the sycamore q+a {no.50}: JP Haynie

Local Utah favorite JP Haynie is the music project of Jordan Haynie and an assortment of his musical friends. I've known Jordan for quite a while, and I've loved each performance and album he's come out with over the years. He makes tender, simple folk music that's just plain good. No flashiness required. (Record labels, are you listening?)


1) How did you become a musician?

When I was about 15 my friend's older brother was in this hardcore band in my town. They had made an album and I remember thinking that was unbelievable. They became my friends and I wanted to be good at playing instruments like them so I taught myself how to play the guitar with some help from a friend. I started out not liking to learn how to play other songs but I really liked writing them so I kept doing it. I love learning songs now.


2) What's been inspiring you lately?

This past summer (2009) I bought an 8 track cassette recorder. I have been making tons of recordings. Trying make cool sounds. Using the machine has made me want to write more percussive songs which has been awesome. I can't get over it. I also really loved playing my songs in a band pretty loud(Thanks guys!) and would like to make more songs like that. My friend Jefferson inspires me a lot musically, I have been playing music with him a lot over the past year in our band "CASTILLOS" and I have taken a lot from it musically. I've also started drawing.


3) Tell us about a recent project.

We just finished a Christmas album entitled "Where Are My Presents???" that was really fun and I'm really proud of the recordings. Right now I am recording an album called "The Sand". It has more percussion and instrumentation. Lot's of harmony which is one of the things I love most in music. It is possible that I will be recording some of songs with the help of Brendon Massei (Viking Moses) and Laura Goetz (Golden Ghost) this summer or maybe in March. I don't know if our schedules will work out. I am going to make "real" CDs instead of a tape or CDR which is fun. Castillos will have a song on the Ok Ikumi curated "The Sun Never Sets" electronic music compilation.


4) What else would we like to know about you?

I guess I can just tell you some things I like/love. My wife Cayleen, going to the movies, "Buffalo Bleu" KETTLE Chips, SODA, Mount Eerie, The Fleetwoods, Smog, Playing with a band, the smell of soap, taking showers, keyboards, swimming, drawing/painting, admiring drawings and paintings and photographs, singing, Crown Burger, etc...



Thanks Jordan!
He has a show coming up February 28th at the Urban Lounge in SLC, so if you're in the area, I suggest you check it out. If not, listen to his songs at one of these links:

His Myspace page: www.myspace.com/jphaynie
His Tumblr: jphaynie.tumblr.com
His download shop: jphaynie.bandcamp.com
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If any of you are in Utah today, you might want to drive up to Park City to see Isobel Campbell (formerly of Belle & Sebastian) play for free at the Music Café on Main Street.

image credits: JP Haynie, The Sun Never Sets logo by Karl Jorgensen.