An Interview With Singer-Songwriter GAVIN JASPER Known By His New Project Name DAGG3RS All About His New Music and More!

Singer-songwriter and Saints of Valory front-man Gavin Jasper, (Atlantic Records) recently released his next single from his new project DAGG3RS. The track is called “Summertime” and it is available on all DSPs and an accompanying music video will follow soon. DAGG3RS finds Jasper – a seasoned musician – experimenting in a way that he never has before during his undoubtedly impressive career. 

“DAGG3RS is my new project. I came up with the name before writing the first song as I wanted the music and the name to have a mutual vibe from the beginning. ‘Summertime’ was the first song written and recorded for this project, its about losing our minds for three days at a festival. I wanted to tap into that vibe and that summer culture. We wanted it to have a jungle mantra feel that just goes round and round and gets you lost in the mood.” 

“I naturally funnel all of my experiences and thoughts into music,” says Jasper. “DAGG3RS is another avenue for that.” “The music is off the cuff and me experimenting and trying different things I haven’t really done before in my career. Its the first time I’m truly not overthinking anything and just letting the music lead and having fun with the process. All the songs were written and professionally recorded at the same time, which was a new process for me, but it helped me be real frank with what I wanted to say and forced me to be honest and commit to the moment and not turn back.” 

Since 2010, Jasper has been the lead vocalist for Saints of Valory, an Austin-based rock band that has opened for the Rolling Stones, and toured extensively, playing festivals like Coachella, Austin City Limits, Summerfest and Rock in Rio. The band’s self-released debut EP, The Bright Lights, featured an early version of their track “Providence”. “Providence” entered the Top 50 at Triple A radio, making the band the only unsigned act to reach the upper tier of the chart. The band’s second self-released EP, Kids, landed on iTunes’ Top Rock Albums Chart in its first week. In 2012, Billboard named Saints of Valory one of its Top Unsigned Artists. As a result, the band signed with Atlantic Records. Their debut EP for Atlantic, Possibilities, included the single “Neon Eyes,” which was featured on Billboard, MTV Buzzworthy and radio stations across the country. 

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Learn more about DAGG3RS in the following All Access interview-

When it comes to your music, what have you been looking forward to this year?

I’m excited to release new music. I only released one single “Broke AF” late last year, so 2020 is really the year I get to release new music consistently. 

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be a musician? What do you think motivates you day in and day out?

I learned to play guitar at the age of seven and performed live most of my childhood, but when I was eighteen I joined a cover band and we would play 8-9 shows a week and that’s when I realized that it made me happy and it didn’t feel like work. I feel lucky that I’ve been able to make music for a living ever since and that motivates me. 

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Was your family and friends supportive of this career choice? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing?

Yeah they definitely were very supportive. My whole family plays music and sings so it was part of our every day life. 

I’m also a creative director, so when I’m not writing or playing music I’m producing music and videos for other musicians. 

I also have an artist development program and a label I’m launching this year so my life is filled with music and creativity. 

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all? What has been the best part about it all?

I’m originally from Brazil and I came up with a suitcase and a dream to start a band and tour and open for big acts, and my band and I really made that happen. A big surprise was opening for The Rolling Stones, which was a once in a life time experience. Making a band work is definitely a challenge in itself, being on the road and living that gypsy lifestyle is so fun, but it can also take its toll as its a lot of work and travel. The best part of it all is that you’re doing it! You’re making your dreams come true and you wake up every morning and you get to create or perform what you created to a lot of people who feel touched by your music in some way, and that’s what its all about.   

Can you elaborate on starting this new musical project? Where did the name DAGG3RS come from? How does the music as DAGG3RS differ from your music as Saints of Valory?

I wanted to explore and make music that didn’t really fit into what we had created with SOV. So I started DAGG3RS as another avenue to experiment musically. My Dad travels for a living and he sent me some pictures from China, and I remember putting the title “DAGG3RS” on top of the picture and I liked the vibe so I then started writing music with that vibe in mind. 

Let’s talk about your newest single, “Summertime What was the inspiration for this track? 

“Summertime” is about the summer festival culture. Being wasted for three days at a festival was the inspiration heh. I wanted it to have a jungle vibe that just went round and round, and I love that it’s catchy but that it also has a dark side. 

Do you have any tour dates scheduled for this year yet?

Not yet, I’m still preparing the show and hope to start playing this record live in like 3 or 4 months. 

How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started making music? What if anything has stayed the same about your music-making process?

I’ve grown so much. The learning curve of my music-making process has constantly changed. It started with me being very naive musically, and very frank with my lyrics, and there’s a certain magic to that phase as you’re just creating and aren’t overthinking. Then as I became more experienced I started to overthink things as I felt I could always make it better. Now Im trying to get back to how it was when I first started and really just be in the moment and that’s what DAGG3RS is to me.    

How do you feel about social media? What do you think social media has done for your career so far?

Social media is branding and it takes a lot of your time. It’s something you just have to do to bring eyes to whatever you’re creating. With DAGG3RS I’m focusing more on quality than quantity, at least in this early stage to set the mood of what this project is about. 

What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

I’d love to do a song with Rosalia, she’s such a game changer and I love everything she puts out. 

If you could design your dream music video right now, what would it look like?

I’d love to do a music video in the snow, with an intense storyline, like a short film. I’m working on it! Ha 

Where would you love to hear a song of yours played?

In a Tarantino film. 

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

There are songs that I love that the second it plays it takes me back to a specific place, and I relive the same feelings I had when I heard for the first time. That is what I want my music to do for others.