A Conversation with: aaron Young

IT’S A STORMY SUMMER NIGHT IN ONTARIO. I’M RIDING SHOTGUN WITH AARON YOUNG AFTER SPENDING THE AFTERNOON WITH HIM HANGING OUT AND RECORDING A NEW TRACK IN A FRIENDS BASEMENT STUDIO. IT’S NOW DARK AND THE RAIN IS HAMMERING DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD AS WE DRIVE THROUGH COUNTRY ROADS BACK TO MY HOUSE.

COLE JANETEAS: SO JUST START BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF AND TELLING ME WHAT YOU DO.

AARON YOUNG: I’M AARON YOUNG AND I UH.. I LIKE TO MAKE MUSIC AND SKATEBOARD A LITTLE BIT.

C: SWEET AND SIMPLE, I LIKE IT. WHERE DO YOU TEND TO GET INSPIRATION WHEN WRITING MUSIC?

A: I REALLY LIKE THE BAND DUSTER.. THAT’S A REALLY BIG ONE AND THEN OTHER BANDS THAT ARE IN THE SAME KIND OF SCENE I GUESS LIKE BLUE TILE LOUNGE IS REALLY COOL TOO. STUFF LIKE THAT, REALLY SLOW, CHILL, QUIET MUSIC. 

C: ANY NON MUSIC INSPIRATIONS?

A: TO BE HONEST MOST OF IT PROBABLY COMES FROM OTHER MUSICIANS. I DON’T KNOW, I’LL JUST BE LIKE.. YO THESE BANDS ARE REALLY COOL, I WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS. WHEN IT COMES TO ALBUM ART I LIKE TO TAKE INSPIRATION FROM OLD FILM PHOTOGRAPHY, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE GUYS THAT WERE DOCUMENTING THE VIETNAM WAR.

C: WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DID YOUR PARENTS PLAY WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

A: NO ONE IN MY FAMILY IS REALLY BIG INTO MUSIC ACTUALLY. MY MOM HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTO 80’S TOP CHARTS PEOPLE LIKE CYNDI LAUPER AND STUFF. GROWING UP, THOUGH, I LISTENED TO A LOT OF HARDCORE PUNK MUSIC LIKE BLACK FLAG AND MINOR THREAT WHEN I WAS SKATING AND SHIT, THEN I FOUND MORE OF THIS SLOWCORE MUSIC AND IT’S ALWAYS BEEN SUPER COOL TO ME. A LOT OF PUNK STUFF WHEN I WAS A KID THOUGH. 

C: BIG QUESTION… WHY DO YOU MAKE MUSIC?

A: OU WE’RE GETTING REAL DEEP NOW HAHA.

C: YEA I HAD TO ASK IT AT SOME POINT. 

A: UM… SO… I HAVE REALLY SEVERE DEPRESSION AND BI-POLAR DISORDER. IF I’M FEELING SHITTY, WHICH IS A LOT OF THE TIME WITH BI-POLAR BECAUSE ONE MINUTE I’LL BE HAVING A GOOD TIME THEN I’M HIT WITH THIS WAVE AND WILL FEEL SO LOW AND BUMMED OUT DUDE... TO THE POINT WHERE IT’S ALMOST SICKENING AND I DON’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING BUT LAY IN BED. SO I LIKE TO MAKE MUSIC WHEN I’M FEELING BUMMED OUT BECAUSE IT GIVES ME SOMETHING BETTER TO DO THAN JUST SIT IN BED AND MOPE AROUND ALL DAY. MAKING MUSIC IS A GOOD OUTLET FOR ME AND HELPS CLEAR MY HEAD… SOMETIMES IT HELPS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN’T. I THINK THAT’S WHY I’M INTO THE WHOLE SLOWCORE GENRE LATELY… IT JUST REFLECTS HOW I’M FEELING… BUT IT’S NICE. I GUESS I’M A SAD PERSON HAHA.

C: I’VE SEEN A FEW MUSICIANS LATELY THAT HAVE BEEN MORE OPEN WITH TALKING ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT TOPIC OF MENTAL ILLNESSES IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT MORE OPENLY? 

A: OH BIG TIME DUDE! YEA DEFINITELY I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT. WHAT USED TO DRIVE ME NUTS IS WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID, I WOULD JUST FEEL BUMMED OUT AND PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT ME AND BE LIKE “WHY ARE YOU SO FUCKING MAD ALL THE TIME? WHAT’S UP WITH YOU DUDE?” AND IT FEELS LIKE THESE PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS PUSHING YOUR BUTTONS, AND ALMOST MAKING A JOKE OUT OF IT, YOU KNOW? SO I WOULD JUST HOLD IT IN INSTEAD OF BEING OPEN ABOUT IT AND IT KIND OF SUCKS MAN, FEELING LIKE I HAVE TO HOLD IT IN ALL THE TIME. IT JUST GETS TO THE POINT, AFTER A WHILE WHERE IT FEELS UNCONTROLLABLE AND YOU END UP DOING SOMETHING STUPID WITH IT. IT’S SAD SEEING KIDS THAT ARE COMMITTING SUICIDE BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T HAVE A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM OR FEEL THEY COULD OPENLY TALK ABOUT HOW THEY WERE FEELING. IT’S A REALLY SAD THING.

