As I began learning more about the local scene in the valley I started experiencing the music the community created as I worked with UTRGV Radio. I created a slot in our stream for local music along with the other genres involved. Using the UTRGV Radio Instagram account I learned about local artists and local venues. I would do giveaways for local shows and just bring awareness to what the community had to offer. This is when @saucehousetx, Sauce House came up suggested to follow and they were hosting a show. The show involved Pillowsnake, Lucid Den, and TV Flesh from what I remember. That was my first time seeing Pillowsnake perform live and it was my first time hearing about him as well. I went to the show with my friend and we enjoyed the performance Pillowsnake played that day. We didn't stop talking about the noises he created and just the raw energy he put out there. It certainly was an experience going to Sauce House for the first time and seeing Pillowsnake, who is also this week's feature.
Jacob La Follette, aka Pillowsnake, @pillowsnake956
Jacob shares a couple of things with us such as his favorite foods "I'm a very basic person when it comes to food. I'm a pepperoni pizza and spaghetti type person lol." In terms people may call this "basic", but what's wrong with simplicity? I haven't had pizza in so long, but I always regret eating it.
Leading towards his favorite artists as he says "way too many to pick from! This answer changes every couple of months, to be honest. At this very moment, I'm really into stuff like Madlib, Judas Priest, Earl Sweatshirt, Hendrix, The Garden, a bunch of other stuff. I would say Type O Negative is probably my most consistent favorite band tho. I've always been listening to them" The only one I actually know is Earl Sweatshirt, but I have listened to at least 2 Judas Priest songs. I'll be sure to check out the other artists on the list!
From artists to the local artists in our community, he says "my favorite local artists and bands include people like I Killed Techno, Jetwad, Wizard Wolf, TV Flesh, The Vennz, Red Hour, my homeboy's PLAY and Jacob Jenni. There's always new ones popping out of the woodwork tho, so I'm not limiting them to just that." I recall seeing Jacob Jenni on the top singles released in the RGV along with Copaganda being in the article. I'm no stranger to PLAY's music and TV Flesh, but I'll be sure to check out the remaining artists mentioned as soon as possible!
When it comes to what we get ourselves involved in it can be by chance or because we persued it ourselves, but when it comes to the creation of music Jacob says "I really don't have a direct moment where I told myself I wanted to be a musician. It really was one of the few outlets I was super good at. My hands are shaky af and I can't shade a doodle to save my life, so making music was deemed my outlet to me." My family members are musicians or they can at least play instruments. I thought maybe I can learn an instrument and in the 6th grade they put me to play the trumpet, but whenever we practiced the teacher told me to pretend to play. That's kinda when I figured it wasn't meant for me and thankfully I was removed from band class due to math tutoring. Although having any sort of creative outlet is good or an outlet in general for anything. Jacob is using his creativity to make music, but when did he start well he says "I wanna say I've been making music a good majority of my life. Probably since I was about 12. Back then, I was just playing two chords and writing out lyrics without a sense of what music production is. I didn't get into music production until I was about 17. I was making shitty recordings of those tracks on Audacity. We all make those struggle raps and recordings using that software lol. It wasn't till I was 20 where I started making proper beats with an actual DAW program, around the time I started using the Pillowsnake name." From the ages, there has been progress made, steps taken on learning about music. Not just music, but the creation and the fundamental to making a "complete" song.
There is so much music out there music which began sprout new labels and genres being thrown at artists. When it comes to Pillowsnake and listening to his discography I certainly can't place my finger on what type of music it is. Listening through his discography I never know what to expect. Every song to me is just a surprise. So I just had to ask "If you could label your music what would you put it under as?" to which Jacob replied with "That's a tough one! I've been asking everyone I come in contact with that question for years now. Some are definitely more accurate than others, from super broad labels like noise to really specific microgenres like "power trap" or "psychedelic trip hop." I always really just liked calling my stuff psychedelic to be honest. It's such a broad term and it means something different to everyone, but (as pretentious as this next statement's gonna sound) my music is something different to everyone, even from the ways people describe it. It's definitely not your grandma's vinyl lol." It's crazy due to the fact that Jacob creates these sounds and it certainly puts you in a mood for whichever track you may be listening to. I'd have to agree when it comes to the term " psychedelic" due to its "primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness." For example when I first listened to "Pearls and Quotas" it felt like I was in a rush, but just not any rush, but one that involves a scenario involving a Mad Max environment. Although the meaning to the actual track is actually darker than my own interpretation it's just the first thing that came to mind, but this, of course, can be different for everyone as Jacob stated "my music is something different for everyone."
Following the question "If you could label your music what would you put it under as?" now comes the inspirations that inspire/influence his craft to which he says "Yes, musical and nonmusical. It includes the artists I listed prior (both local and beyond.) I also've been really influenced by a lot of movies for the more cinematic sounding stuff. Movies like Hausu, The Shining, Uncut Gems, and Napoleon Dynamite have had an effect on my sound and the way I write things as much as the Beatles does for others." Now, this can relate towards the feeling I get when l listened to "Pearls and Quotas" for the first time as Jacob said "I also've been really influenced by a lot of movies for the more cinematic sounding stuff" making me feel as if I was in a gritty action scene due to the instrumentals, but once taking another glance at the song with the lyrics it certainly tells another story.
