Artist and songwriter Jamie Alimorad is about to release his long-awaited album This Is Tomorrow Calling. We caught up with him earlier this week to find out more about the project, his musical journey so far, and his plans for the future. Here’s the conversation in full.
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Hi Jamie – so great to chat with you, congrats on the new album! What’s the story behind this project, how long has it been in the making, and how does it feel to finally finish it?
Great to be here Rebecca! Thanks for having me!
This Is Tomorrow Calling is a dream come true for me. I had the pleasure of working with one of my idols, Gino Vannelli, as a co-writer and producer, and he pushed me beyond what I ever imagined. The album is a culmination of three years worth of writing and recording, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished.
Brighter Days is stunning, a great opener. How did you come to write this, and how did the collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention come about?
Thank you. Brighter Days came about from a conversation I had with a dear friend. We were having dinner, and talking about life. She’s not normally very open, but that day she opened up to me about some personal struggles. I was shocked! I had no idea she was going through this difficulty because around me she was always smiling and laughing. Her words stayed with me, and it made me think about all the other people going through something similar. Music is the way I know how to cast a wide net in helping, and the song came from there.
Are these songs all very personal to you, or are some guided by melody and a more general concept?
They’re very personal. I found myself at a crossroads, and outgrowing my shell. These songs represent that shedding. It was incredibly difficult to face some things that I had kept deep inside for so long, but it’s helped me grow in ways I didn’t imagine at the outset of this album. That’s the voice you hear in This Is Tomorrow Calling.
What do you hope people take away from the album on the whole?
I hope they see some of themselves in my story. We’re all connected somehow, and certain messages are universal. These songs are my journey, but someone else can find something that connects to their journey. We’ve all had friendships come and go, we’ve had family issues or situations, lovers of all kind. Those are some of the topics explored on this album.
From a musical perspective, it really stands out from what is in today’s pop market. There are elements of the classic singer/songwriter, rock, jazz, funk, Americana, it’s an incredible fusion! I feel a lot of people treat music as background, but this is an album worth shutting off the world to, and getting lost in the music.
Will there be a live tour to accompany the album release?
We’re working on LA shows at the moment, and I have a few coming up, the biggest being Saturday October 12th at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. I’ll be opening for Gino and I can’t begin to tell you what that means to me. I’ll be exploring dates across the US, and hopefully even internationally for 2020.
Is music a full time venture for you now?
Indeed it is!
What are your plans creatively following the release date, and your hopes for 2020?
I still have a lot of video work to do. The video Brighter Days will have people that purchased the Brighter Days t-shirts via TeePublic in it, and I’m really excited about that. I want to bring people together, and let those who are struggling know they’re not alone. You can purchase t-shirts here.
If you can’t make it to LA for the video shoot, take a video or pic of yourself wearing it, use the hashtag #BrighterDays, and we’ll insert it into the longer cut. There are several other songs I’m looking to film videos for.
Live shows are coming, and I’m getting into 2020 details as we speak. I’m always writing, and looking forward. Hopefully it won’t take as long to get the next one out haha.
What is it about music that draws such passion from you?
Everybody has something they vibrate with. From the moment I heard my first downbeat, I was moving. I can distinctly remember hearing certain songs when I was three, four, and five. It changed me. It brought out excitement. Only now can I understand what was happening. It’s my purpose.
There’s a fair amount of musical eclecticism on this project – how do you decide which direction to take a song in, and do you have a preferred genre or one that you most notably grew up adoring?
Gino had a clear vision for me from the get go. He heard my previous releases, and saw something in me that he wanted to uncover. To do that, he pushed me farther and harder than anyone had ever before. I didn’t know those styles were in there. Naturally his DNA is all over the project, but the arrangements he crafted are around my melodies. Our partnership brought out something unique.
He even knew when to take a step back. Not Ready To Say Goodbye and Brighter Days are produced by his brother, Ross Vannelli. Ross has an incredible ear for pop, and the goal with those two songs was to go for a radio sound. He did it!
I’ve always been a rock guy. My favorite band is the Tubes, and their song Talk To Ya Later was the song that made me really fall in love with music. I’ve always wanted to be that sound. This Is Tomorrow Calling is less rock than my previous releases, but elements of those influences are still there.
Who or what inspires you the most to create in this way?
I look at all the artists I’ve ever admired, and I say, “I want to beat them!” If I heard a song that I really love, I want to write a song like that, but better! That’s my drive. How do you top what you consider the best?
If you could sit down to lunch with anyone at all, past or present, who would you invite – and what would you ask them about?
Thomas Jefferson. He is my favorite historical figure, and I love his writings. He was a true Renaissance man, and it would be fascinating to ask him about psychology, science, art, literature, economics, you name it. I’m also a big history guy, so I would want to bridge some gaps of how society has evolved.
If you could perform at any venue or event in the world, which would you choose, and why?
I would love to headline my own concert at Fenway Park. I’m a lifelong Red Sox fan, and sang the National Anthem there, but I want to play my own music in front of 40,000. If it was an event, anything on the scale of LiveAid has to be the most insane experience. Can you imagine what those artists felt?
What’s the best way people can support you right now?
Listen to the music. However you consume it, download, stream, CD, vinyl, please listen to it. You can follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and please sign up for my mailing list at https://jamiealimorad.com!
Please check out the Brighter Days t-shirts too! The AFSP is an incredible foundation, and the people are some of the most inspirational I’ve ever met. Come see a show, hang out, say hi!
What’s something about you that most people don’t know?
I’m a three-time AAU Junior Olympic medalist in Tae Kwon Do. One gold, and two bronze. Martial arts helped make me who I am.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
“No one ever made a difference by being like someone else.” – PT Barnum
Thanks again for having me, and to everyone who’s been supporting me throughout my career, thank you.
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Find & follow Jamie Alimorad on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
