After listening to JETSET’s “Time Of Your Life,” I was hooked on the guy. Which is rare. Because usually it takes me a few single releases to catch on to an artist’s vibe. But JETSET is an immaculate vocalist with this deeply emotive R&B vibe. So as soon as I heard “Time Of Your Life”, I was already waiting on another drop.
It took the guy long enough, but he finally released a brand new single titled “Young” (produced by Savillion). The track is less about the actual age factor of being “Young”, and more about maintaining a live-in-the-moment mindset. This song also comes to us just as JETSET has made the decision to leave the security of a day job to solely focus on his music and passions.
“Young” was created during a studio weekend that took place last year with JETSET, Savillion, and JETSET’s brother. The weekend was inspired by Mac Miller’s hit single “Best Day Ever.” The aim was to create a bunch of music that had that same sort of dreamy, optimistic, youthful vibe to it as the track “Best Day Ever.” By the end of the weekend, the guys managed to set the foundation for six different songs, “Young” being one of them.
Take in the track below via SoundCloud, and check out our interview with JETSET after the jump. And make sure you catch JETSET live in concert at the next UNCRWND event on May 4, at the Rivoli (332 Queen Street W.).
Q&A: JETSET
HipHopCanada: Start off by telling me what this track means to you on a personal level, and what inspired you to pen this.
JETSET: Personally, this song to me emits a sense of freedom. When that hook breaks and the drums cut out I see it as a breath of fresh air. It is about really coming to terms with where I am in life and really embracing the life that I am living. It’s funny because a lot of people who gave me feedback on this song were like “Yo, this is real” like “this is really you, this is your life right now” and I think that it really gives people that insight to where I am. All of my songs are very personal to me, and I feel like I really try to put all of myself into them. Definitely one of my favourite songs that we have worked on. The inspiration came from the environment that I am surrounded by. It’s fast paced, it’s crazy, it’s hectic! We make mistakes, we drive when we probably should have called a taxi… but at the end of the day it is a learning experience. You grow from it and it is all part of the process.
HipHopCanada: I love this track because you’ve made “Young” so universally relatable – regardless of your listener’s age; it’s that idea of being impulsive and taking chances and enjoying the moment.
JETSET: Yeah. I definitely feel like youth and age shouldn’t necessarily be tangled together. I mean, I feel like being young is being open-minded; taking life by the reigns and really making the most of everything! I definitely think that it can apply to anyone regardless of age.
HipHopCanada: What’s the most major “Young” impulsive, in-the-moment thing you’ve done recently?
JETSET: Well I wouldn’t necessarily call the decision impulsive, but my brother and I left our job of six years to pursue music and our passions. We were working at a golf course every summer for the last six years and this year, we had a bit of a falling out with the management. So we won’t be returning. It will be the first time in my life that I won’t have any obligations, any responsibilities… but also won’t have a steady source of income. The freedom has already opened up so many new opportunities and we have been able to dedicate all of our time to music, throwing shows and a few other things that we are scheming up.
HipHopCanada: Give me your own personal definition of being “Young” and talk to me about why that kind of mentality is so important.
JETSET: For me, being “Young” is about the freedom to pursue what you want to pursue and experience what you want to experience with the people who you want to be there with. It is about being vulnerable, being self-aware and consistently experiencing. In life there will always be new things to see, new people to meet, new things to experience and you should never limit yourself to how far you can take it. With that said though, every person is different and has different aspirations so I definitely think the end goal would vary from person to person.
HipHopCanada: Tell me the story behind how the collaboration with Savilion came about for this one, and what your process was like.
JETSET: Savilion and I have been working together for years now and our chemistry is at an all time high. Our process usually begins with us making the beat together. I try to get a verse or a hook down on the spot and then we build the song from there in terms of mix, added production… and of course I end up finishing the writing. Last May, I went over to his home studio for a weekend with the hopes of building some songs together, and we ended up with foundations to six songs. It was just Savilion, my brother and I for a few days. And the last beat that we made of the weekend would go on to be the beat for “Young”. We titled the session Mac Miller Vibes because we wanted to draw inspiration from his track “Best Day Ever.” I had the first verse written within the hour and put the hook on it that night as well. I was instantly attached to the song and we ended up finishing the track a few months later. Second verses are always a lot more difficult for me! Aha! I’ll probably put out another song from that weekend’s session in the next few months.
Interview conducted by Sarah Jay for HipHopCanada