With numerous tracks under his belt what can be said about any message he wants to be put out there or the impact he wants to place with his music and he says "Well, this new song I did, 'COPAGANDA,' is definitely my anti-cop song of the decade. Songs like 'pearls and quotas' have similar messages, but COPAGANDA is way more dark and direct. Overall, the Pillowsnake MO is probably just having fun with the tools I use. It's hard to do anything when you have an agenda from the start cause you have to follow that mold you placed on yourself. Id rather say what I want when I want to then have a message like 'change the world' or whatever. Gives me more of an excuse to make some mistakes when I want to. My message is who I am." In the end, it just falls onto Jacob. He is having fun creating music which is one of the most important parts as a creative. Rather than following an "agenda" he is simply doing what comes to him and that is most certainly a win in his book. A win in the sense that he gets to create what he wants.
From the insane beats created by Jacob, I can't wrap the idea around my head that multiple tracks can be completed within days. I know understand artists can create works in a day or it can take time but in the end, it's always worth it. I wonder how long it takes for a song to be made due to the beats created for each song and he says "It really changes from song to song. There were songs on hmminBYRD that took like a year to make. I would make and finish an instrumental in January and record vocals over it in December. The way I approach the creative process ain't as disciplined as my peers or idols to be honest. I know people that'll record a couple songs a day. I can't do that. I mean, I'll be working for sure on music all the time, but there's never been a set 9 to 5 schedule when it comes to making it. You just gotta be ready for when inspiration strikes. It can come whenever and wherever, you just gotta know how to jot it down. I'll be making beats while cooking spaghetti sometimes cause they gotta come out NOW lol." It certainly isn't a race to create music and you wouldn't want to release something that you know isn't up to par with your own personal standards. If a musician takes a year compared to a day by another then it's okay to each their own.
The album "hmminBYRD" was released on Cd and I purchased it. Listening to the Cd on the day it arrived there was a track on it that certainly caught my attention and it was "LOVE GAVE ME THE LUXURY OF TIME." After the first three tracks on the album were hard-hitting with its Instrumentals there came the next song as mentioned. The song produced a beat that I fell in love with from the start. From a glittering feeling and a beat I just can't describe, but should I recommend listening to it to understand. This song sets itself apart from the other three previous tracks I had to ask Jacob his thoughts on this track specifically and its process to which he said "That track was made sampling the same record pearls and quotas was made with, just the B side instead. It's a good contrast from the darkness and police brutality going on in that one. It's a great love song, but a bouncy fun one. I love bouncy fun stuff that can be deep with just a few words. The phrase "I love you" is so full of power in just three words. A lot of house music is like that too. I was honestly just feeling the instrumental, and it lead me to making something real fun. I love music like that, so I may expand it one day." To which I say that I'll be the lookout for any new snippets shown on Instagram and future releases.
Witnessing Pillowsnake perform at Sauce House I was wondering when it'd be the next time I'll see him perform live, but due to Covid-19 It'll be a while as he says "I've been performing all over the valley for a good while now. Before Covid fucked everything up, I was scheduled to play the Dreams Festival in McAllen, along with Jetfest in Harlingen. I ain't gonna play live anytime soon tho. I really don't wanna put anyone at risk or contribute to that risk by encouraging people to go to an event. I love music and all, but it isn't worth risking your life, especially with something that avoidable." Of course, going to live events and seeing bands perform is not the best option at the moment, but Sauce House did have Instagram live shows and Pillowsnake was one of the artists going live when they had their scheduled performances. Maybe the idea of virtual shows from home could be an option for artists, but time will tell.
There was been a small snippet released of future beats that Jacob has been working on to which he says "Still working on stuff. A lot of the IG stuff I've been posting is apart of it, and I can't wait to finish it soon." Be ready for what's to come, but he did release a new song called "Copaganda" recently which you can listen to on Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Jacob shares his thoughts on the local scene in the valley,
" It's honestly such a cool community of artists and bands. It's growing everyday, and it's only gonna continue to grow. This pandemic is def gonna put a lot of music and art out due to the time and circumstances, and I can't wait to hear it." Along with some advice for anyone interested in creating music, "Just download a DAW and start learning how to use it. I started making beats on my phone, and I was able to go real far with it. The internet is just a great resource when it comes to every aspect of music, whether it's performing, writing, engineering, or marketing it. Just have fun and start doing it, but be sure to do your research with what you can do with it!"
This has been, Jacob La Follette, aka Pillowsnake, @pillowsnake956
With one final message being,
"My newest single COPAGANDA is now available. You can download it on my Bandcamp. Gonna be donating whatever I make from it to Black Lives Matter. Also, don't worship racists. And have fun with your art. Peace!"
The links will be provided down below!
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