean) isn’t for anything but itself. A song doesn’t have a meaning. It’s its own meaning. It expresses something that affects you when you listen to it, and makes you feel and think in ways you’ve not felt or thought before. I think this is true of art in general. But I think it’s especially true of good songwriting.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is not forcing things and just having fun. I went on a songwriting spree a few years ago that I’m still trying to catch up with recording-wise. My plan was to put out two albums every year until I was caught up, but with working at the post office, playing shows, spending time with my wife and kids, etc., that only gave me a bad case of burn out (and led to some pretty awful quality recordings too). So now I just try to record songs when I can, as well as I can. And I’ll plod along like that until I either catch up with what I’ve written or I don’t. Either way, I’m gonna try. And either way, I’m gonna have fun trying.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://weewerk.com
- Other: https://jeromeforde.bandcamp.com
