The boundary between chapters and endings remains uncertain so Jacob and the Starry Eyed Shadows demonstrate this in their latest single ‘The Last One’. This song combines themes of ending with themes of perseverance while telling a story about embracing unpredictable change.
The band recorded ‘The Last One’ at singer Jacob’s personal studio where they achieved their musical transformation. The single ‘The Last One’ blends delicate acoustic elements with electric guitar layers to build a production that attracts listeners. The band plans to release this as their first single which shows their new musical direction through the fusion of indie rock authenticity with pop-punk energy and folk sensibilities.
We will have a thorough discussion with Jacob to discover the complete narrative that led to ‘The Last One.’ This article examines the song’s emotional heart alongside recording techniques which reveals how this breakthrough shapes both Jacob and the Starry Eyed Shadows. Our discussion will feature his thoughts about their creative future because the band works to expand their musical frontiers.
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The title “The Last One” carries a sense of finality. What story or emotion were you trying to capture with this track?
The song is about hope I guess. So, although the lyrics convey a sense of finality, it’s only for this one battle in the life of the protagonist’s. The story will continue one way or another. So, although one thing comes to an end, it all goes on regardless.
Your band name “Jacob and the Starry Eyed Shadows” has an ethereal quality to it. How does this new track reflect that dreamy essence?
I suppose that’s true. No one has ever said that before, and I never really thought about it that way. I probably wouldn’t describe my music that way, but it’s probably a fair reflection of the name. It’s a long title, so I also use the acronym JatSES (pronounced Yat-ses), but it still hasn’t caught on. This one is slightly more acoustic and has more of a folky feel in the verses than a lot of my recent releases, so I suppose in that way it’s slightly more dreamy or ethereal.
Sometimes song meanings evolve during the creative process. Did “The Last One” end up where you initially thought it would?
Yeah, the meaning of the song landed where it started. That’s what I tend to focus on during the writing process. I’ll start with an idea, a theme, or concept and begin writing around it. The process takes me on that journey and the gaps get filled in, but the meaning always stays the same. Often melodies, feelings, and textures turn our quite differently than I intended, but the meaning is the one thing that anchors me throughout I guess.
Artists frequently talk about that “magic moment” during recording when everything clicks. Was there such a moment with this song?
Yeah, I was experimenting a lot with layering different electric lead guitars. You hear them individually throughout, but on the chorus they are layered on top of each other with slight differences, which gives the track a nice texture and width I think. That helped to finalise the direction it was going in and anchor that feeling and meaning we were talking about earlier. I think it helped bring all those ideas together.
Every band has their own unique writing process. How did “The Last One” come together from initial concept to final recording?
I tend to always work the same. I start with an idea, feeling, concept, or sometimes a specific story, and then come up with a chord progression. I always write on an acoustic first. So once the melody is finished and I have a rough idea of where it will lead, I start recording. I’ll record the acoustic guitar first along with a click track, and then add the drums and bass, then add electric guitars and synth’s etc if required.
I just layer it up gradually until it feels complete, and then start recording the lyrics. More often than not, I finish writing the lyrics whilst I’m recording them. So that I can adapt them once I know the sound the song is going for. Melodies often change as well. So, I might have an idea for a chorus melody, but then record two or three different versions and decide which one to keep in later.
After this I might take stuff out or add it until it all feels right. So the acoustic guitar for example, although it’s where it all starts and the anchor that drives the song forward, it often gets taken out completely depending on the direction I end up going on. But not on this track, it stays on this one.
Music often captures specific moments in time. What was happening in your life while creating this track?
I think life is often about adapting, evolving and finding new and better ways to move forward. So, there was no specific thing happening as such that influenced it. It was just a moment of reflection and a hopeful song that ended up coming out of it. It’s about next steps and moving on.
Looking back at the recording sessions, was there a particular challenge you had to overcome to get the sound just right?
No challenges with this one. There often is, but this one was actually pleasantly straightforward once I began layering the lead guitars and capturing the feel of the song as I wanted.
Sometimes certain lyrics feel especially personal. Is there a line in “The Last One” that holds special meaning for you?
“I won’t be the last one. I won’t be the answer, if the light goes.” I guess it’s that letting go of things you can’t control and accepting the things you can do nothing about. Which isn’t always easy.
Band names often have great stories behind them. How does your name’s meaning connect to the themes in this track?
My Mum always played soul and motown music when I was a kid, and so I just always loved those band names, you know, like ‘Diana Ross and the Supreme’s, ‘Martha Reeve’s and the Vandellas’. That kind of thing. So, it was just a play on that really, and also wanting something a bit different.
But yeah, with the name, and my music in general, nostalgia has always played a big part. I guess there’s a lot of longing for an older sound and style that I grew up with, and finding ways to blend them all together.
Artists usually draw inspiration from unexpected places. Was there something surprising that influenced this song?
Not really. Like I said, it was just one of those reflective moments, but nothing surprising from my point of view.
Looking ahead, how does “The Last One” represent where Jacob and the Starry Eyed Shadows is heading musically?
I guess, I’m always gonna stick to my pop-punk and indie/alt rock roots, but it does have a slightly more acoustic sound than a lot of recent releases. So maybe that’s a clue of things to come in terms of blending those ideas and sounds more often.
