Annie O Presents: Jake McMullen

Annie O’s live music series in the Penthouse of The Standard, East Village is a smart bet any time of year, but in summer it’s a must. We can’t think of anywhere we’d rather be on an early summer evening than up on the rooftop, drink in hand, listening to the live sounds curated by our East Village music maven. The vibes are very real and you should come experience them for yourself. 

On Tuesday, June 27, Annie O’s bringing LA-born, Nashville-based Jake McMullen to the Penthouse alongside Lord Youth. You probably know him from his cover of Robyn's "Dancing On My Own" that went viral last year, which made it onto his new EP, Giving Up, released this past May. Get familiar with him and his music before you dance on your own at his show. 

Annie O Presents: Jake McMullen
Tuesday, June 27, 7-9PM
The Standard, East Village Penthouse
Free with an RSVP to AnnieO@StandardHotels.com

ANNIE O: Tell us a little about the new EP.
JAKE McMULLEN: Giving Up was released in May of this year. I worked with producer Micah Tawlks. He produced the last EP as well. We recorded it at his home studio here in town. It was an attempt to start letting more things in that I love musically and not boxing myself into any sort of genre label.
 
Your cover of Robyn's “Dancing on My Own” went viral last year. Tell us about the process of recording and putting that up. What instigated it and were you surprised about all the acclaim it received? And lastly, why do you love that song (as so many of us do)?
Doing a cover was just an idea to bridge the gap between releases since I hadn’t put anything for a while following the release of the Always EP in 2015. I worked on the song with producer Micah Tawlks and producer/drummer Dabney Morris. I had never done a cover song before, so it was a fun challenge to reimagine things. I originally came in with the idea of doing it in a more downtempo style of the song when talking with Micah about it. But after being a few hours into working on it, things just weren’t presenting themselves in the way I was hearing it. Then Dabney found that pad sound you hear at the beginning and laid down the drum beat, and from there, things took off and revealed themselves very naturally. 
 
I love the song because of the power it provides to the listener. Even though it’s such a melancholy and heartbreaking message, it is giving permission to embrace it and let it out and I think that is a beautiful sentiment and something I relate to.
 
As for its acclaim, I’m always surprised when people receive what I do well. I’m grateful that people listen to any of my songs and feel inclined to share them. That means more than I can articulate.
 
You're from LA and now based in Nashville. Tell us a little bit about that move and what you love so much about your new home? 
I moved to Nashville because I knew some people here already and a lot of things were in a transitional stage of my life, so it seemed like a good a time as any to try somewhere new. I’ve been here for almost three years now and the people I have met really are the thing that keep me here.
 
What's so incredible about being creating music in Nashville right now? Tell us a little bit about the scene down there.
I think Nashville is still figuring itself out. It’s growing at a pretty rapid pace and I’m not sure it knows how to react to that yet. It’s interesting to see and a little difficult to explain. Although I can say it is much more than a country music city. I think it’s an exciting time to be creating right now. There’s a lot of great art and music being made here. I’ve met a good amount of passionate people with beautiful ideas that are taking action on those ideas and I think that is inspiring to be around.

What's a fave track of yours on the new EP that you can't wait to play live?
I always enjoy playing "Giving Up” live. It takes on a new kind of energy when we play it and that is exciting for me. Would really love to play “How Do You Get It Back?” soon, but I would want to play it with the horns that my friend, Kevin Dailey, arranged. I need to make that happen.
 
Are there any tracks you have on repeat right now?
I’ve been listening to Andy Shauf, Al Stewart, and The Blue Nile pretty frequently. 
 
Summer touring plans?
Have a few small runs planned this summer. Coming back to the East Coast in July and then playing some shows out West in August.
 
If Jake McMullen had a superpower, what would it be?
Being in many places at once.
 
What can we expect from your show at The Annie O Music Series?
My band and I will be playing mostly songs from these last two EPs. Maybe throw in a new song or two.
 
What's next? 
Working on my first full-length right now. Been writing for that and hoping to have that out early next year.