Interview with Farewell Fortune

Jarod Smith

Feb 27, 2023

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

Music has always had a secondary link to my world, however, back in 2014, I decided to take that love and jump into the scene. My friends band Of Broken were a huge influence on my desire to take my skills as a songwriter and vocalist to the next level. I have since recorded 3 records since then and will release the 4^th on April 14^th. I have been in my career with government for 24 years now. I work full time and record music, give interviews, and market all on my own.

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

I have a very busy family life, but within that I enjoy many different types of sports and travel when the family gets an opportunity. My personal experiences throughout my personal life have been huge influences on my writing. Grief, love, mental health awareness, and other relatable emotions/events have been the ink to my pen.

How long has your band been around?

The project was created in 2019 and have released one album last June called “Decompose”

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Based out of Sterling, Virginia, but record in Middle River, MD. The Baltimore/DC/Virginia music scene is incredibly diverse and has a strong family feel. Many artists from the area have contributed to my project.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

The band name was created through a dialogue with my wife as I was driving to the studio. It means a couple of things to me. The first is the paranormal connection to energy and how karma affects our daily routine. The second is how we must sacrifice time, energy, and finances to obtain success in certain aspects of our life.

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

I’ve listened to so many bands over the years, but currently I would go with Mammoth WVH, Alter Bridge, and Metallica.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Be able to take critique and criticism. Use those to better your techniques, but don’t fall victim to every little byte. Take only that which you deem important to furthering your success.

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

Tightrope. Written by Kurtis Goad, it tells the tale of suicidal awareness. I have seen many fall victim to the hold depression places upon them and I want to help erase the stigma of mental health.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

“Unleash” and “Watch The Walls Fall” are two of my favorites. “Unleash” has definitely seen plenty of airwave attention and “Mayhem” is also one that gets recognized.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

I will bring a few lyrical ideas into the studio with my producer Tony Correlli and we mold the sound from the vocal melodies and wide ranging musical influences. Tony is a master at coming up with just the right sound to match what I’m writing. Pretty much any current event or emotion will get me writing. If I feel like I need to express a belief or opinion, the studio gives me that opportunity.

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

Be cognizant of what someone may be going through that they may need your support on. For the most part I like to have the listener bring in their own life story into the songs. Music for me is always connecting through how the listener defines the song.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

This is a solo project with artists contributing to different songs on the albums. I respect all that honor me with their time and skills. Just enjoy the camaraderie and creativity amongst the people I work alongside.

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

Have the album “Chaos Serum” releasing on April 14^th. We are also releasing a new video for the single “Static” shortly after the album launch. You can check us out at