Jasper Sloan Yip will steal your heart with his luscious folk melodies. The warm swoons of his music soar with a tinge of heartache. Jasper recently performed to an enraptured audience at Sad Mag Live at The Cultch.
When I first met Jasper, we were both working “joe jobs” at a local cafe. A gentle soul, Jasper was the only chef who didn’t make me cry at one point or another. Thankfully, we’ve both moved on and he has proven that he can do more than make a mean omelette.
This week, we had a quick chat about ditzy moments, favourite musicians, and more.
Sad Mag: Tell me how you got your start in music.
Jasper Sloan Yip: I started teaching myself guitar when I was sixteen and as I got better I began recording songs at home. After two ho-hum years at university I released my first album titled White Elephant.
SM: What other talents do you have?
JSY: I’m terrific at getting lost and have a real knack for forgetting things.
SM: You grew up in Vancouver, does it influence your song writing?
JSY: I took Vancouver for granted when I was growing up. Traveling really made me wake up and pay greater attention to my home. Overall, though, other cities have influenced my writing more than the place I came from.
SM: There’s a sense of pining in many of your songs – does that stem from all of your traveling?
JSY: A lot of the songs on the album are about loss and longing and that did come from spending so much time alone in foreign places. I spend a lot of time in my own head and I’m prone to wax nostalgic. Then I get cheesy. I have to always watch out for that.
SM: Who are the members of your band?
JSY: In order of appearance we have Mark on bass/banjo/lap steel/mandolin, Stephanie on violin, Graham on drums, and John on keys.
SM: Who are some of your favourite musicians?
JSY: My favorite Vancouverite is Erica Mah. Three songwriters I really admire are Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Zach Condon of Beirut, and David Bazaan.
SM: Seen any good shows lately?
JSY: Arcade Fire was amazing, the Black Keys were tasty. I saw the dudes play for two hours at Break Out West, they put on a really good old fashioned rock and roll show.
SM: What do you hope audiences will take away from your shows?
JSY: I want them to have as much fun as I have.
SM: Any upcoming performances?
JSY: We’re playing Rain City Chronicles at the WISE Hall on November 17th, and the Biltmore on November 22nd.
Check out Jasper & his amazing band at the above mentioned shows and here.
Feature photograph by Christine McAvoy.