Jimmy Gnecco – 8 Questions

Jimmy Gnecco is also known as his moniker, Ours, a rock band who released their third studio album in 2008. Jimmy is currently touring in support of his soon to be released new album under his own name.

1. Can you tell us about what the new record will sound like? How will it differ from an Ours record?

Hi Hoyt. Well from an approach standpoint it’s one very focused vision. From a sonic standpoint it’s mainly an acoustic driven record, meaning acoustic guitars, piano, and percussion.

2. What were your motivations for doing a solo record under your own name?

Honestly, I never loved the idea of putting any record out under my name. I love being in the band, but I had so many songs that felt like they would be best served by a more stripped down approach. We also felt really proud of the last Ours record that we made (Mercy…) and we wanted to give people time to discover it. This seemed like the right time to finally record these songs. I am really surprised and happy with the outcome of this record, it far exceeded any expectations that I had.

3. What are the main visions and goals for you right now as a touring and recording artist?

To effect as many people in a positive way that I can.

4. What is your current view of the record industry? Have have you felt it has degraded more since you were first signed or have you seen a light at the end of the tunnel?

I think karma is doing a great job.

5. You were vegan for a number of years, a diet very popular in Portland. What led you to that?

When I was twenty years old, I started to recognize that there were many other options of things to eat where an animal didn’t have to die for me to live. I watched a lot of footage of animals being treated horribly, and it just made me upset, made me feel like I would do what I could to survive without eating an animal. Now, don’t get me wrong, I was far from perfect and I never judged anybody else for eating it, this was just a choice that I made for myself. I’ve done my best to not be a hypocrite or to judge anybody else for their choices. In all fairness, I have many leather jackets, belts, shoes, and pairs of pants. This is still a topic that I often think about and my current thoughts are that we should treat animals as well as we should treat each other. When they die, if we wish to use every bit of them to survive as humans, we should be incredibly grateful for their gifts to us and we should hope that they had a good life and a good journey. I am currently listed as an organ donor myself, so if I am to die, I would hope that somebody else could use something of mine like we would that of an animal.

6. Your voice is disctinctive but was also constantly compared to Jeff Buckley. Has that comparison followed you still?

I still hear it from time to time and I understand what people mean by it. My voice itself doesn’t sound like Jeff’s to me, but I think it’s how we choose to use it that might bring up the comparisons. Jeff was one of the best and a beautiful person. I put every ounce of emotion that I can into what I’m singing, I always have. I learned that bit from Michael Jackson, John Lennon, and many other greats as a child, it’s all I know.

7. What is the current state of Ours as a band?

It took me a long time to find a group of people that loved what I did and I loved what they did. I believe I found the core group of those people and I’m so proud of what we have accomplished so far. I look forward to the future.

8. With all the setbacks and traumas you’ve endured in your past and recently, how do you still find the motivation to keep at something like recording and touring?

I’m too stubborn to stay down : )