Depth of thought fuels Wheaton musician
Jay Mathes thinks a lot.
His thoughts end up scrawled in a notebook or on scrap paper and, eventually, in his songs.
The 28-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist from Wheaton wants to let fans in on his songwriting process and believes his newest album, “Fundamental,” provides the clearest window yet into the thoughts in his notebook.
That's because Mathes' fifth album was recorded live in-studio using just acoustic guitar and voice.
“What you have here, now, are versions of songs that capture what they sounded like when I first wrote them,” Mathes said. “The record almost has a feel like you're sitting down next to me at the table with my notebook scribbling lyrics on a page.”
Mathes will perform songs from “Fundamental” in a free show at 9 p.m. at Muldoon's in Wheaton.
Mathes' music has long been relational, spread when he meets people after playing at venues in Chicago, on college campuses or at suburban spots like Two Way Street Coffee House in Downers Grove or America's Historic Roundhouse in Aurora.
He also records songs in his studio for a few friends and local artists whose music he likes. In side projects, Mathes and a friend play in a band called The City, and he is rerecording hymns with his brother and members of his church in an effort called the Restoration Project.
“He's trying to level the human playing field and really get across that we all have a lot of the same struggles and a lot of us are asking the same questions,” said Mathes' younger brother Mike Mkrtschjan. “He asks the ‘why' questions. ‘What am I living for? Why do I keep moving?'”
Mathes truly began living for his music after he graduated Columbia College in 2005 with a degree in music business and jazz guitar performance. Born Jason Mkrtschjan, he began performing under his first and middle names during his senior year at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. But Mathes comes from a musical family, and his interest in lyrics and melodies began when he was much younger.
“I can remember listening to the radio with my mom and just loving a lot of the oldies songs,” Mathes said. “My mom is also a great guitarist, pianist, vocalist, and growing up listening to her was absolutely the biggest influence in my life musically.”
Cheryl Mkrtschjan plays down her musical skills but said she has always been a strong writer and believes she passed along her way with words to the oldest of her three children.
“I think he's an awesome songwriter,” she said. “He's got hidden messages in some of his songs.”
“‘Fundamental's” message focuses on the state of the human heart, which Mathes describes as “messy, beautiful and broken.” But hidden in the song “Gold” is the influence of Mathes' 18-month old son, Seth, whom he takes care of while his wife, Megan, is working.
The song begins “I like to watch you move, crawling all around, we explore.”
“There is just something about watching a little baby moving around and learning things for the first time,” Mathes said. “And what I found to be even more profound was the fact that I was actually learning about him at the same time. I was experiencing things for the first time just as he was.”
Thoughts like that, Mathes' fans and family members say, are what makes his music unique.
“The guy thinks a lot,” Mike Mkrtschjan said. “If he didn't have his thoughts, his music wouldn't be half of what it is.”
<b>“Fundamental” CD release show</b>
<b>When:</b> 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21
<b>Where:</b> Muldoon's, 133 W. Front St., Wheaton
<b>Cost:</b> Free
<b>Details:</b> Must be 21 to enter the bar area, but younger patrons can request a seat in the dining area with a view; show also includes a screening of the documentary “The Making of 'Fundamental'”
<b>Info:</b> (630) 668-8866; jaymathes.com