feel it out: conversing with the collective of Jimrat.

monday, october 21st 2024 • boston, massachusetts

more portraits can be found here.

“That’s the Jimrat inspiration: Life is a series of failures. Some of them are worse than others.”

How do you categorize an art collective made up of roughly 10 solid artists who all have a voice and an important message? Easy answer: you don’t. With labels, genres and categories plaguing our society, the Boston band and collective of Jimrat is breaking the mold and doing it effortlessly. When people think of a band they tend to only think of the face of the music: the musicians themselves. They are the ones in charge of creating the sounds that make us feel, scream, cry, smile and think. People as a whole tend to overlook the individuals behind the scenes that help ground the musicians and assist in the creation of their image, sound and message. With Jimrat, every member of the collective is active in the project and valued for their input, often all of them having an equal say in decisions for the group.

The collective of Jimrat consists of vocalist and songwriter Sam, drummer Tim, bassist E, guitarist/vocalist/synthesist Emma, guitarist/vocalist Josie, guitarist Jacob, electronic music producer Fern, artist and performed Lauren, photographer/performer/painter Stephen, and graphic designer/creative director Hector.

So, what do the brains of 10 separate people get you? Let me show you

october 21st 2024 -

Hunter: When did this group originally come together and what brought you all together? Plus, the name is really unique. Where did that come from?

Jacob: I remember the old show that we played at Wonderland that was Photoshoot Corporeal and Video Days…I think after or before the show we [Jacob and Sam] went for a walk and you were like ‘I’m starting this band, do you want to be in my band?’ Then a month went by and I thought he forgot about it and I saw just ‘JIMRAT’ and was like ‘YOU BASTARD.’ I didn’t care at all…I was so busy anyways.

Sam: Okay, it was like, you were in a lot of bands and it doesn’t really matter because you are definitely going to play with us, so it didn’t really matter.

Ja: Oh, yea I didn’t care. You just didn’t really have a concept for it or even a name.

S: Honestly I think the originally lineup was going to be you, me, Kate and Gavin.

Tim: That’s a crazy line up.

S: I don’t know why it changed…honestly I think it was because I wanted to practice a lot and I didn’t want to make you come all the way to practice all of the time. He lives in New Hampshire, for context. But he is a very good guitarist…even though he does live in New Hampshire. And the name Jimrat comes from our friend Nora and the name really is just based around the fact there are a lot of rats in Allston...also the idea of a fake person.

H: As a group, where do you think you guys take inspiration from musically?

Emma: That’s a question for Mr. Rat.

Josie: Whatever Sam says...

S: Bach…classical music.

Jo: These two books that Sam made us read.

S: No it’s Emma’s book.

H: What book?

Ea: Áqua Viva [Clarice Lispector], it’s my favorite book. Honestly I don’t even know where I found it. I just read a lot of books so I come across a lot of books and that was my favorite one and was like ‘Sam you gotta read this.’

S: Oh, music inspirations - William Shakespeare’s Rome + Juliet [1996] soundtrack.

Ea: Oh, 100% the Leo DiCaprio Film.

T: Ecco2K.

Jo: That and The Strokes.

T: What’s worse: Bach or Ecco2K?

S: I think thinking about things intentionally, thinking about intention is important. And to me, classical music often has intention. I mean also classical music sometimes doesn’t have intention. Rock music can have intention. Both can exist.

H: Going off the whole book thing, is there any other type of media that inspires you and if so, is there anything that stands out?

S: Wings of Desire [1987]

Ea: Is that the movie that I showed you?

S: Basically just like Emma.

Ea: *laughs* Basically, I’m the mastermind behind Jimrat. I definitely think books and writing. Outside of music I do a lot of poetry and writing so I think that just comes in a lot to my music.

S: Just how much I hate other bands…

*all laugh*

Hector: I would say that the anger and anguish that comes with Goth when it actually had a voice and a reason to exist as a counter culture. I feel like everything is so saturated that there’s an effort for pureness nowadays. So everything seems more intense. I guess that’s just how I feel for inspiration emotionally. That’s how I feel about my work and design…emotionally at least.

