If The Land of Misfit Toys from a very notable Christmas film had a house band, it’d be Fireworks. They were clumped into the pop punk scene for their earlier releases but have clearly strayed away from that style and matured into something all their own. Their sound and the men that make up the Michigan outlet are unlike their tourmates, always.
You look at them and wonder how they became friends. How their singer who tweets about Lisa Frank is friends with the dude who looks like a dad, and how those two are even close with the little guy who always seems to be on his own mission in life. That’s Brett Ayala Jones by the way. He’s that little fellow I’ve seen for years now and now I know – when he was off doing his own thing, he was being productive making his own music outside of the band.
It’s not a sign that the band is done, oh no – as we’ll see later, side projects are just the norm. For Brett, his solo release, Tramp, was about all the traveling he does and how that affects those he leaves behind when he packs up and leaves home. It is also a labor of love that cost little to nothing and for that, Brett is grateful saying of those who worked on the record, “My deepest respects to all of these amazingly driven and talented people.”
Now it’s time dive inside that mind of Brett, the little guy from Fireworks who lives with insecurities, fights the fight when it comes to sweets and more…
Kendra: When did you make the decision to head out and do your own thing?
Brett Ayala Jones: I’ve been writing songs in this vein since I learned to play guitar at 12. I’ve always romanticized Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg and Woody Guthrie’s songwriting styles of political and spiritual progression, and with that, punk rock was a natural progression for me. Almost all of my lyrical contributions to Fireworks have actually come from folk songs I’ve written and can no longer use for obvious reasons.
Kendra: Was it a decision that weighed heavy on you or was it a no brainer, like – it is time I do my own thing for a minute and see what happens?
Brett: I’ve never said this publicly before, but I have a vocal condition called Mutational Falsetto and have always been viciously self conscious about my voice. I actually have a fear of speaking into microphones. So really, my insecurities are what have kept me from sharing my songs. My friends are who have pushed me to finally start releasing music. I was growing content with my closeted opus, but what’s music without ears?
Kendra: Splitting your time between Detroit and LA, does that put a strain on you and your bandmates to get things done?
Brett: Yes, it has definitely made it harder to be involved in the Fireworks’ writing process, so most of my contributions to Oh Common Life were lyrical. It also makes practice before tours and doing the occasional one off show a bit more logistically challenging.
Kendra: Three of you have side projects right now, right? Does that mean the band is taking a break or these are just other outlets to get your creativity out between Fireworks records?
Brett: Fireworks isn’t planning on taking any sort of break, just maybe a rethinking of our mission. We’ve been touring for over eight years now and the lifestyle has taken its toll on us as individuals. When you’re staring down the barrel of your 30’s, it gets harder to justify doing every tour. We all make more money working at home then we do on tour, not that it’s about that, but we all have rent to pay.
Kendra: A trio of tracks made it onto Tramp, how many were left on the cutting room floor so to speak?
Brett: I literally have hundreds of songs I’ve written in this vein over the years, but I chose eight songs and recorded demos of them on my iPad. I sent them to some friends in whom’s opinions I greatly respect, and asked them which ones sounded like they’d fit together on an EP. I actually recorded a fourth song that I did not put on the EP. The lyrics are really hard for me to listen to second hand so I decided to sit on that one for the time being. I already have plans to record again soon, so I should have something together by the summer.
Kendra: Going off “Sweet Tooth,” if you had to compare Tramp to a dessert which would it be and why?
Brett: My girlfriend is a diabetic, so I tend to lay off the sweets in solidarity, but if I had to pick, I would say the Cherpumple. Because no one’s ever heard of it, but it’s pretty good if you can find it.
Kendra: When it comes to playing shows, can fans expect them to be more Detroit or LA based?
Brett: I don’t plan on touring or even playing many shows for that matter. Just the idea of it makes me lightheaded to be honest. This is about releasing songs, not a self promotion campaign. But I do plan on continuing to release songs, so long as my gracious friends are willing to record, perform on, and release them.
Kendra: If you had to make a mixtape for yourself when you’re an “Old Man,” which five songs would have to be on there?
Brett:
The Cramps – “I Was A Teenage Werewolf”
The Nerves – “Hanging On The Telephone”
The Belairs – “Mr. Moto”
Santo & Johnny – “Sleepwalk”
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton – “Islands In The Stream”
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