Jetty Grove is a solo artist who writes and records his songs in a home studio near Baltimore, Maryland. He'd describe his sound as lo-fi indie rock with a folk influence. In "Static Motion," there are recurring lyrical themes of self-doubt, isolation, and mental health issues. "Rick's Car Shop" is about a real repair shop owner who used to frequent the cafe next door that Jetty Grove worked at for about a year. Jetty Grove always tried to give him a free drink, but he insisted on paying, and the tip was pretty much always $6 exactly.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Jetty Grove, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Thanks so much for the opportunity. I’ve loved music my whole life and always experimented with recording stuff on my computer. I also always loved writing and always loved music with interesting lyrics. When I got into college I just really started to fall in love with it and began taking it a lot more seriously. I guess I was really drawn to the creation aspect; I just really love making music.
How do you balance your time in the studio with other commitments such as a part-time job, family, admin?
Music is what keeps me motivated to get through work. I genuinely love being in my home studio and writing or recording, so when I’m not at work or with my girlfriend I’m always doing something music-related. Even though I work, there’s still a lot of time left in the day, most of which is devoted to music.
Your latest release is 'Static Motion'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
I was really enamored by the idea of making a whole, cohesive album. I started writing and recording about a year before it was released, but the process was pretty ordinary, I guess. Nothing too remarkable happened.
Where did you get the inspiration for this album?
When I was making this album I was listening to a ton of Elliott Smith, Alex G, Pavement, and The Velvet Underground. I really like how they each are so unique and have their own sound/style. They all made music for the sake of making music, and I believe that’s the only reason it should be done. They’re some of my favorite artists of all-time. Oh, and Fiona Apple. She is an absolutely incredible artist.
How long did you work on the 'Static Motion'? Was it an easy process for you?
I started writing and recording in September of 2021, and finished in about June of 2022, so that’s like ten months. Parts of it were easy, but some parts were pretty challenging. I write and record everything by myself at home. Trying to figure out some of the more technical aspects of recording is pretty hard for me. This was my first time recording a live drum set, so figuring out mic placement and settings to get the right sound was pretty tricky at first.
Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
I feel like any hidden meaning is meant to be unique to the listener. Once I make the music and put it out there it’s for everyone else to have at that point. The only meaning that matters is the connections other people make with it.
What interests or hobbies do you have outside of music?
I love reading and writing. I write short stories and poetry. I’m also working on a novel with a couple friends. I love to the beach, dogs, and going to thrift stores/record stores.
How do you find yourself in the music business? When you started out in music, did you know it would be like this?
I don’t really see myself as part of the music business. I pretty much make music because it’s what I love to do and anything else that may happen is out of my control, I feel like.
How do you nurture your own creativity?
It’s super important to take breaks when I’m feeling like I’ve hit a wall. I spend time doing other creative things, like drawing or writing, when I feel like I need a little break from music. It’s also super important for me to follow an idea when I get one. I’m pretty intuitive when writing and recording. When I feel something, I lean into it.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m not really sure. All I know is I’m going to keep making music and playing shows for as long as I can.