To start, please introduce yourself and tell us about your journey as a music artist. How did you get started in the music industry, and what inspires your musical passion?
Hey, I’m Jeryko – thanks for taking the time to connect. My journey with music began back in high school, when I was a guitarist and songwriter in an alt-rock band. We would leave school early for the weekends, playing in Battle of the Bands and different high schools up and down the East Coast. It was during those early years that I first understood the power of music to bring people together and create lasting memories.
Those experiences led me to study Music Business at university, which eventually opened the door to working in the industry on the label and management side. After a few years, though, I realized that I was being called to make my own music. I feel that music has the incredible ability to uplift, inspire, and unite people, and that’s what fuels me to create. Nothing beats the moment when I see people close their eyes at a show, completely immersed. That’s the kind of thing I do this all for.
How would you describe your unique musical style, and what themes or emotions do you often explore in your songs?
I’d say my music is a blend of pop, rock, soul, and raw energy. I pull inspiration from a wide range of contemporary artists, as well as from ancient traditions and melodies that are deeply rooted in my culture and faith as a Jew. To me, music has a spiritual quality – it’s a force that can connect us across time, space, and even with people we’ve never met or experiences we’ve never lived.
With all of that, I love to explore connections in my music – whether it’s deep friendships, romantic love and loss, our relationship with ourselves, or with a higher power. To me, that’s just why we’re here on earth.
Who are some of the musicians or artists who have significantly influenced your music and contributed to your creative vision?
I think of it like a triangle. I don’t know if these groupings will make sense to anyone else, but in one corner I have The Fray, Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Fall Out Boy, and that universe of sound. In the second corner, I have Mac Miller, Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Tash Sultana, Jon Bellion, and that universe. In the third corner, I have a mix of ancient chassidic melodies, chants, and songs that I connect to. My music sits within the triangle of these influences, always being drawn in different directions, creating a unique and evolving experience for me and anyone listening.
Can you share insights into your songwriting process? Where do you find inspiration, and what subjects or stories do you enjoy exploring in your lyrics?
There’s an idea in the Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, that every thing, every person, and every moment has a melody. When I sit to write, I try to bring down the unique melody of that moment and what needs to be said along with it. It sounds trippy, but I think that’s what all songwriters are doing even without realizing. It’s also a very fun and powerful thing that I do at live shows - use the audience to help bring down the melody of the moment.
Looking back on your music career, what are some of the most memorable moments or achievements that stand out to you?
I love the experience of people in far-off places around the world that I’ve never been to, liking my music. I had a fanbase brewing in Australia and in South Africa and kept hearing from them that I should come out. When I went there for the first time, hearing hundreds of people singing my music across the world, that is such an awesome thing that I never want to take for granted.
Visual elements are important in the music industry. How do you approach the visual aspects of your music, including music videos and album artwork?
When I was thinking about visuals for the upcoming album, especially seeing as there will be many singles that require unique artwork, I wanted something that just felt very natural and not forced. I carry around a disposable camera with me because I love the way the photos look and the process of developing cameras, so I decided to use my favorite pics that I’ve taken of different moments that felt authentic and worth capturing, to apply to the songs that feel fit them the best.
I also continue to explore the theme of the square as I have since the beginning of my releases, an idea in mysticism that has to do with how we relate to the “structure” of our inner and outer world. But the square is evolving.
Have there been any noteworthy collaborations in your music career so far, and are there specific artists or producers you aspire to collaborate with in the future?
For this first album, I had the deep honor of working with my soul brother Prince Fox. We had crossed paths years earlier in college together, and I had watched his epic journey as a DJ and then producer from afar until it was time for us to properly link. We had such an awesome time making this project; every song we worked on, we really saw as service and delved into almost on a spiritual level to pull out the best song possible from every angle to express the message of that song.
In terms of collabs - I love Forrest Frank right now. I look up to him and what he’s done for Christian pop music. How his music is being used for viral, funny TikTok videos and simultaneously he has massive crowds at live shows using it as a worship song in their own religious practice. I’m trying to do something similar with a new genre of Jewish- inspired pop music that people don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy and appreciate. It would be cool to do a Jewish x Christian pop song and see how people connect over it.
How do you perceive your artistic growth and evolution since your early work, and what creative directions do you envision for your music in the future?
I like to think I’m getting better and that my music evolves with me and my own personal growth. Being able to understand experiences in life on a deeper level and to be able to share them on a deeper level.
Creatively, I’m really open to experimenting with any genre and style that feels right, so you never know where that can go, and I’m excited to keep learning from people and incorporating new elements and sounds into production and writing. It would be cool to get different chants and melodies from different cultures and religions and do something to unify them sonically.
Share your thoughts on live performances. What do you enjoy most about performing live, and do you have any particularly memorable concert experiences?
It’s all about the live show for me. That’s why I do all of this. The idea that I can make a piece of music in my bedroom and then some time later be with thousands of people in a room singing that same song, and that song has a different significance and story to every single person as they sing it, is the craziest thing in the world.
A favorite live moment that I think of was at Music Hall of Williamsburg. I quieted the whole venue down so that I could speak without a microphone, and we could share a powerful moment of singing all together with no instruments. Just as it was totally quiet, I looked up to the balcony and saw my cousin Ryan. I called out to him, and he said, ‘love you brother,’ and I said, ‘love you too, Ryry’ - and it sounded like it was just the two of us in the room. That moment reminds me of how intimate I always want to be able to get at a show with one person, even when we’re filling stadiums.
Lastly, is there a message, philosophy, or piece of advice you'd like to convey to your fans and to aspiring musicians who admire your work?
I’m grateful to have people who want to be a part of the journey, and I hope we can continue connecting with each other and that my music can help you connect with yourself, your loved ones, and with something bigger than all of us. To any musicians, keep making music – it’s the juice of life.