LATELY, I’VE BEEN TRYING TO REACH OUT TO MORE PEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY AREN’T ALONE IN WHAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH. IF THE TIMING IS RIGHT I WILL ALWAYS TRY TO BE HELPFUL AND I DON’T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS DUDE, TALKING ABOUT IT FUCKING HELPS. GOING TO SEE A THERAPIST, TALKING TO YOUR PARENTS, OR TALKING TO YOUR FRIENDS REALLY HELPS GET THOSE FEELINGS OUT. I FIND MAKING MUSIC GIVES ME THAT CHANCE TO SAY WHAT I WANT WHEN I WANT… JUST PUT SOME THINGS OUT THERE.

C: IT CAN BE A REALLY GOOD OUTLET.

A: YEA! AND THAT’S KIND OF WHY I MAKE THE VOCALS QUIET IN MY MUSIC. IT’S AN OUTLET FOR MYSELF AND I FEEL LIKE NOT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I’M SAYING OR FEELING.. SO I TEND TO TUNE DOWN THE VOCALS SO IT’S JUST QUIET. NO ONE REALLY NEEDS TO HEAR THAT SHIT… PLUS I THINK IT SOUNDS NICE HAHA

C: WHEN YOU GO BACK AND LISTEN TO YOUR OLDER STUFF LIKE THE EP, IS IT INTERESTING TO REFLECT ON HOW YOU WERE FEELING AT THE TIME OF WRITING/RECORDING IT? 

A: OH YEA BIG TIME DUDE! THAT SONG “FATHER” IS ABOUT MY DADDY ISSUES AND HOW WHEN I WAS EIGHT HE JUST DIPPED OUT OF MY LIFE AND I HAVEN’T SEEN HIM SINCE. SO A LOT OF THAT STUFF IS BASED OFF OF.. IT SOUNDS SO STUPID.. BUT TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES OR JUST FUCKIN’… STUFF THAT FUCKED WITH ME GROWING UP. THAT’S WHAT THAT WHOLE EP WAS ABOUT… JUST STUFF THAT HAS BEEN SHITTY GROWING UP. AND LIKE I SAID IT’S A WAY FOR ME TO LET IT OUT AND MOVE ON… YEA. 

C: IT’S NOT STUPID. WHEN YOU ARE A KID THAT KIND OF STUFF DOESN’T NECESSARILY REGISTER, OR YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO PROCESS IT SO YOU SUPPRESS THE WAY IT MAKES YOU FEEL. THEN LATER IN LIFE IT TENDS TO COME BACK AND YOU WORK THROUGH IT. 

A: YEA FOR SURE. 

C: SO RIGHT NOW AND LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE, WHAT DOES MUSIC MEAN TO YOU?  DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU’RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? 

A: HONESTLY, NOT REALLY AT THE MOMENT. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IT’S JUST SOMETHING I DO FOR FUN AND TO EXPRESS MYSELF. WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO LISTEN TO MY MUSIC THEN THAT’S AWESOME AND IF NOT THAT’S OK TOO HAHA. BUT AS FAR AS LIKE… OH WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT I THINK I JUST HIT A BIRD… SHIT HAHA. BUT AS FAR AS FUTURE PLANS I’M NOT TOO SURE. I THINK IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE NICE TO MAKE SOME MONEY OFF MY MUSIC. 

C: YEA I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF ARTISTS LIKE TO SAY THEY JUST DO WHAT THEY DO FOR THEMSELVES AND THAT’S GOOD ENOUGH AND IF THAT’S REALLY TRUE THEN GOOD FOR THEM. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGH THAT REALLY ISN’T ENOUGH. THEY COULD HAVE THE HOTTEST SONG OR TAKE THE BEST PHOTOS, BUT NOT BE SATISFIED UNLESS IT GETS RECOGNITION FROM OTHER PEOPLE. 

A: YEA LET’S SAY IF MY MUSIC GOT REALLY POPULAR I THINK I WOULDN’T HANDLE IT TOO WELL. I THINK ABOUT IT AT TIMES THOUGH. IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD, BUT YOU KNOW ALL THE SHIT THAT COMES WITH SUCCESS WOULD DRIVE ME NUTS.. I’D JUST GO BONKERS DUDE. 

C: IT’S IMPORTANT TO FIND THAT BALANCE OF FAME AND PRIVACY WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A LIVING OFF YOUR MUSIC OR WHATEVER IT IS YOU DO AND STILL HAVE A PRIVATE LIFE. THAT BALANCE IS DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOO, THOUGH. YOU JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.

A: KIND OF LIKE FRANK OCEAN. I REMEMBER HE PUT OUT THAT CHANNEL ORANGE ALBUM THEN JUST DISAPPEARED FOR A FEW YEARS. 

