Downtown Money Waster :: Features :: Hurt

Youngstown, Ohio

Word to the wise, don’t address the passionately charged reverberating thumb of Hurt as “rock n’ roll” because lead singer J. Loren will reluctantly correct you. “I am not sure I even play rock n’ roll to be quite honest with you,” he says with a sigh right before sound check at a tour stop in Youngstown, Ohio.

Hurt released their debut palette of compositions on Capitol Records, in the spring of 2006, by bombarding audiences with a tonal resonance located somewhere in between the reckless tendencies of rock music, and the emotional punch of sweeping melodic metal. The pressing was entitled Vol. I.

Consisting of the Baltimore native J. Loren (vox/guitars/arrangements), Paul Spatola (guitars), Joshua Ansley (bass), and Evan Jones (drums), whose father provided contributions to Led Zeppelin as acclaimed rock producer, Hurt is now touring in support of their continual rock opus.

Vol. II was released to the public on September 25, 2007. The recording saw engineering contributions and production credits from Eric Greedy.

“Rock is the only honest music left,” says Loren in a gritty deep tone. “When you hear a current country song; it was written by someone else and produced by someone else. String musicians come in and spend literally five minutes knocking their parts out in one take. The vocals are processed through editing software and what you end up with is this over produced piece of crap which doesn’t mean a damn thing to any of the people involved but a pay check.”

“On the other hand you got the rock world where you can work and you can find your craft. You can make records that you feel compelled to make, but you won’t make any money,” as laughter follows. “The rock world is more appealing to be because money is something that I really don’t give a shit about and I am doing what I am compelled to do. Ever since I had self awareness I knew that I needed to make music. It seems silly, I know, but some people are born to have families, other build bridges. It just so happens for me it was always music and it is so important to me it’s insane.”

The record itself it syncopated tightly. The dynamics between acoustic brush strokes and electric barrages keep the LP forging forward. This genre of music was never my my cup of tea but I fully understand why people like it, its appeal, and the place it holds. The pressing starts off with “Summers Lost,” and tramples through a soulful female call and response within “Abuse of SID,” as Loren dives into the inner workings of desperate estranged love. “Alone with The Sea” shines.

“What was going on creatively for me leading up to the sessions for the record? It is something that words cannot describe. I think a better answer would be just to listen to the record. We haven’t changed much over the past 8 years. The only thing would probably be that we have been able to afford better production. We have just been doing what appeals to us; we are completely oblivious to whatever anybody else is doing. I don’t really need to emulate anybody because if somebody is already taking care of a facet of music and it touches people, keep doing it please. I think it is a service to the world. I just know that what is in me. I need to get that thing done in its peculiar way and that is my contribution to society.”

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- J. Loren
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“Literary these songs just came to me. I still maintain that I really don’t write these songs. I just listen and write down what I interpret them to be. I think anybody else who writes a large amount of songs would agree with that on some level. I feel there is a pool of consciousness going on.”

“Have you ever done a peril-less sport like jumping a motor bike or something like that? You know when you are about to crash and you know when you hit the jump that you are fucked? You are in the air and you know you are going to crash and all you are doing is living in the moment? Well, that is what being onstage feels like.”

“The biggest difference between Hurt and other bands is that I didn’t grow up listening to music the other ways bands do it. I grew up in the classical sense. I idolized Beethoven, Stravinsky, Bach, and Chopin. I don’t think anything I can do in my lifetime can even come close to the works of the people I just stated.”

With Loren diving into the concepts of over production and being a muse the question was posed inquiring about his music intentions. In an industry that has seen an almost comedic drop in steadfast integrity, filled with quick checks cashed and fly by night performers, what are your intentions?

“I am just trying to do what I feel is honest and good. I think that is what every human does on earth. They just are doing what they feel is honest and right.”

“I think the issue of integrity and cheap art has a lot to do more with the media. It has been proved time and time again that you can market and sell a toxin to people; and they will appreciate it. I can’t comment on anything that Ashlee Simpson has done, as you asked, because I don’t consider her a musician. I run into musicians all the time and a musician is a peculiar thing and it is pretty obvious when you actually meet one. Most of the people you run into are another version of Ashlee Simpson, meaning they are doing the best they can for themselves. Can you really blame them for it? I think in her case she was a young teenage girl who was offered a bunch of money, sex appeal, and a great time. Am I going to be angry and this girl for going out partying, having houses with friends, and expensive cars? No, I am not going to be angry at her,” Loren answers. “I am going to be angry at the people who buy her albums. I am a little disappointed that is has come to this, but hell,” he says with a chuckle.

“In the midst of all of this I think there are a few individuals that I see a high level of integrity in and it is not so prevalent in the artists that are well known. For example we did the Army of Anyone Tour and those guys really care about music. Who cares if you have sold 22 millions albums? Because they don’t, they just want to make new music and try to make it a life changing experience. There are people out there who are still doing what they think is right, but it is not quite as prevalent as I would like to see,” he concludes.