YOUTHYEAR – ARTISTIC ATTENTION AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW

YOUTHYEAR – ARTISTIC ATTENTION AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW

By Ralph Beauchamp

Junior year is the alter ego of the extremely talented artist, songwriter and producer, Eric Paquette. Junior year recently released his second single titled “21 Ways My life Is Great” which will be featured on his upcoming EP. The song is really ambitious. It offers an infectious poppy feel with punky undertones. The melodic track explores a romantic breakup in a genuinely unique way. Light melodies and groove laden choruses hide a testimony of a dysfunctional lover. The code is simply beautiful. His debut single, “Basement” is another confirmed killer track Junior yearHis powerful songwriting and inventive craftsmanship.

Junior year and rock legend Carlo Colasacco co-wrote and co-produced “21 Way.” The pair have collaborated on a myriad of galvanic runs. Junior year he has also collaborated with famous artists such as Lit, Dashboard Confessional, Letdown and Michigander. In addition, he has shared the stage with The Misfits, Jimmy Eat World and Panic! At the disco. The imaginative video for “21 Ways” was directed by Nick Stafford (All Time Low/Boys Like Girls). The video is both fun and whimsical, but still has an intense tone. Junior year will be the breakout artist of 2024 and this summer's '21 Ways'.

Junior year was kind enough to spend a few moments with AMP for this fascinating in-depth interview.

AMP: What made you want to be a musician?

YOUTH: When I realized I couldn't be a superhero. Once I realized I couldn't fly or be a Ninja Turtle, becoming a rock star was my next choice. I have always been drawn to music. It was around 8 when I started playing the guitar but because I was so hyperactive I preferred things like karate. In fact, I remember smashing that guitar against a tree. Around 10, I saved up my own money and got a new guitar and this time I stuck with it. I never looked back.

AMP: You are a songwriter, producer and artist. How does the dynamic work for each?

YOUTHYEAR: Well, first and foremost I am an artist. I kind of fell into producing when the band I was growing up in went pretty far. We actually introduced some tags. It didn't work out, but when the group broke up, I got serious about songwriting just to improve my craft. After working with some outside producers, it seemed like a nice world. I actually got into this production program for a while. All the while, I'm still working on my own projects.

Many songs I had written for myself ended up being recorded by other artists. Although I wear many hats, I mostly create for myself, but when another artist is interested in a track, I start adapting it to their musical style, but it all really starts with me writing.

AMP: You've worked with a bunch of top artists like Lit and Dashboard Confessional. How was that experience?

YOUTHYEAR: I grew up on bands like Lit and Dashboard and there was a time when I was working with both of them. My first band covered “My Own Worst Enemy”. Working with Lit happened immediately. I had just moved to Nashville. My fiancé and I were shopping when a friend called me and said, “I'm working a session with Lit and I pitched them one of our ideas. They liked you and they need you now.” So, I didn't even get nervous. They were like my heroes growing up. ONE Place In The Sun it's one of my favorite albums.

I got there and did what I had to do and it turns out they're these amazing guys. We instantly became great friends. The song went really well and then we worked on another one. We were six songs deep when they asked us if we wanted to finish the record with them. I am very grateful to be given this opportunity. The dashboard was the same scenario. I worked with Chris Carrabba and he is the best, which was very refreshing. Sometimes you meet your idols and it's not such a great experience, but Chris isn't like that. He is completely genuine and a true artist. He is so passionate about his art.

AMP: Can you describe your creative process?

YOUTHYEAR: It's a mess (laughs). I generally try to focus on the melody. Additionally, I try to write my lyrics in free form. Sometimes I jot down the lyrics while sitting on a park bench or jogging. I just let my thoughts fly. So when I have that cool tune, I can go through my list of lyrics to see if anything fits. If I'm excited about a particular tune, I want to take it to the next level and start performing it. That's basically how I got into production. I learned how to demonstrate my own ideas.

I'm good at reducing vocals and guitar parts. Being a fan of Tom Petty, I'm drawn to the simple “don't bore us, get to the chorus” approach he's mastered. Once the vocals and guitars are done, I start adding stuff. Working with other producers helped me find my own style and eventually turned my insecurities into confidence.

AMP: Your new single “21 Ways My Life Is Great” has a breezy poppy feel, yet the lyrics refer to a relationship falling apart. Does this come from a real life experience?

YOUTHYEAR: Yes it is! I'm not naming names, but it's something outside of my life. There are breakup songs that remain sad and disappointed, but we (Carlo Colassacco) wanted this song to have a more sarcastic feel. Here again, the melody came first and then we started throwing ideas around. As usual, the song came out of nowhere. We went into it and used our collective experiences to make the melody. That's one good thing about collaboration, you can bounce ideas back and forth. The song was something we both experienced.

AMP: Speaking of Carlo Calassacco, you co-wrote and co-produced “21 Ways” with him. How did this happen?

YOUTHYEAR: Carlo and I go way back. When my band broke up, Carlo was one of the first musicians I started working with. I would take bus trips from Springfield, MA to New York almost every month to work with him. It soon turned into weekly outings until I just started crashing on his couch. Now it's also here in Nashville. We haven't stopped working together. If it's true, we have a lot of songs with a new artist called Letdown, who is currently charting on Billboard.

AMP: The video for “21 Ways” is super bright and happy. Was it on purpose?

YOUTHYEAR: Inspired by videos like “Buddy Holly” by Weezer and “In Bloom” by Nirvana. I love that bands from the 90s filmed their versions in a 50s setting. I wanted something funny and sarcastic to fit the tone of the song. I also love that bands like the Foo Fighters don't take video shoots too seriously.

We actually shot it at Lit singer Ajay's house called The Atomic Inn. Everything you see is authentic to the era. His wife and Ajay really graced the place. It is located in Nashville and anyone can rent it for video or photography. They are constantly changing things around them. Plus, they have another hanger on the back that they can use for other projects.

Nick Stafford co-directed the video with me. We really worked on the story line. I styled it too. I chose all the clothes and Gabby (my fiance) and Ajay's wife handled the wardrobe on set.

AMP: You are originally from Western MA. When and why did you move to Nashville?

YOUTHYEAR: Why; because I felt like I hit a ceiling in Western MA. There wasn't much of a songwriter scene there. There are great bands and a live music scene in the area, but for what I needed not so much. I started making trips to Nashville once every two months. Then once a month turned into twice a month and then the idea of ​​moving to Nashville became an obsession. I was turned on by the fact that there's this huge alternative/rock scene that's thriving here. I was ready to move in 2019, but we all know what happened then. But by 2020, my fiancé and I took the plunge. Now or never.

AMP: Any plans for an EP or a full length?

YOUTHYEAR: I just released my second single. A third will be out in a few weeks. After the fourth track, I will release a 7-song EP with 3 unreleased songs. My goal is to drop it by the end of the summer. I actually changed my next single to an acoustic tune. I felt it was a better fit after “21 Ways”. That's the beauty of being independent, you're in complete control. My team and I always seem to be on the same page. This really helps.

AMP: What's next for Youthyear?

YOUTHYEAR: MUSIC! I'm putting out new material and doing what I can to promote it, like making more videos. When the EP comes out I'm thinking of doing two release shows. One in Nashville and the other in MA. There is also a tour for the fall. Plus, I'm completely ahead of the game. I'm already writing music for my next project.

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