ION INDIE MAGAZINE August 2015, Volume 15 | Page 65

JS: Thank you!
ION: You were a contestant on The Voice. What was that like?
JS: I was a runner up for Season 2. It was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience. It was for a short time, while I was on
the show, like being on top of the world.
ION: I could only imagine the pressure!
JS: It was pretty crazy! It was a “do or die” situation.
ION: How do you prepare for a tour of this size, this magnitude?
JS: You kind of just have to be all in this Warped Tour. It's grueling, it's long days, it's hot. It's a lot of work, but it pays off. It's
totally worth it. You prepare by making sure you have your band together, your merch together, your crew together, your
songs…you know, everything set up to go out all summer and kick ass!
ION: How do you find time to be creative and write and still remain true to your fans?
JS: I mean, with what I do, the music that I write, it's all meant for the fans. I write it for them, so it actually goes hand in hand.
Ultimately, I'm doing it for them.
ION: That's cool. I was listening to one of your songs “Not Broken Yet”. it's a very moving song. What's it about?
JS: “Not Broken Yet” was actually about me and Andy. I wrote it from his viewpoints and things he said to me. I went through
something pretty hard in 2013--in my life--personal issues, things that I was battling, getting over it, coming through;
persevering. That song was created through things he said to me and telling me, “You're not broken yet.”
ION: I could tell that it was personal. That's the reason I wanted to ask.
JS: Yeah, I mean, every day when we perform it together, it really means something to us. I did get through what I was going
through and so getting to sing that song together on stage--and look at each other at the end--it's very much like, “We made
it babe!”
ION: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
JS: Yeah, I do about 25 minutes of vocal warm ups. I have a very specific tea that I drink. Throat Coat, ginger, Manuka honey…I
have throat sprays. I suck on Werther’s Originals because it coats your throat.
ION: They're a great candy too!
JS: Yeah you go out on stage and you're like, “Mmmm…my mouth tastes so good!”
ION: What is it about this business that made you want to go into it?
JS: My passion for singing, performing, entertaining, writing music--that’s what it's always been about for me. It's really the
only thing I ever think about. I was brought up in a very musical family. The moment I was born, my parents made me listen to
THE BEATLES, THE ROLLING STONES, LED ZEPPELIN and JANIS JOPLIN.
ION: I can definitely see and hear those influences in your music! Thank you for taking time to talk with us. It was a pleasure!
JS: It was great speaking with you too!

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