Photo of J. Pardi by Sean McCracken
I was fortunante enough to link up J. Pardi ( Former founding member and Frontman of SensaMotion ) to talk about the good ole days with Sensamotiion, whats next for J.Pardi and so much more
Q: What are the plans for your future, whats next for J. Pardi?
A: I am fully invested in recording my first project as a solo artist. I have been writing, doing pre-production, and tracking for about a year now. I really wanna make my first effort One to remember. The other thing is working on getting ready to perform live again with a new line-up of great people/musicians who are soon to be revealed.
Q: What Got you Involved in Music in the first place?
A: My Uncles and Cousins all played the guitar growing up. I was a 3 sport all year round athlete with football, hockey, and baseball, plus with school I didn't have time for anything else as a youth. When I was about 12 years old I got my first guitar and was instanly in Love. I always loved a good challenge. Athletics came so easy to me, music didn't at all, and that's what made it so much fun, I really had to work hard at it everyday.
Q: What do you think about the Internet and the Music Business?
A: I think it's great that Artists have so many different ways go stay engaged with the fans and the media. I like to learn about the Industry through watching Interviews with not just reggae artists, but you know every genre, the biggest artists in the world. There is so much at the tip of our fingers. I'm not a fan of engaging in much Trolling or negativity. I usually use social media strictly to promote my music and my friends Music.
Q: What New Music do you Like?
A: For Reggae I would say my favorite new artist from jamaica is Mortimer. He really knows how to pull your emotions when you listen to his music. Also Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, and everthing Protoje is doing with the Start of his new label and the female artists like Sevanna and Lila Ike. I knew the female presence was gonna rise and meet the male presence eventually. And artists like Jah9 and especially Koffee made sure of that.
Q: Aside from Reggae what could you see yourself doing?
A: I was always good at bringing people together, which is where the name J. Pardi came from ( besides it being my first innitial and 2nd half of my govt. Last name ) In the Summer I play gigs and I have been working as a barback part time for a year. I have to work in a fun environment, and i'm a night owl so....maybe Bartending and planning and promotion for events. I never tell myself I have to start thinking of a plan B. I know what I want to do and that's a blessing in itself.
Q: Who are some of your Musical Icons that influence you?
A: Tarrus Riley, Damian, Stephen, and Bob Marley of course. As well as Alborosie and Collie Buddz playing a huge role in me wanting to become a Reggae Singer. Growing up on the east coast it was bands and artists like Jah Works, John Browns Body, Kevin Kinsella, 10 ft. Ganja Plant, Easy Star All-Stars, and Giant Panda Geurilla Dub Squad. Two of my biggest major influences are Groundation as well as Midnite/Akae Beka ( R.I.P. Vaughn Benjamin ).
Q: Favorite Gig/Tour you have done?
A: Picking a favorite gig is really hard to do because there has been so many over the years. If I had to pick one I would have to combine being part Of Fortunate Youth' Don't Think Twice Spring and Fall Tours. This first One in The Spring also included Hirie as Fy's direct Support. The Second part was the longest tour we did which lasted over 2 months I believe, that had Stranger as direct support for FY and that was a big deal being our first time Touring all of California and the west coast. They were some of the greatest memories and experiences in my lifetime, which give me all kinds of stories to tell forever.
Q: What makes East Coast and West Coast Reggae different, when it comes to Sound? A: Honestly I know the fans like to make comparisons of that. But, I only compare the two sides with Hip-hop even until this day and age. With Reggae I think mostly every band/Artist has A sound of their own. The way I like to hear it with my best example would be with a Band like Passafire. They are from Savannah, Georgia and when you listen to their music you can really hear it. Even if you have never been there, you can use your Imagination and let the music take you there. I think that is super important for an Artist to represent where they are from and display in the Music they Create.
Q: How has this Quarantine affected you?
A: To be completely Honest it helped me personally from a financial stand point. Now, I would trade all of this for the World to be in better shape. It's devastating what is happening in the world and Losing so many people to this Virus is heart- breaking. Complaining about having to stay home and chill and work on music was never an Issue for me. Financially, I haven't had to spend much money besides on essentials. So with the Money I had saved, plus the stimulus check I am waiting for, my Tax Return is nice, plus all the unemployment I'm gonna get eventually. I'm definately not loaded, I fall into the lowest income bracket. But, it's almost as if I have caught a break that I needed desperately. I'm gonna use the money to start building my own home studio so I can Track and Produce my own music.
Q: What Projects have you been working On?
