We had the chance to chat with actor and singer Jeremy Shada about his record, Vintage, which is out now on all streaming platforms, as well as his acting career. Jeremy is known for voicing the character Finn in the animated television series Adventure Time, and Lance in Voltron: Legendary Defender, as well as playing Reggie in Netflix’s hit series Julie and the Phantoms. He also dropped an official music video for his track “Pretty Little Lies” (watch below).
Image credit: Bernardo Noguiera

Check out what Jeremy had to say!

How excited are you to release this album?

JS: It’s honestly kinda surreal. What I thought was going to be a little project of exercising my songwriting muscles has expanded into my debut album. I’m so excited for the world to finally hear it!

What were some things you wanted to do with this album that you had to make sure were in the final product?

JS: I wanted to make sure there was a theme that those listening to it could take away. At times, lyrics are just thrown into songs without having a real purpose. With ‘Vintage,’ each song is telling a story and yet plays a part in the overarching story of the album as a whole. Listening to ‘Vintage’ in order will take you on a stylized journey diving into a person’s ups and downs of love and life.

Did you always know that you were going to wear many hats? (acting, singing, voice acting)

JS: I’ve always been interested in each of those industries but I never thought I would be able to do it successfully!

When did you decide that storytelling and acting were what you wanted to do? How do these intersect in your music projects?

JS: I have always loved creating fictionalized worlds, characters, and stories. Growing up, my brother and I would write together and it was so fun exploring different plots for characters. Music allows me to have a platform, with far less words, to tell an interesting journey of a person. Whether or not the sequence of events is based on real life events or completely fictionalized, diving into the journey of a person is so fascinating to me.

What’s it like diving into so many different worlds? Whether it’s your music, Julie and the Phantoms, Adventure Time, and how do you balance it all?

JS: It is SO fun but can be challenging at times. Scheduling has to be one of the most difficult parts. In order to balance it all, I try to be fully prepared for each of the projects I am working on. For example, I do my best to have everything in order/fully prepped on the musical side to minimize time in the studio with my producers.

Who would you say are some of your musical influences? How have they changed shape over time?

JS: I have so many musical influences and it changes on a daily basis. When I was a kid, my dad always played lots of ‘80s tunes. Def Leppard and Journey were Shada household classics! Music is an ever evolving medium and I feel as though I am easily inspired by a wide array of styles. I could see myself writing an entirely ‘80s feeling record and yet I could also see myself creating something very Beach Boys-esque. The list goes on!

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?

JS: If you’re wanting to practice songwriting, sit down, free write, and try to write an entire song in one go around. Even if it’s not amazing, practicing the art of finishing is something so many people struggle with.

Anything else you’d like to shout out?

JS: I gotta say I would not be able to do any of this without my team. My producers, Zack and Kenneth, bring all of my ideas to light and I wouldn’t be the artist I am without them! I’m so thankful for the people I have around me encouraging me to create.

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Follow Jeremy Shada: Instagram|TikTok|YouTube

Stream Vintage here

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