Kill Your Ego: An Interview With Jagwar Twin

Jagwar Twin is an enigma. The artist keeps a low profile and just releases gorgeous music with layers of meaning.  Jagwar Twin is the prophetic recluse waiting for the right moment. The songs are other worldly and the message is important.

How did you get started in music?

In junior high I picked up my brother’s old guitar that was laying around but I didn't want to learn other people's songs so I started teaching myself how to play and writing my own. I remember going to shows at this tiny club in Anaheim called Chain Reaction and it was the first time I felt like I belonged somewhere. 

Tell me about Subject to Flooding, what’s your favorite memory behind the album?

There were so many moments during the making of Subject To Flooding. Recording the vocals to Move To You in Florence was magical. I wrote with Michael Morgan in a tiny coastal town in Ireland. We would wake up before the sunrise, make coffee, and watch the sun come up over the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Lake Arrowhead with the whole Original Mind crew was incredible too. The conversations we would have about life and humanity really shaped the feel of the whole album and it was so beautiful up there in the mountains.

In your own words, what’s the meaning behind “Loser”?

It's about breaking down our walls, taking off the masks that we all wear, and realizing that we're all the same underneath. We're all losers. I hope we can come together as a community of humans on this tiny planet and love each other as we are and create a lasting shift.

What was one of your favorite memories of the recording process? 

There was one conversation I had with S1 at Paramount. We had gotten to the studio early and were talking. At that point we could feel how special this album was and S1 has seen me go through some really difficult times since we first met in 2012. We had this moment and shared a few words between us and we both started crying out of happiness. Success means so much more when you've seen rock bottom and have had nothing. And he understands that more than anybody. We knew then what this album had the potential to do. 

What has been inspiring you lately?

Quantum entanglement. And a seemingly increasing level of awareness in our culture. 

You keep a low profile, do you feel like there’s too much pressure for artist to always be on social media? 

I think it depends on why you're using it. It's great if you are using it to lift others up and it’s a great way to stay connected with fans but that can make it hard to be present in any given moment. It’s good to find balance and ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing. 

What has been one of the biggest challenges in your career? How did you overcome it?

 Not having money, a car, house, or place to go for a time in Hollywood was very hard. You start to feel insane for chasing a dream of being an artist for so long. I got into a very dark headspace. And people treat you very different, especially in Hollywood, when they don’t think you have anything to offer them. I’ll always remember that feeling and make sure I never treat others that way because I know how it feels on the other side. Changing my thinking and realizing how powerful thoughts are changed so much for me.

What’s your best piece of advice to a young musician?

Kill your ego, approach everything with love, and don't give up.