A: I have been getting myself back into shape and eating super healthy this whole time which is something my body was telling me it needed, and this was the best opportunity to start. So I would say the project I have been working on the most is Myself.
Q: What does your new song " Steps " mean to you?
A: I chose to release that track as an intro to my solo career. I have gained wisdom and experience over the years and now it feels like I am starting over which was my decision to make a fresh start. So, step by step and laying One brick at a time build a true fan base including all the fans I have made and continue to engage with since being apart of SensaMotion. I never was in this to try to blow up right away overnight. It feels nicer when you have to really work hard at it. If it takes me my whole career, I'm fine with that. The way I am trying to do it tells me that slowly and surely I'm gonna meet everyone else there eventually and when I get there, my journey will be seen as a beautiful One.
Q: What was your time like with SensaMotion?
A: It was a couple best friends that got to start a band together in high school and follow our dreams. We achieved so many of them. We did 7 national tours in the US. We only released an EP and an Album during all those years but the Music touched a lot of people all over. The album " Over The Mountain " reached #2 on the Itunes and #4 on the Billboard Reggae Charts. We got to meet and open up shows for some of our favorite artists including many legendary Reggae acts. I am so blessed to had been able to spend those years traveling with my boys, seeing many beautiful sights, and spreading a message through the Music I believe in.
Q: How did Pauly Herman come into the Picture and become the manager?
A: We met Pauly on the second part of the Don't think Twice Tour he was doing merch for Stranger. I remember one of the first shows in Colorado, we rolled up to the venue and I was sleeping in the back of the Van. I woke up to the sounds of a Native American Flute. I got up and looked out the back window and Pauly was standing there playing it, hahaha. That's my brother and family for Life with all of us and our families as well. On a business level, he was super pro and got things done. If anybody was to ask me I would reccomend him to the highest degree when it comes to knowing the right people in the scene and his experience on the Road as well as scheduling and being prepared.
Q: Any crazy stories you can tell us about from your times with SensaMotion?
A: There was so many... But, if I were to tell One, It has to be this one. I can't get into every little detail, I have to try and make it as short as possible. On One of first Runs down south between Jersey and Siesta Key, Florida with the Original line-up which was Crosson, Ray, dylan, Hank, and Myself. Someone in the band decided we needed to bring a roadie with us, which we didn't. We had no merch and this dude just wanted a free ride and vacation. Long story.... right before the tour one of Hank's guitars goes missing from our rehearsal space, he brings his back up and we hit the road. During our travels little by little people start noticing money going missing from their personal belongings. One night I leave my wallet on the night stand of the hotel room with $100 bill in it, I wake up and the wallet is missing. We're looking all over for it, people are tellin me im buggin' and I prolly lost it when we were out the night before. Then I find the wallet empty planted under the Pillow that Hank was sleeping under. This kid obviously underestimated the fact that we were best friends before we were a band. So now were all discussing how to handle the situtation as we have a show in Myrtle Beach where I used to live and go to Community College for 2 years. The crew goes to the Pad I used to live in with my old roomates and I go to get my dreadlock maintenace done ( shout out Lindsey + Jess the knotted empresses ). I then get a call from my old roomate freaking out " Dude your boys been here for a couple hours and my Money is missing. " Now he done did it, we all get together in the van, tell Ray to pull over and I open the door on the side of the highway " I don't know who's gonna pick up your ugly ass, but you got money now so figure out your own way back to Jersey. " conclusion to the story is I find out his dad is a cop in my old home town. When we get home Crosson and I formulate a Plan to knock on doors and talk to his pops. I wanted to see if that guitar that went missing was in the house. This dude is denying everything, not my son....But me and Crosson make the dad break down eventually and tell us this is not the first time something like this has happened, and he reimbursed us the 5 or 6 hundred dollars we believe he stole plus an extra 400 for the guitar that he had sold if He did that, which we were positive but never confirmed. Last crucial part of this story was on the way down to Florida the only ONE TIME we asked him to drive for a couple hours....I couldn't even make this up man. Everyone is sleeping, as i am laying back I feel the van kinda losing control going like 80 mph on the highway. This dude is falling asleep at the wheel, snoring!!!! We're headed straight into a brick wall of an exit and Overpass as I spring up. In the matter of 3 seconds with Ray is in the passenger seat, both him and I scream, Ray Grabs the wheel and holds it straight and smacks dude to pull over, I seen it with my own eyes. Ray saved all of our lives, Big up Ray.
Check out J. Pardi's new single "Steps" Out Now
Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpardi_music/
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