Emerging artists have a special place here at PopWrapped and when upcoming artist Jake Brewer released his latest project, “What Love Did to Me”, we just knew that we had to dive deeper into this project with him.

Having make a successful splash on the new social media platform, Tik Tok, it’s clearly no secret that Jake Brewer is going to be an artist that you are going to want to keep an eye out on. While his recent project is a collection of stories, this new project is slightly different from what he has already put out. Additionally, this project is jam packed with ballads, self empowerment anthems, etc.

Jake’s COVID-19 quarantine passion project, “What Love Did to Me” truly is a masterpiece. His newest project has a track for everyone. No matter your story, with this EP, you can find a track that you will grow to love and be able to relate to.

PopWrapped (PW): This is the perfect follow up to your previous body of work, “Boys Do Cry”. How do you feel that you have changed as an artist and songwriter since putting out that project?

Jake Brewer (JB): First, thank you so much for recognizing the two projects and their relationship together. This project, “What Love Did to Me,” essentially started as an extension to the “Boys Do Cry” album. In the timeline of things, the album documented the few years of my life in college where I felt out of my element. I recorded the album all over the world. At my apartment in Boston, sublet in New York City, parents’ home in San Francisco, and then while studying abroad in Sydney, Australia. “Boys Do Cry” was an audible journal of sorts that emphasized an overarching lesson: the strength in emotional vulnerability and the self-fulfillment embracing gut-wrenching and heart-stopping moments can provide. “What Love Did to Me” tells another story, or rather one more specific. The inspiration was noted a few times during the album, but when the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, I was presented with a unique opportunity to tell another piece of the person I’ve never been more happy to be. The EP came to be in just a few short months, partly because I had the time to, but also once I started I couldn’t stop. It marked a unique moment where I transitioned from writing music so others can hear my story, to writing and producing myself to understand it myself. I reached a level of intimacy that not only did I think I’d be incapable of, but one I don’t feel is expressed or embraced enough in the music industry, especially from male artists.

PW: While your previous project was a collection of short stories in music form, “What Love Did To Me” is a collection of Self-Empowerment tracks, Ballads, etc. How did you know that this is the path that you wanted to take with this album?

JB: I love this question. I think at the origin of a project I try to wipe away all presumptions or ideas. I find my true voice to come during a stream of consciousness rather than in a meditated lyric. I wanted to be sure though the project was crafted as one story – and one where the message of the first sounded contradictory to the message of the last, but where you saw the connection and trail of tears and awakening in-between them. “Where Have I Been?” was written and done in a few minutes. I brought myself into a reflective space where I felt I had lost the person I was proud to have been because I gave in to someone else too far. The song was incredibly hard to do, and I actually left most of it up to improvisation. I turned off all the lights, even dimmed the screen, and just mentally put myself in that place to unlock how I felt beneath the surface. I knew I wanted to leave listeners with some optimism though, which is why I wrote “Hummingbird.” I wanted to be playful and have what some of my friends called a “7 rings moment” like the Ariana Grande song. I’m somebody who has been apologetic in taking pride in what they do for so long, and that was beginning to take a toll on my comfort with my own music. And if I can’t be comfortable expressing my true self – then why would I deserve the time others would take to listen? I wanted the project to stand out, so I let go. And I couldn’t be prouder of the result.

PW: While writing, recording, etc. for this project – how did you come up with the order of the album and how long did it take you to finish the album as a whole?

JB: I’m so excited to share this! Essentially I began by plotting five points, being the five tracks: one about true emotional despair, one about how I felt about that despair now, one that resembled a turning point, the moment I realized the damage it had done to me, and then one brushing it all off to embrace what now can be. I wrote a ton of lyrics. The notes app on my phone is full of half-written songs and the voice notes app is full of mumbled melodies from when I jumped out of the shower to record and not forget or quietly did as I hummed in the produce section at Trader Joes. Ultimately, you run with the words that hurt or heal the most. It wasn’t too difficult to find which piece went where. I even settled with the demo versions of some of the songs because I felt the emotion couldn’t be emulated or faked again just to touch up a few points.

