Two Inch Voices are a folk-rock project from Sarasota, Florida. Like Hurricane Milton, they are about to blow your mind...
Two Inch Voices are a folk-rock band based in Sarasota, Florida. Fusing the DNA of 70’s Neil Young, the introspection of Radiohead and the garage rock of Sonic Youth, they deliver (largely) sonically uplifting landscapes on life, love and death. We caught up with lead vocalist and songwriter Jeffrey ardent having recently survived the onslaught of hurricane e Milton, he lives to g=fight another day…
How’s it going Jeffrey?
Hey Paul, things are much better now that the hurricanes have subsided for the most part here in Florida. It’s been a wild season for us and all of those affected by the storms along the East and southern states.
Where did the name ‘two inch voices’ come from?
The name Two Inch Voices comes from when I was in elementary school. I was a loud child, to say the least. I would speak loudly to be heard and my teachers would tell me time and again to use my “Two Inch Voice”, when speaking to someone up close. It’s something that I carried with me through time and it only seemed to make sense to use something that seemed influential in my life moving forward.
What did the start of your musical journey look like – who inspired you and who were your early influences?
Growing up there was always music playing in the house artists like Joe Walsh, CCR, The Animals and a lot of classic rock. Once I started making friends at school they turned me on to thrash bands like DRI, MOD, Anthrax and more metal type bands. Middle school was hip hop all day, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, and Slick Rick to name a few, I really liked the stories and the flow. Come high school is where I started playing music and I fell in love with artists like Jane’s Addiction, The Cure, Napalm Death, GODFLESH, Nine Inch Nails and whatever else I heard on college radio.
Who would you describe as your contemporises now?
I don’t listen to a lot of new music, so I would have to say 20’s-50’s Blues artists like Son House, Skip James, Howlin’ Wolf, Rev Gary Davis to name a few. Along with Leonard Cohen, James Taylor, Nina Simone, Melody Gardot, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Motown. I’m a fan of stories and soul. Gospel music always hits deep, the purity in the music I can relate to.
What drew you to folk rock?
I would have to say, I appreciate the vulnerability in the music. Everything ‘Two Inch Voices’ starts on acoustic guitar. I don’t listen to much folk music, but I guess it’s the only way to say I’m a blues man without stepping on toes. The rock part is the high energy that comes from the music I listened to growing up, this never leaves you. It’s the records or artists we find when we’re in our youth that helps us through the good and hard times. I believe we all have a soundtrack we go to when get some sort of feeling.
Are you appalled by those that charge for interviews, radio play and music reviews? These used to be free, right?
I’d have to say yes. As I mentioned I grew up listening to college radio WRPI, this is how I/we found artists, it was free back then. Nowadays it seems folks want to be paid for things but not promote it on any platform. Seems futile. What’s the point in both of you doing the work together, just to have it sit idle? Musicians appreciate the opportunity to share their art and if you’re going to charge for “services” you should do something with it. Don’t you think? I don’t want to vilify companies or anyone, but it seems silly to me. If and when we work together we all grow. Right?
What do you feel about Spotify? Heroes or villains?
Hahaa…. Well.. Knowing they are funded by large record labels to push certain artists as they make hundreds of millions of dollars and the artists make change, this is villainous. Sure it’s a good platform to share your music but that’s about it. It costs us the artists money to be put on playlists, in hopes we get into the algorithm but you again you can’t compete with large corporations.
How much would you say your home state of Florida has influenced your musical style?
I would have to say it’s more people, places and events that have influenced my musical style. I’ve been blessed to have wonderful friends and family to learn from, both musically and personally. Outside of Florida, I spend a lot of time in New Orleans. This is what I call my sanctuary city and it’s been very good to me. A number of musicians have invited me to sit down with them, they’ve shared stories and taught me things that would probably have taken me lifetimes to learn. So really it’s life in general that has influenced Two Inch Voices’ music and me personally.
How hard is it to break out as an up-and-coming musician now?
I believe it’s up to the person(s). If you keep your music or art true to yourself, your moment will come. Fearlessness is a factor, I think. I’ve had people I held dear to me tell me I wouldn’t, I can’t or I won’t and I let this be my fire; rather than my truth. You have to love what you create, give respect to where it comes from and everything will be alright. You have to dream. What’s life without dreams or goals?
How would you say your sound has progressed from 2013’s ‘Self Titled’ EP through to now?
By leaps and bounds. When I first started ‘Two Inch Voices’, in 2007 I was in a strange place personally and musically. My experimental metal band RELEASED I sang for had split up, I moved away from everyone I was making music with, friends were passing away from overdoses and life was just upside down. It was a really difficult time, heartbreaking. So I started dabbling in electronics, learning new instruments and wanted something different. I wasn’t sure which direction I would go but I knew I needed something more and so I wrote the EP. I’m proud of it and it always reminds me of where I was, and where I am. I had always played a little guitar but didn’t take it seriously until 2014. This is when the sound you hear now began to take shape. I locked myself away from everything and everyone and really dove into myself and what felt more pure. I began listening to music again and myself.
You recently toured the UK, what did you take from that experience? What did you think of the food?
You know. It was the most humbling experience musically and for me as a person. It’s easy to play in your hometown, for your friends and family that’ll come out to support you time and again. It’s another thing to bare your soul for strangers far away from familiarity. Its scary but if you’re never uncomfortable how and when do you grow. I enjoyed it! I loved the warm reception and the opportunity to do what I love more than anything and to share it was a blessing. It was tough to get booked anywhere at first because I’m not from the UK, but people believed in me and took a chance. I’m eternally grateful for this and for those loving people. I will always have love for the venues, bookers and my friends that pushed me in the right directions.
