Hi, I’m J Duran from East Nashville. I’ve been writing songs since around age 13. I am in love with the creative process and utilizing many different mediums, with music being my favorite. I also enjoy drawing, painting, film and photography. I’ve always found the writing process to be cathartic, and the results are often a self-healing agent. I play multiple instruments and love exploring new instruments as well. 

I think indie would be a relatable description. I am influenced by many styles of music and I’m not afraid to experiment with creating different sonic environments to capture the essence of the song. My music can often be emotional because of the place from which I typically write from. Capturing moments of emotional process in life is vital for a genuine lyrical translation. Music has been a culprit for profound experiences in my life and I aspire to create music that can have that effect on others as well. 

Neil Young was one of the first artists that magnetized me to the idea of songwriting. I found comfort in the personal vulnerabilities he exposed in his music. Discovering his songs at an early age opened doors of expression that I wasn’t aware were even there at the time. There are many other artists that had an impact on my creative expression musically, such as John Prine, Pavement, Television, Herbie Hancock, Tears for Fears, Wilco, Talking Heads, David Berman, Leonard Cohen, Beach House and Outkast, just to name a few. 

I was in a depressed state and had been reflecting on various recent negative experiences in my life. I was frustrated with how things were at the time and was enduring what I would call “spiteful hope.” I wanted to channel those feelings into something tangible. The idea of “Sweet Tooth” started over a conversation with my brother about the trials and tribulations of life while enjoying a chocolate chip cookie. I laughed and said “Life’s been lemons but I’ve got a sweet tooth.” That phrase kept floating around in my mind so I picked up a guitar, a melody evolved and the song was written in about 20 minutes. I wanted the studio recording to communicate a sense of doom and gloom wearing a coat of optimism.