As Summer Jam 5 looms near in Tampa, Scott Harrell talks with Honorary Title principal Jarrod Gorbel about his musical past, present and future. As he heads out on a stripped-down tour with keyboardist Dustin Dobernig that serves as a transition from The Honorary Title's frontman to performing under his own name, songwriter Jarrod Gorbel considers both his past and future.
REAX: Does this tour feel like going back to your roots, as it were?
JG: It totally does, it's exactly where I started. I used to tour just with a keyboard player, just me and a guy on a Rhodes. So yeah. It's kind of a segue, because I just finished an album, and it's not going to be The Honorary Title, it's going to be my solo record. So it's kind of like, "hey, get used to it." But it's also the vibe of the music overall.
REAX: So you're sort of moving forward and getting back at the same time. Why a solo record, when The Honorary Title is basically you?
JG: I think because the last record we did, it did kind of evolve into a band. First it was a touring band, then they were on the last record, and it was a bigger rock sound ... the essence felt more like a band. And I brought in the same people I toured with for the last record. This time I went in totally by myself. Though that's how The Honorary Title started, I felt like it evolved into something that wasn't so much mine any more. And also, just the tag, maybe it's completely irrelevant, but the name … I just see all these names that remind me of that name, and it relates to something I just don't understand - "Is that a Warped Tour band? Oh, then I don't like that band." I think that aura exists for people that don't know the band ... it's been impaired by associations don't really make sense.
It's risky, but it's just to start over, and know that my fans know I was the core songwriter. But this is going to be a little more mature. It's not electronic or anything, it's still folky, but I feel like it's more mature. It helps me feel better inside. Laughs
REAX: Is that how you feel the forthcoming album is different from The Honorary Title, just more mature?
JG: Yeah, I think so. I think as a songwriter, I hopefully matured and have improved. In my mind I feel like it's the best stuff, the most adult stuff I've ever written. With the band, we had teenage fans and we had adult fans. So … I don't know it's hard to tell ... it's more organic, more folk-y, more associated around guitar and piano.
REAX: How did you hook up with Rilo Kiley's Blake Sennet to produce it?
JG: I was always a fan of Rilo, and the Sennet side project Elected album stuck out to me, I always loved it, and I love how it sounds. So I looked into it, to see who produced it, and it turns out he was one of the main producers. I e-mailed him, he got back to me and we started sending demos back and forth. We had no prior relationship, but he was into the songwriting. And the rest is history. Laughs
REAX: Are the tour EP tracks very different from the album?
JG: It's like a continuation of the new album. It's songs that were written with that batch, that didn't make the cut for whatever reason, or there wasn't enough time ... they have more of an atmosphere, versus straight-up rock songs.
REAX: The Honorary Title has always sort of existed on the periphery of various trends – it's kept you out of the middle of oversaturated hype like the emo thing and allowed you to be yourself. Are you glad you weren't an emo poster boy for five minutes?
JG: Yeah, the way you just phrased it, it definitely does not seem appealing at all. Laughs I always hope for more success, but not in a fad sort of way. I wouldn't want to come up in a certain group. If anything, I'd like to come up independently. Because once you're completely associated with something, you're written off. I always want to be successful, but on my own terms. I'm not going to play the Warped Tour ... well, never say never Laughs. But pretty much.
Gorbel and Dobenig play Ybor City's Crowbar Saturday, August 29 as part of Summer Jam 5.
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