E: Personally, this project reminds me a lot of Gregg Araki, The Doom Generation movie series. That’s the vibe that is brought to my function of life…it’s [Jimrat] like a space where I feel like I can speak and I can have an idea and not be laughed at. This is place where I can be taken seriously and it feels like we’re genuinely building something. Although I’m relatively new to the group I have extreme respect for these guys and the process and intention that they use.

H: Band wise, what are you looking forward to for the remainder of 2024?

T: Recording an album.

Jo: What’s the name of the studio in New York?

S: Living Gallery. We’re recording an album…and with Fern we’re making an electronic album where we’re all singing. We gotta start recording verses.

T: Wait, can I rap on a beat?

S: Yes! Also, I want to make stuff like this. *plays “Boytoy” by EQ* Anyway…we’re recording an album, it’s going to be done in New York at the end of the month. We’re going to record in the morning and then play shows at night. Yea, I’m excited for Untitled, the album and Halloween. I think after we record the album we’re going to take a break for a while because we’ve been going too hard. It’s very hard to get us all in the room together…like it’s very hard to practice. The universe is working against us. That’s why we keep trying.

Ea: Life is a series of failures…

S: Yes! That’s the Jimrat inspiration: Life is a series of failures. Some of them are worse than others.

H: So the song writing process…is that mainly you [Sam]? What’s that like?

S: Yeah, I mean I write the songs and then take it to people and then they try to play them and I’m then i’m like *screams.*

Ea: Yeah that’s exactly how it goes.

S: Josie has helped me with some stuff. I think that I have the opinion that for better or for worse that the musical stuff should all come from one person, and in this situation that’s me. I play in a lot of different bands…and I think that in some capacity I am in a project with every single person here where I am not the song writer. We tried to do the whole ‘let’s all be the frontman, let’s all do this’ and it just didn’t work. I remember we were sitting outside of O’Briens and you all were like ‘you should just be the frontman’ and I was like ‘okay.’ It’s also not like I write all of the parts…it’s like I say this is the chord I want, this is the texture I want and then everyone kind of goes off of that. Honestly, I don’t know what the guitars are doing. I know when they’re doing something I don’t like and do like…and I guess Tim also helps with some parts. I’m hoping with the electronic stuff it will give us more free agency and that we can collaborate in a different way.

H: What’s your favorite song to perform?

T: I like “Come Around.” Anything fast.

Ea: Tim does a cool part for that. My favorite though is our new song “Don’t.” I think the melody is really catchy and has a really good hook.

S: I really like “All You Do” but no one is capable of playing it live without fucking it up.

Ea: I think that we should bring it back because I barely got to play it.

Jo: It’s doable.

S: It’s fine, it’s fine. We just got it to a point where it was so difficult to play. But that song is really good…I think that “All You Do” is my best song.

Ea: Um, I like a lot. I like “Feel It Out,” I like “Kneel”, which is a new one.

Jo: Also, “Try!” I’m sorry, my favorite song is “Try.” That’s the one that Hector likes.

S: I think that that one’s too quiet.

He: I think that it’s a great way to break the energy. The first time you played it genuinely captivated me. The reason why I felt like it moved me so much was become it becomes from a deep place and it just feels so real.

E: I don’t know if I have a favorite song, I just like moving on stage. Just the movement and freedom the tasteful lines give me…I just want to explore what I can do on a platform.

J: “Feel It Out” was really fun to play.

H: If someone was trying to advertise you guys on a bill, what would you say the type of music you make is? I know…it’s a tough question.

Jo: Noiserock pranksters…Noise Rock, Shoegaze. I would like to think it’s Rock ’N’ Roll but I don’t know if it’s always like that. I always just want to rock.

H: Ok, it doesn’t have to be music related, but what is something you haven’t done that you want to experience?

E: I kind of want to cry on stage…kind of like the overwhelming feeling of music and emotion penetrating my soul.

S: Hmm, I don’t know. I want to go to a lot of places I haven’t gone to.

Ea: That’s what I would say too.

S: I want to go to Japan.

Jo: I feel like that’s why I do music. I just want to go everywhere, be places.

Ea: I have a hard time staying in one place, so that’s why I appreciate this because I don’t have to do that with this,

S: I just have a hard time.

T: Lowkey, I just don’t want to think about music for like a month. I feel like I haven’t done that in like 20 years when I think about it. I feel like when I come back to it it’ll be great.

