Exclusive Interview with (Hed)p.e.’s Jahred Gomes
by Michelle Oberg
RUKUS MAGAZINE: Let’s talk about your new album Truth Rising in which you were quoted saying the title is regarding hidden knowledge with organizations. Who are you specifically targeting with that statement?
JAHRED GOMES: [laughs] Okay, organized religion for sure, but I don’t want to blame anybody. The assertion is that there is lots of wisdom out there that we don’t learn in public school, that’s not in history books (like lost civilizations, and the extra-terrestrial reality). I don’t like to indict entire organizations because even when I say religion, there are lots of good people in organized religion. It really encompasses a broad spectrum of topics and origins, like history of the planet; there’s so much evidence with ET reality and it’s all coming out right now.
RM: So basically you put your own storybook, lyrical twist on those topics?
JG: Everyone in the band has their own opinion about this, but the lyrics all come out of my head. I’m sure one of the guys would say, “I don’t believe that.” So it’s all pretty much my take on things. In the scope of doing music and recording, I don’t want to sound too preachy on the song but it’s a funny thing I have to go through to try and entertain. I don’t think of myself as an entertainer, but I want to keep people interested so they listen but offer information without sounding like a lecture. I’m definitely trying to use the music to provoke thoughts and get people asking questions.
RM: Your music is also very politically driven. Where does that passion stem from?
JG: It’s just life really. If we, as the people, especially as a younger generation, don’t pay attention to what’s going on and get involved and try to sift through all the bullshit, than we are being told what to do by the senior citizens and corporations. So to me, it’s important to get involved.
RM: The track “Stand Up” features Lajon Witherspoon from Sevendust. How did the collaboration come together?
JG: I’ve known Lajon since the 90’s. We played some show in Florida together about 18 months ago and I asked him then if he would bless a track for me. When we finished the track “Stand Up” I knew it would be perfect for him and his vocal style. The rest is history and I’m totally stoked at how it came out.
RM: How long did it take to create Truth Rising?
JG: Jackson (guitar) provides me with a bunch of tracks that he’s demo’ed out in his own studio (obviously with no vocals), and I’ll chose 8 or 10 tracks that I’m really feeling for an album. I write the lyrics myself so after 15 tracks are finally chosen, we will take the whole band in and practice. Practice lasts about 2 weeks and then we will go into the studio. In January 2010 we went in and recorded the music but then we left and did a 6-week tour overseas and when we came back we did the vocals and mixed it. I want to say 6 months, but it seemed longer with the break. I was kind of pissed off because normally I don’t like to take the time off but I will admit the time off was good. I was able to sit with it for a minute and then go back and re-master. It’s generally hard for me to listen to my own album because I do all the mixing myself so I just keep finding flaws I’d like to correct but every time I hear it I’m like, “Wow that’s pretty good.”
RM: Are there any major obstacles that you have to overcome during the song writing and recording process?
JG: I’m self-taught on all this technology stuff. I mix and produce all the albums myself so that gets a little bit tough. Being the vocalist, I always have the hardest time finding the right spot for the vocals, because you don’t want it too loud or too soft. The obstacle is just to get it done and be happy with it by the deadline we’re provided with. Now that we’re with Suburban Noize, we have albums coming out every two years at most. It’s great for me because music is the vehicle for me to get out my messages. There’s always an evolving message, especially with the whole truth movement or whatever you want to call it so it’s important to get out the newest information.
RM: How did you come up with the name (hed)p.e.?
JG: In the 90’s I was really fucked up, wasted on a lot of drugs and just too much partying but for some reason I was able to find certain books I liked to read and one of them mentioned 2012. P.E. stands for Planetary Evolution, which was also in the book, saying mother Earth is not just this rock that we live on, mother Earth is a being and it’s constantly evolving. The hed came from one of my early lyrics and the song was called “Heavy Head” where you’re deep in thought and your head is heavy. So one of the guys in the band back then said, “why don’t we name our band Hed?” Once we were signed, the legal department at the label told us we couldn’t be Hed because there were already other bands with that name so somehow we decided to just add to it and it became (hed)p.e. Back then I was bummed because I thought it was too complicated of a name, especially for recognition. People were calling us “Head Pee” or “Head Pay,” and now 15 years later I think it’s more appropriate, especially with the planetary evolution.
RM: The music and sound embodies so many genres. Who are your inspirations?
JG: The band has two different versions. In the 90’s the original line up was influenced by more experimental rock like NIN and Beastie Boys. But the new version is more straightforward influenced by hardcore punk with really fast beats and heavy riffs (think Suicidal Tendencies, Minor Threat).
RM: Whose idea was it to create personas through painted face masks?
JG: Even back in the beginning I used to paint my face with tribal paint but I never used do it like now where it covers the whole face. We were on the road for a while and partying with Juggalos, which are the ICP fans. That whole atmosphere was really appealing to me; it was an alter ego thing. Just myself, Jackson, and Trauma (drums) paint our faces because we like to. It’s fun. Personally, it’s a ritual…it’s war paint. It gets you psyched up and ready to battle.
RM: Do you have a favorite city or venue to play in?
JG: Wow, that’s hard to nail down but I will say The Firestone in Orlando and El Rosa in Columbus, Ohio are my favorite places in the US to play.
RM: What are fan reactions like overseas in comparison to the US?
JG: Well, we just played in Japan and culturally it’s a trip. They’re really cool and they enjoy but they don’t express it the same way American kids do. In between songs it’s so quiet you can sometimes hear a pin drop. When we go to Europe, Australia, Russia, those kids are like American kids – they go freaking nuts. I will say though there are more fights in the states than there are overseas.
RM: Do you have any celebrity fans that have come out and raged at your shows?
JG: Tommy Lee has been to our show. I feel like I’m missing a huge chunk but he’s the only one coming to mind right now.
RM: If a girl approaches you at a show and starts flirting with you what do you say to her?
JG: That’s flattering and everything but it’s easy to…[laughs]…just deter that situation. I’m hooked up. I got a good girl.
RM: What is your craziest fan experience?
JG: That’s always the toughest question…OH YEAH! One time I was signing autographs at our merch booth and totally got sucker punched in the back of the head by some guy. When I was on stage, he was punching all the kids in the pit. He was much bigger than them, so I said, “Security, get this guy out of here,” and probably made fun of him or some other shit, too.
RM: You were arrested for weed possession in 2000 while in Connecticut for a show, what was the story behind that?
JG: I’ve had friends send weed through Fed-ex a million times without a problem but this time the dude who sent it to me didn’t package it right and it just reeked. He sent it to my hotel and as soon as I walked into the lobby I could smell the skunk. As I went to the desk and asked for my package, 10 plain-clothed cops came out and tackled me to the floor, handcuffing me. It ended up costing me $5K though with the lawyer and everything. The rest is history.
RM: Who is on your playlist right now?
JG: I listen to obscure reggae. I’ve got this album called Armageddon Time, which is a compilation of different reggae artists. The band Revolution I’m listening to. They’re a reggae band out of Southern Cali. And Jay Z.
RM: Thank you so much for catching up with me. We wish you the best of luck on the upcoming tour and new album.
JG: Thanks and let your readers know I run our Facebook page myself. I took it over from the label, so keep in touch with us!