Hearing Loss: A Profile on One of Eugene’s Favorite Local Bands
The ever-so-popular house show scene in Eugene has paved the way for student artists to express themselves in ways they never would have imagined. Align Music has taken the time to interview Jackson, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the psychedelic rock group Hearing Loss. Jackson recalls playing in bands with Giullian (Hearing Loss guitarist) in high school and decided “to make a band up in Oregon around our shared musical interests”, that’s exactly what they did, meeting former bassists Aidan and Codi in Oregon, followed by Nate (drums), Milo (bass), and Jack (saxophone). Jackson has been a part of many projects in the music scene here in Eugene, but Hearing Loss sets them apart, as he expressed how he “had played in other people’s bands but I wanted something I could put my creative output into”.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, Kevin Parker and many more, Hearing Loss creates a sound that fuses psych-rock, funk and jazz into a show worthwhile. The 60s and 70s psychedelic vibe is incredibly apparent in their music as their sound works to incorporate everyone’s skills.
In the cultivation of their sound, the band is currently in the process of recording their tentatively named album “Newberry.” Lucky for us, he gave us a little insight into what the process of making such a project looks like for the band. A typical in-studio session for Hearing Loss is very hands-on; Jackson takes on the role of composer, writing and recording drafts, which are later brought to the rest of the group as they play, make notes, and work through each song. A lot of time is spent working on the technical side of production, incorporating warped or distorted effects and fixing any issues found along the way. After watching Hearing Loss Live, it is apparent how incredibly collaborative they are, working together to create a distinct sound.
Pre-show rituals with Hearing Loss generally are not etched in stone, but the overall look is getting excited. The group hypes each other up before hitting the stage and performing in front of friends and fans. The future of Hearing Loss may be unknown, but they do know they want to continue to play more shows and release more music. Jackson and the rest of the group are excited for the future, stating, “We can only go up from here.”
Take a look at the collaborative playlist we made with Hearing Loss as each member shared their top five songs which are linked to a playlist below. Make sure to give it a listen and follow the band on Instagram for more updates and shows!
IG: hearinglosss
Photos taken by Mary Grosswendt at Wow Hall