C: YEA AND HE WOULD WRITE A STATEMENT ABOUT SOMETHING OR MAYBE RELEASE A COUPLE LITTLE SONGS ON HIS TUMBLR, BUT FOR THE MOST PART HE KEPT A VERY LOW PROFILE UNTIL HE PUT NEW STUFF OUT. 

A: YEA I FEEL LIKE BEING ABLE TO DO THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR ME… MUST BE NICE HAHA

C: DO YOU EVER GET FRUSTRATED STILL WHEN TRYING TO WRITE OR LEARN A NEW SONG? 

A: YEA MAN I DEFINITELY HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WRITTEN ENTIRE SONGS JUST TO THROW THEM IN THE TRASH.. BUT THAT HAPPENS WITH EVERYONE I THINK. I DON’T RAGE AND SMASH MY GUITAR WHEN SOMETHING ISN’T WORKING BUT I DEFINITELY HAVE MY MOMENTS OF FRUSTRATION. 

C: HOW DO YOU MOVE PAST THAT? 

A: HONESTLY I USUALLY SAY FUCK IT, DITCH THE SONG AND START WORKING ON SOMETHING ELSE. SOME SONGS WORK OUT AND SOME SONGS JUST REALLY PISS ME OFF. LIKE THAT SONG WE WERE RECORDING TONIGHT IS ONE THAT I ALMOST THREW OUT… I’M HAPPY I DIDN’T BUT YEA I ALMOST TOSSED IT. 

C: GOOD THING YOU DIDN’T HAHA

A: YEA I THINK IT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD! I’M REALLY NIT PICKY AND CRITICAL ABOUT MY MUSIC SO I KNOW WHEN I GO BACK AND LISTEN TO IT THERE WILL BE STUFF THAT BOTHERS ME. I LIKE TO JUST RECORD STUFF IN ONE SESSION IN THAT MOMENT, PUT IT ON SPOTIFY OR BANDCAMP AND MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE. 

C: IT IS VERY EASY FOR CREATIVES TO SHARE THEIR WORK WITH THE WORLD NOWADAYS. DO YOU THINK SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS OR HINDERS AN ARTIST’S PROGRESSION?

A: OH THAT’S A GOOD ONE… I DUNNO MAN I GUESS IT HAS ITS UPS AND DOWNS. IT’S COOL BEING ABLE TO SHARE MY MUSIC SO EASILY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEING SO EASY OR ACCESSIBLE THAT KIND OF RUINS IT FOR ME. SINCE EVERYTHING IS SO ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE WHEN SOMETHINGS COOL IT TENDS TO GET JUMPED OUT AND PEOPLE JUST CHOKE THE LIFE OUT OF IT. 

C: IN WHAT WAY?

A: TAKE SKATEBOARDING FOR EXAMPLE. IT USED TO BE KIND OF PUNK AND COUNTER CULTURE. THE PEOPLE THAT KNEW ABOUT OR ASSOCIATED WITH IT REALLY GAVE A SHIT ABOUT IT AND OTHER PEOPLE COULDN’T CARE LESS. LOOK AT THRASHER MAG. PEOPLE THINK IT’S A FASHION BRAND, BUT IT’S NOT DUDE THRASHER IS LIKE..  FUCKING GNARLY… BUT NOW IT’S PRETTY MUCH RUINED. 

 C: DO YOU FEEL THAT BECAUSE MUSIC, AND ART IN GENERAL, IS SO EASY TO ACCESS NOW THAT THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN LOST AND MAYBE PEOPLE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED? 

A: YEA DEFINITELY. PEOPLE USED TO HAVE TO PUT IN THE EFFORT TO GO BUY A RECORD OR CD SO I THINK, BECAUSE THEY SPENT MORE ENERGY TO GET IT, THEY WOULD ENJOY IT MORE WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT IT… PLUS THERE IS SOMETHING COOL ABOUT THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF PICKING UP A RECORD AND HAVING A MORE PHYSICAL CONNECTION TO THE MUSIC… THAT SOUNDS SO STUPID, BUT I FIND IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. 

C: I THINK IT JUST FEELS A LOT MORE TANGIBLE AND REAL IN A WORLD WHERE A LOT OF STUFF IS FLEETING. 

A: YEA MAN RECORDS RULE.

C: SO WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE YOUR FIRST FULL RECORD OUT?

A: I’M NOT SURE WHEN YOU’LL SEE MY FIRST FULL RECORD, BUT I’LL SOON BE RELEASING A NEW TRACK CALLED MIKE ON MY BANDCAMP THAT I’M PRETTY HAPPY WITH.

C: CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR IT! THANKS FOR THE DAY MAN, IT WAS FUN.

A: YEA ALWAYS A GOOD TIME DUDE.

BE SURE TO GO GIVE AARONS NEW TRACK A LISTEN, AS WELL AS THE REST OF HIS DISCOGRAPHY, ON SPOTIFY.

Follow Aaron Young on Instagram (@aaronyousuck), on Spotify and Bandcamp.