by Soleste Starr
On one blisteringly hot afternoon in Austin, Texas on my fifth day at SXSW, I had the absolute honor and pleasure of getting maximally groovy to the waves of Jerry Paper, the musical persona of Lucas Nathan, who officially wins the award for both (1) Best Dressed and (2) Best Dances Moves of any performer of the week. The performance left me absolutely drenched in sweat from half an hour of childlike dance-mania; Jerry Paper absolutely succeeded in their intentions per the SXSW website: “They want you to PLAY around and have some friggin’ fun for once!”
After the show, we got to drink some water and cool down while talking to Lucas, the mind behind the magic. Upon receiving our classic ktru question, “What muffin would you be?,” Lucas responded, “spaghetti and sauce in a muffin shape.” I was floored. Riveted. Consumed.
Though the interview was already a masterpiece in just that one question, we continued and delved into their history with music and their musical process.
Lucas had always been drawn to music, but not because their parents forced them into piano or violin; rather, Lucas expressed never having had the patience to learn to play the songs of others, and instead just liked to play around in the out-of-body experience that music provided them. Their favorite place to write music is during the day in their music room, and they primarily enjoy the process of building something: shaping a “nugget ball,” seeing a reflection of themselves in it, and making it into something from there.
When Lucas was younger, they connected heavily to Syd Barrett and David Bowie, two musicians who helped them find their own identity and sound akin to 60’s psych pop. Their first concert was Blink-182, though that influence is far less evident than David Bowie in the stylings of Jerry Paper. However, Jerry Paper is uncontainable! Wikipedia lists their genre as “electronic synthpop easy listening lounge music muzak lo-fi” and honestly, I don’t think that even does it. The synth-y sounds and groovy beats are unprecedented in my exploration in music; you’ll simply have to hear for yourself! Catch Jerry Paper on your favorite streaming platform and release your inner child; trust me, you won’t regret it!
