It’s hard to think of a band that fits its name so perfectly other than Fever Joy. Their music is so shimmering and effervescent and it sticks with you. Their new EP “Reflections” is a memory box of their work and each song captures a specific moment. It’s a deep dive into the duos most vulnerable moments. We talked to them about the EP and the biggest challenges they’ve faced in the music industry.
How did Fever Joy get started?
Avery: When our life paths crossed and we formed Fever Joy, it was out of the necessity of our two minds and goals aligning and acting on that mission as a unit as a collaboration in the purest, most raw and honest form.
Tell me about your EP “Reflections” what’s the story behind it?
Avery: We write based off of emotional and physical experience, every song tells the stories of events that we’d experienced while purposefully shaping the EP. It is about taking the listener on a journey that allows them opportunities to relate to scenarios/feelings that we’ve been honest enough to tangigate (make tangible) and give them the space to feel. For Tean, Reflections was the first brutally honest song we’d written about a breakup that tore him to shreds. As a male, “boys don’t cry” is a fucked up stereotype that allows men to think it’s not normal or okay to Feel/Show that something is hurting. But Reflections is about being ripped open but learning through it and understanding that these experience shape who we are and about coming out of them understanding more about ourselves and forgiving the good and bad that shaped us. For me, Crazy Love was my first brutally honest one. My relationship with my parents the past three years has been a rollercoaster, and I love them with my whole heart and never want to say or do anything to hurt them. But arguments we’ve had have hurt me and I needed to just be open and real about how much pain certain conversations caused me, and then to come back and say but no matter what, crazy love will always bring me back to the love I have for them. I felt so alone during most of that time, but to formulate the experiences into a song made me realize, holy shit, other people experience similar circumstances and we can support each other in the hard times. Vulnerability creates space to show love, forgiveness, and inspire hope, change, and inspire each other to use the voices we’ve been given to stand up for what we believe in.
Tean: Reflections is an account of all the trials and tribulations that the band went through during the making of the record itself. It portrays a heart-wrenching breakup, a messy falling out with a best friend, religious disapproval, and the realization that one needs to overcome their fears in order to get what they want. The effects that these situations had on our lives were examined and made into music.
I love that it’s about “Removing filters” how do you stay true to yourself, in the music industry and in your personal life?
Tean: Removing filters, and honesty are at the core of what Fever Joy is trying to accomplish because we believe that we can connect to people with our stories, and make others realize that the things we can all relate to outweigh our differences. It can be hard to stay true to yourself in the music industry especially in LA, due to the fact that there is a lot of pressure to look and act a certain way. I believe it is helpful to remember why you started, as well as the fact that if you are just yourself all the time you don't have a fake persona. If someone is judging you for being yourself you shouldn't care about what they think anyways haha. As far as personal life goes though, we like to meditate, read, and try to be open and honest with all of our communication.
Avery: Humbly not giving a fuck.
What else has been inspiring you lately?
Avery: Hans Zimmer, Billie Eilish, Inception (Christopher Nolan, 2010), Rush’s album 2012, Taylor Swift’s “Miss Americana” Documentary, Cage the Elephant, FKA twigs
Tean: It may sound strange, but lately I have been truly inspired by the notion of impermanence. I believe that there are a lot of things one can learn from realizing that nothing is guaranteed, or lasts forever. It has pushed me to really pursue the things that matter most and write about topics that are meaningful to me.
What has been the biggest challenge for you in your career?
Tean: The biggest challenge for me has been overcoming self-doubt. I have always struggled with accepting myself, as well as learning to speak up on topics. Though I am driven by the notion that if I can overcome these things, I might be able to inspire others to do the same.
Avery: Time. There’s not enough time in the day for everything we want to do. And loss of times with loved ones. Working so hard for something takes a shit ton of time and it just sucks when it creates that distance.
What’s your best piece of advice to your younger selves?
Avery: Keep your hope alive.
Tean: You can do anything you set your mind too if you are willing to put in the work. Life is going to throw a lot of challenges at you, but there will be beauty that you find in the process of overcoming them. Never stop learning, always keep an open mind, and never give up. It may sound strange, but lately I have been truly inspired by the notion of impermanence. I believe that there are a lot of things one can learn from realizing that nothing is guaranteed, or lasts forever. It has pushed me to really pursue the things that matter most and write about topics that are meaningful to me.
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