The food!! Oh man the food! Fish and Chips, Doner and Chips, Indian food, Parmos all of it, I loved all of it.
I was in both London and Stockton-On-Tees and I ate everything. The quality of food and variety is incomparable, it’s much healthier I felt. Also if you’re ever in Camden, visit Lost Souls pizza! It’s the only place I’ve ever had blackened crust pizza and it’s pretty legit and the staff is great!
Your period around the release of ‘Absolution’ and ‘Nightstand’ were certainly a change in direction like a heavier REM on speed. What was the vibe/emotion that you were feeling at that time?
You couldn’t be more right. They are very different vibes, for sure. “Nightstand” was the first song I had written on guitar in 2014. I was in a place where I knew what I wanted, I was getting confident in my songwriting and things were getting better all the way around. It was the first time in a longtime that I felt in my body. I knew the electronic experimental music from the 2013 EP was a sort of shedding of old emotions and it wasn’t pure enough. I needed to get back to my roots of music. Once I sat down with my acoustic, away from the world I began to become. If that makes sense.
“Absolution” on the other hand was a leveling up musically and in life, I guess you could say; this song was written in 2016. I had just lost one of my best friends to an overdose and it broke my heart. It destroyed me internally. He was gonna be the other guitar player in ‘Two Inch Voices’. I had seen him two weeks earlier and we were putting everything together and then… So “Absolution” is really his soul, his spirit coming through to tell me to stay the path, he’ll be with me the whole way. No matter what, he’ll always be here, take nothing for granted and always do my best. He was a monster on guitar, I still learn from him. Dan will always be the best guitar player and friend you could wish for. I miss him everyday.
What’s been your most memorable performance so far (where and why?)
Actually I have a couple. The first show ‘Two Inch Voices’ played was as direct support for Puddle of Mudd, Saliva and Lit at Ferg’s in St. Pete, Fl for 3000 plus people. Mind blowing! To see a sea of people just bounce, I’ve never seen anything like it. You can never imagine it, the way it feels, all that energy. Wow! This was when ‘Two Inch Voices’ was in a more “rock band” form.
The other was this past UK tour.. My first show was sold out at TAM Mercato Metro in London, 150+ people, sold out show. Again, to be a foreigner and received so lovingly; I have no words. Just truly a blessing.
What would be your dream venue (anywhere in the world) to play and who would be on the bill?
Hmmm.. I know Wembley holds 80k people but I’d like to play for more than that. So anyplace that holds millions. Haha.. Seriously. I want the world to hear ‘Two Inch Voices’, why limit myself or the music to a select few or venue? Why not the whole world? Music is a gift.
On the bill.. It would be great to share the stage with Frank Turner, Foo Fighters, Sunny Day RealEstate, Deftones, Amigo The Devil, Melody Gardot, Gary Clark Jr, Buddy Guy, Cedric Burnside, Kingfish, Marcus King to name a few. So I guess it would be a festival.
Who would be your dream collaborator and why?
Frank Turner. I’d have to say Frank. Reason being, I found his music at a time when life was hard and we had gone through some similar life situations, it seemed. And with the love and support of others as well as self love anything is possible. There’s a kindness and resilience in his music. “Be more kind” a song by Frank is something I believe we can all stand to do, be more accepting of ourselves and others. Remember that people go through shit and it’s important to remember this. However when I heard “Get Better” it reminded me and to quote the lyrics “We can get better, because we’re not dead yet”. Everyday is an opportunity to be a better version of yourself for you and for others. Set an example not to be the example, this speaks loudly to me still.
What’s been the hardest part of your journey so far?
Losing people. This I believe is the hardest part of our journey as beings. You always miss them, everything about them. You want them around. I do believe they’re always around, just not in the flesh. But sometimes you want or miss that hug that lets you know everything will be alright and that’s a tough void to fill.
What’s the most ridiculous predicament that you’ve found yourself in?
Musically I’d have to say, doing two hours of covers for a brunch one Sunday. Haha. Those folks had no idea what they were in for, nor did I. I don’t do covers, I do remakes of songs I enjoy. So they were kinda beside themselves when I’m playing songs they knew but it wasn’t the same. So many dog heads staring at me. Haha. It was pretty great.
In life in general…Once upon a time I was in a relationship and the girl I was dating told me I spent too much time writing music. She told me I had to choose her or music. I asked her, “Are you sure?” She says, “It’s me or music, choose.” And well, we all know how that turned out. Haha.
Can you share a personal story that deeply influenced one of your songs?
Sure. There’s a song I play called “Witches” that means the world to me. I was in my apartment with my cat (Hymns) and at that time I was reading heavily into witches, the craft, meditation and how our relationship with nature, animals and the self has drifted away from us. And I picked up my guitar and started to strum and like water it flowed. Music and lyrics were all done in a day. Remember how I said the honesty and purity of folk music is something you can’t hide from? This was as honest as any song could ever be. Fast forward to a few years later this is the song that got me a distribution deal with AMG Records/The Orchard Sony. If I can say anything, magick exists and it’s deep within us, we just need to listen and let it speak.
If your music was the soundtrack for a movie, what would that movie be called?
That’s a great question.. Damn..
I guess I’d say “The Dreamer of Dreams”
What’s next for Two Inch Voices?
I guess we’ll have to see, so hopefully you all stay tuned.