Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jarrod Ives.
Hi Jarrod, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Born in Cleveland, Mississippi. I was raised in the small town of Beebe, Arkansas. I started my musical journey as a toddler, banging on my dad’s drum set every chance I could get. Sadly, that was a short-lived experience after my dad sold his drum set when I was about six years old. After that, I subsequently shifted my focus to sports.
Baseball, Basketball, and Skateboarding were my biggest passions until I reached age 12 and got a drum lesson from my next-door neighbor’s dad. After that first little lesson, it was game over. What started out as a normal interest quickly turned into an obsession. After I finally received my own drum set at the age of 13, I was off to the races! I then began to teach myself all of my favorite songs just by listening to the music I had on CDs.
I grew up in a hostile environment. My father was addicted to hard drugs, and that has had a chokehold on him for as long as I can remember. Day after day, I would find random people coming in and out of my house at all hours of the day & night.
Due to these conditions, music became my only grounding force. The only thing that kept me (somewhat) sane throughout my adolescence and early adulthood. As I got older and could see things more clearly, my vision for a music-filled life only narrowed and would then turn from being a dream to a reality. While I still have lots of work to do, I know I am well on my way and on the right path to ensure my success.
I moved from Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Nashville in September 2023. This move has taken me from being part time to full time. While I still have plenty of calendar space to fill up, music has become a full-time job! There is no plan B.
Projects I am currently involved with:
Census – @thebandcensus (Instagram)
INFLUENTS – @influentsband (Instagram)
Naughty Input – @naughtyinput (Instagram)
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. I grew up in a pretty hostile environment. And that sentiment has echoed its way into my own personal life. Just before I made the move to Nashville, my life completely fell apart. Nearly everything I thought I was working towards, and the building fell apart at the seams.
And right when I was in the thick of it, my best friend Blake (who was going through an eerily similar situation) told me he was moving to Nashville and asked if I would join him. And that was it. We have both spent the last ten years of our careers helping people achieve THEIR goals, actualize THEIR visions, and produce THEIR music. We agreed. It’s our turn. So, we bet on ourselves and made the tremendous leap to a brand-new place.
We used to be big fish in a small pond back home in Arkansas. Now it feels like we’re the same size fish but in a much bigger pond. Probably closer to a lake. Haha. Since making the move, there have definitely been challenges, and many struggles to overcome.
But with persistence, dedication, and hard work, opportunities have come our way that would have never happened if we had stayed in Arkansas. I’m now able to fully support myself as a musician, which is the best feeling I could ask for.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What I do: In a nutshell? Drummer, Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Artist. Drums are my main instrument. I gig as often as I can, doing the Broadway thing. When I first moved here, I knew about 75 songs, give or take. Now, my list is up to over 250!
Producer/Artist: I write music, produce, and perform with 4 acts currently. The bands are Census, Influents, Naughty Input, and Aaetheria. Each one of these bands has their own sound and writes an eclectic range of music that is bound to have something for everyone.
I mainly specialize in Rock and Metal. That just happened to be the type of music that attracted me as a young kid, and it stuck with me ever since.
My band Census has amassed over 10 million streams across all platforms. Our biggest accomplishment so far is our song “Ruin My Life,” gaining over 2 million streams on Spotify alone. Next to that, in 2022, we were privileged to do an international tour as the opening act for Australian Pop Punk stars “Stand Atlantic” and “With Confidence”. Going all over the states and Canada!
I’d say what sets me apart from others in a live music setting is having the ability to adapt in any musical environment and make stylistic choices that are appropriate for that environment and still maintain a sonic signature that feels like me.
In the studio, I’d say it’s the ability to write creative parts that allow the songs to speak for themselves, as well as sound design and my production style in general.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
Blake Goodwin – One of the best friends I’ve ever had. He pushed me to make the move to Nashville when I was at the lowest point in my life and always breathed life into me, no matter the struggles I was enduring. Not to mention acting as a mentor in production.
We are truly cut from the same cloth. The stuff we have in the works right now is truly the best stuff I’ve ever done creatively. We are always pushing each other to do something better than the last and have cultivated an environment focused on growth and breathing life into one another.
Census – My band mates in Census! Ben, Jathan, and Bo have been an amazing support system. They’re another bunch that has not only helped me through hard times just by being great friends, but also hold me accountable and are always checking in on my progress, wishing me nothing but the best in this journey we are on together.
Naughty Input – When I was new to town and desperately needed a gig, Chelsea came through. She randomly sends me a message on Instagram saying things weren’t working out with their last drummer, and they were looking for someone new to join the crew, hit the stage, and write some killer tunes. I had no idea what to expect! But turns out Chelsea, JD, and Conner are some incredible people and A List musician. I am so stoked to see how far this band can go. Stay tuned for new music coming soon!
And finally, I got to give a quick shoutout to my Co-Parent Katie. We had a beautiful baby girl back in 2021 and it’s been a wild ride full of ups and downs, but I’m so grateful we’ve managed to put our differences aside and do what’s best for our baby girl. She’s growing up faster than I could have imagined, and as bittersweet as it is, I have learned a lot from being a dad and am so proud of how well we’ve all been able to work together.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarrod.ives/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jarrodmives
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMGQfHuIpaw
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0o2Xha4B3DDLDiP0J6naoZ?si=cImhDpn3SyaVCRoJtAbKJg
Image Credits
Niles Gregory and Kurt Lunsford
