- Hello Jake, can you tell us all a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician? I am the 2nd oldest of 9 kids in a missionary family! We grew up in the Dominican Republic for over 10 years! I went to Tennessee Tech University when I moved back to the states and played college football! I am also engaged to the love of my life, and a girl dad to the most beautiful 5-year-old princess!
- What made you want a career in country music? I have always loved music, even way back before I could talk! Before college, I had wanted to go to college to study opera music but decided at the last second to go for education! While there, I began playing open mic nights and ended up really loving it! However, it wasn’t until after I graduated that I began playing shows at local restaurants and breweries and got a taste for it, that I considered doing it full time!
- What is the background story behind your latest single “Nadine?” I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Nadine on a trip out to see family in AZ! Immediately she opened up about her love story with her late husband, Hack, who she was married to for over 72 years! I was so touched by their story, that I had to write a song about it! How they danced every day, wrote each other love notes every morning, and just always loved one another unconditionally! I had just written the song as a gift for Nadine, but once we saw the response to a video that her granddaughter in law posted, we knew we had to release it!
- What made you want to do a cover of the hit song “La Bamba?” Growing up in the Dominican Republic, we had to learn Spanish, and La Bamba became one of my siblings and my favorite songs to sing together! I had requested to sing it on The Voice but didn’t get to! It’s also one of the crowd favorites at all my shows! La Bamba is such a classic and timeless song that I can’t wait for everyone to hear our take on it!
- How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? Country, deep, inspirational, substance, and fun!
- What are a few of your favorite venues to play at? The Opry tops them all! I love playing my big stages, but I also love playing breweries and other smaller venues like Red Silo, Stonehaus Winery, SPankies, Tin Roof, The Listening Room, etc…
- What is your recording process like when making and creating new music? To start off I have to write the song, practice it over and over until it’s the vibe I’m going for, and then get in the studio and watch the magic happen!
- Who are some of your musical icons? The Eagles, Chris Stapleton, James Taylor, John Denver, Tom Petty, Roger Miller, etc…
- What is one of your favorite quotes? The biggest influences on the future are the opportunities we take advantage of in the present!
- Is there anything else you would like to share? thank you to each and every person who voted for me on The Voice, and who have bought and streamed my music since then! I really do have the best fans in the world, and I can’t wait for Y’all to hear what we’ve been cooking up in the studio!
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