Ea: For winter break we’re doing like a ‘break break.’

Jo: Just imagine how great it would be coming back to the music after that time. I don’t know, I just like going on a trip with different musicians. I just like being in a new place. I like sleeping in a place that’s…I like sleeping on the floor. You have to record that song, “Sleeping In Jeans.”

Ea: I like staying in funny places. Like staying in my home town…it’s a funny place! It’s a cartoon.

Jo: I just like going to new places and experiencing new things. But just like chill, and then perform after. You know? It’s all about being on stage…and looking awesome.

H: So, Desert Island Musician. If you were to be dropped off on a desert island right now and could only listen to one musician…it can change, but currently in the moment who would you pick?

S: Bach.

Jo: I would pick Grimes. I would always pick Grimes. Like, not forever in my life, but I feel like I just really fuck with her music.

T: Probably someone like super prolific.

He: Michael Jackson…

Ea: For me…mine would just be PJ Harvey. I don’t know, she’s just my favorite for everything. She just has a giant discography and is just everything I love.

S: And she covers multiple genres.

Ea: Exactly.

Jo: And moods…It would be good to have a discography with many different moods.

T: I would say Miles Davis.

Stephen: I think I would pick Jimrat…Kanye West.

Jo: That would be my other choice.

Lauren: Probably Debussy….

Fern: I would say Baron Boss that’s like, top choice.

Ja: Charlie Lomonaco….

He: Playboi Carti.

S: But with the leaks and stuff, that’s like a lot of music.

E: Um….I guess, I’ve been listening to Kimya Dawson. She’s just so real. I really just like anti-punk.

H: Okay, two questions left — has there ever been a song that you’ve just wished you were apart of the song writing process for?

Ea: Like every song…

H: Well, yea. I mean, what would be like your top songs if you had to pick?

Jo: Well, I hear a lot of Taylor Swift songs and want to like correct the lyrics…*all laugh* When I was a kid and “Tear Drops on My Guitar” would play I would feel like she should change the order of some of the things in the chorus because logically it would just make sense. And I feel like a lot of her songs are like that…

S: I feel like “Hard to Explain” by The Strokes I would love to be explained why…because it’s a good song it’s just weird.

E: I think “Human Sadness” by The Voidz. I guess more the music video…it’s very 80s for most of it. The cinematography of it is great. I would love to see everyone in the world’s ideas and visuals that would fit with the song. I have that song tattooed on me, it’s striking as fuck.

Ea: Hmm…I think “Mysterons” by Portishead. This was an easy answer for me. I just think it’s like the perfect song. I want to steal it all the time. I think about how I can take it and change it for my own but it’s just too good. I just love that song.

Ja: I have one I guess….”I Am Faster” by 12 Rods. That songs rules, I would just want to be apart of that.

T: Maybe something from The Velvet Underground, I’ve been listening to them a lot. Anything from the first album.

Ea: I’m adding a second song…”Lady Gedaiva’s Operation” honestly, I just love that song.

E: My second answer would be “Heroine” by The Velvet Underground.

S: Maybe “I’m Waiting For The Man,” which Josie thinks is about gay sex.

Jo: Actually because it is, there’s a dual meaning. It’s about gay sex and drug dealing…wait, change my answer. The whole Airplane Over the Sea album, I just wish I was apart of that.

H: What do you want people to take away from your music and performances?

Ea: For everything to be more sustainable.

St: Everything to be cutting edge, breaking the mold. I just want people to listen to the music and go give their mom a big hug.

S: We were talking about this last week, what do we want to give to the audience…the lyrics aren’t that profound. They’re kind of just love songs. I think that our music is about transferring people into a space and also the performance. I just want to create a space for people and to inspire people to do shit. Seeing a band doing something different is why I did this.

E: I played only one show with you guys and I already had someone come up to me and say they loved the presence and sound of us. Like, wow. That’s so fucking cool. Like seeing people who have an immediate reaction is just so cool.

Jo: I agree with what Sam said with transporting people and giving then an altered perspective of reality. I think that Jimrat has ‘aura.’

He: I want people to feel cool, to feel seen, to feel included. To make it stylish. I always see artists that I’m really inspired by and I’m always like ‘how can I be something like that?’ Just like owning your mistakes and your strengths, just playing into that. Just staying true to all of that.