Interview with A Permanent Shadow

Jarod Smith

Nov 14, 2022

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

When I was ten years old, my sister bought David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” album. That changed everything for me. From then on I knew I wanted to be involved in music somehow. It’s fair to say “Let’s Dance” is not Bowie’s greatest record, but I still love it for what it meant for my future path. I’m a trained grief counselor, so I guess if I had not gotten into music I would help people get over any type of loss.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I love reading. Fiction not so much, but rather biographies and stuff like that. As for movies, I prefer a good documentary to a any other type of film. Sometimes I obsess about certain subject matters for some time, like tsunamis or self-help gurus. It often happens that after binging on certain issues I end up writing a song or two about them.

How long have you been making music?

I started out as a drummer some twenty years ago. It was only five or six years ago that I decided to become a singer and record my own songs. Now I only play drums on my own records.

Where are you based and how has that influenced your music?

I live in Barcelona and love the city. Just strolling around discovering new buildings, districts, museums, galleries etc. can be very inspiring. I also like being outdoors in the mountains or on the beach. That said, I think being out and about most of the time does ignite thought processes, although I’m not so sure the Mediterranean lifestyle is reflected much in my songs.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

We don’t play live much. If I say “we” I should actually say “I” as A Permanent Shadow is pretty much a solo project. Pulling off a live show, let alone a tour, is a costly and time-consuming endeavor for a solo artist. I’d rather use that energy and resources for recording and videos.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

I’ve played Razzmatazz in Barcelona on a couple of occasions. It’s an incredible venue with a long history of amazing live shows. I must have been to hundreds of concerts there. I would love to tour the Far East, I’m sure it must be an amazing experience.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the line up?

Supporting the late David Bowie would have been a dream come true, but also completely nerve-wracking at the same time.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Take it easy. Trust your gut. Don’t listen too much to other people’s advice and if you do, check their track record. And choose wisely who to work with, both creatively speaking and in terms of promotion.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Our first single “Empty”, because it started the whole journey and I still think it’s a pretty good song.

What is your creative process for writing your music and what inspires you to write your music?

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Conversations, books, movies, life events. I usually start out with the lyrics and then weave the music around them. As a drummer I spend a lot of thought on the rhythm first and then on the melody. So it’s lyrics, drums, melody, usually in that order.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

My songs talk a lot about aging and lost opportunities. But I think there’s always a glimpse of hope in them, so maybe the message is to make the best of what you got and never surrender.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

We will release a covers EP on October 28th, and we are currently working on our third long play. That should be out in mid-2023, and who knows, maybe we’ll be able to pull off a tour for that one, or at least a handful of showcases.