Jared Willemsen

Producer and songwriter behind Smile Bro (alt pop), A Willa (folk to rock) and Neon Reject (experimental electronic), plus the duos The Hyperfolk and Fight the Gray.

Jared Willemsen has spent about eight years pursuing music seriously and is close to 200 released songs. The main project is Smile Bro, an alt-pop blend; A Willa is the guitar-and-voice side; Neon Reject is an experimental electronic DJ act performed in a full costume. Jared also makes music in two duos: The Hyperfolk with Jess Bailey of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, whose album "Internet" mixes hyperpop and folk, and the alt-rock project Fight the Gray with a friend from fifth grade.

On the Minnesota Music Note

The Minnesota Music Note - Ep 61 - When Music Isn’t a Hobby—It’s Something to Do w/ Jared Willemsen

2mo ago

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Fun facts from the interview

Jared works in three musical "personalities" at once and says working on the heavy electronic side makes Jared need the stripped-down guitar side, and the other way around.
First learned guitar during a power outage, playing the national anthem from tabs learned in a middle school class.
Got hooked on electronic music through remixes used in sports highlight clips on Vine.
Used Ableton in trial mode for a full year, unable to save a single project, before buying it.
Jared's first EP was called "Chameleon Sheep," about fitting in everywhere and nowhere at all.
The Hyperfolk album "Internet" combines pop vocals, 808s and banjos.
Fight the Gray uses no autotune, and its released songs are "January" and "Give Up on Everything."
Spent about three years building a pedal board so the dirty guitar signal feeds the delay and reverb but cuts off clean.
A long-term dream is headlining Lollapalooza, after seeing Flume, Twenty One Pilots, The Chainsmokers and Childish Gambino there.
Recommended Willis Stout as a future guest.

Pop Electronic Vocals Guitar

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