PW: You label this album as a “Quarantine passion project.” Was this album only created during quarantine or did you have pieces of this project ahead of quarantine, and quarantine is when you were able to complete it?

JB: “Don’t Forget You Still Love Me” was actually done of the week that “Boys Do Cry” came out. I considered putting it on the album last minute, but the song resonated with me in a way that I didn’t feel it was ready to. I now know that that feeling wasn’t preparedness, but fear in uncovering that moment in time. Once I came home to San Francisco in March, I realized I needed something to channel my creative energy. I’m somebody who needs to constantly be working and have their mind exploring multiple realities. When I sat down and revisit DFYSLM, I recognized there was so much more to the story, and that this story is so much of who I am now. I felt almost guilty keeping it exclusive from those trusting in me and following me while I explore and try to find my footing in the music industry. All in all, I spent the most time on this EP than any other project, but on a calendar it took the least amount of time.

PW: A lot of us are having to find ways to cope with not seeing our loved ones, friends, family, etc. during this weird time in the world. Additionally, this causes us to be even more anxious and sometimes even depressed. How have you stayed sane during this new normal we’re having to live in and what do you hope that people can take from this project?

JB: First, I think every feeling is valid, especially during the time we live in now. The uneasiness and almost butterflies-in-your-stomach as you’re shackled to a sinking boat feeling is more common than not now. However, familiarity has been the antidote to those moments where I stand in front of the mirror and question everything I’ve ever done or said. I found my outlet through music and focusing on a part of me to heal while everything else seemed jumbled and out of place. There’s many things I hope people take from the project. The major takeaway being that recognizing and refusing to suppress emotional trauma is a healing you aren’t aware of until you finally do. Especially, and I sincerely hope I’ve made my passion for this clear, for young males and even older men who feel obligated and trapped in an emotional rubric that determines which are acceptable emotions. I produce and share much of my music for my own personal healing and to hopefully validate others (my favorite comment I’ve ever received was a girl saying she cried on the bathroom floor to one of my songs and then felt a lot better), but also to set a new precedent. We live in an incredible age where independent artists are taking risks and challenging traditions of the music industry. I hope the elimination of toxic masculinity and further embrace of male emotional vulnerability is something we can all celebrate soon.

PW: Though you just put this project out, what can we look forward to seeing from you? Do you have any music videos planned for this project? & Finally, do you have anything you want to tell our readers and the fans that you’ve gained thus far in your career?

JB: I’m always dreaming and imagining up the next dream. Just ask my team how tired they are. I’m a dreamer more than a realist, and I enjoy the work ethic of thinking big then hustling to make that vision reality. Of course, with the pandemic and ongoing social justice fight, I feel much of my imagination and creativity should be pursued properly and at an extent that promises and genuinely contributes to that promise of being an ally for all communities. That being said, every song I do has a visual in my mind. I’m a very visual person, so when I’m closing my eyes recording a song I usually imagine what the video is looking like. I hope, once it’s safe for a team to get together, we can produce a visual component to this EP because it’s something I’d be honored and thrilled to bring to life in another way.

“the message I want to be sure to emit is that my greatest and proudest moments didn’t come from numbers, data, streaming, or anything like that. The moments of my young career that changed the trajectory were the moments of personal resonation, where I’d get comments from people connecting with music or being able to play a show and watching someone sing along to a song I wrote in my bedroom. For much of my life I’d been hesitant and held a piece of my pride back in my creativity in fears that if someone objected to it I’d be able to laugh it off and belittle my sincerity or commitment. However, overtime that damages you in a way I can’t even describe. What feels best is when you’re unapologetic. Hate and disapproval are inevitable. It’s awful, but the way we can actually combat that is to not give in to it. Embracing you, your passion, your creativity, and what truly makes you happy is a level of self-fulfillment that I sincerely hope everybody achieves.” Jake also told us.

Jake Brewer’s Quarantine passion project, “What Love Did to Me” is out now on all major music streaming platforms, worldwide. Be sure to follow along Jake’s journey on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.