Jeremy Parsons’ latest single, “The Garden,” has been making waves with its heartfelt lyrics and introspective themes. Drawing inspiration from childhood moments spent gardening with his father, Dr. Jerry Parsons, a renowned horticulturist, Parsons explores the profound connection between tending to a garden and nurturing one’s mental well-being. In this candid interview, Parsons delves into the lessons his father taught him, how those early experiences shaped his perspective, and how they blossomed into the metaphor for his new song. From his unique blend of Americana, Country, and Electronica to the influence of East Nashville’s vibrant community, Parsons shares the journey behind “The Garden” and what’s next on his creative horizon.
Congrats on the success of your latest single, “The Garden!” The song draws heavily from your childhood experiences with your father, Dr. Jerry Parsons, a renowned horticulturist. How did those early memories of gardening shape your perspective on life, and how did they influence this new single?
Thanks so much! Those memories influenced this song and still affect me in many ways. A big part of me would not be what it was without that time with him and the lesson it instilled. It was the planting of a seed in itself. I can’t say I would’ve been as drawn to the idea of writing a song based on the psychological correlation between tending to a garden and taking care of oneself. I don’t know if it would’ve even occurred to me. Our experiences lead us to our ideas, and without those experiences, I would’ve been lacking.
You mentioned that you started to understand the deeper connection between gardening and mental well-being later in life. Can you tell us more about how that realization came to you and how it inspired the song’s themes?
The more time passed and I nurtured and tended to myself or my “garden,” the more I understood how important that is for everyone. I can look at a person and see when they are struggling and when you can tell they’re practicing self-care. It’s been a gift for my craft. I might see things differently without that experience, and maybe entirely. I needed to write this song, and I’m so happy with how the events unfolded that led to the moment of its inception.
The idea of nurturing both a garden and one’s mental health is a central metaphor in your new single. What message or reflection do you hope listeners take away from “The Garden”?
People must never forget that they are essential; I don’t believe they would be here otherwise. It should also be noted that taking care of yourself is not selfish; caring only about yourself is. You must be at your best to do your best for other people. It will get tougher sometimes, but I believe the universe doesn’t throw us anything we can’t handle. You are capable; the more mentally ready you are to take on those challenges, the better.
Your music combines Americana, Country, and Electronica, which is a unique blend. How do you approach blending these genres, and how does “The Garden” fit into your evolving sound?
All the credit here must go to my great friend and producer, Dustin Martin. He is the genius behind the multi-genre blend. All I’ve ever done is show up with what I can do and hope that someone can match or, hopefully, even enhance the energy behind the music. I can safely say that Dustin is one of the first producers I’ve had who can make his voice shine through. I am absolutely in love with the way everything is turning out. It’s working, and we’re both not quite sure why that is. Maybe it’s our chemistry as friends and deep respect for each other, personally and professionally, but it all meshes very well. “The Garden” and all the tracks from the forthcoming EP LIFE are all vital for setting the tone for the evolving sound. We’re just getting started.
You’ve been able to achieve chart success with previous singles like “Humanity” and “Life Worth Dyin’ For.” What do you think it is about your music that resonates so strongly with listeners?
I have a deep fascination with life, and I mean that in all the ways—the journey of life itself as a living being, to be more precise. From the day-to-day to the big to small questions we ask ourselves, like ” What will I have for lunch?” to “Why am I here?” The things we all do, say, and contemplate draw me in like a thought process tractor beam. I believe that’s what makes the connection. Love and breakup songs do well because people are consistently in love and breaking up. In short, I write about life, and people are out there trying to live. Mine is not yours, and yours is not mine, but what bonds us is the air we breathe and the time we have together. I hope we can all embrace this and, someday, each other with full and open hearts.
In what ways did the environment and community of East Nashville influence your songwriting process, particularly when writing “The Garden”?
Outside of the earlier influence from my father growing up in Texas, I would say East Nashville had everything else to do with influencing the writing process of “The Garden.” Suppose my neighbor had not walked by when she did in her gardening attire; who knows if I would’ve ever pondered the connection further and deeper between tending to a garden and also to one’s mental health. It was one of those moments I was grateful to be there to capture and translate into song, and both experiences were necessary to get me there. Sometimes, or so it seems, your entire life must happen in a certain way for certain songs to emerge. And this instance is no different.
You were recently honored with the Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year award. How has this recognition affected your career, and does it impact your creative process or direction?
What an honor, especially with all the big names nominated and who won in other categories. Successes like this are always met with gratitude, but I don’t ever let them change or affect how or what I create. They are not why I do what I do; they have come into my life because I do what I do the way I do it. I take them as signs that I am on the right path and to keep going.
Since the release of “The Garden,” how do you feel this single reflects your growth as an artist, compared to your earlier work? What can fans expect from you in the near future?
It’s always tough to break that down when you’re the artist you’re talking about. If I were on the outside looking in, though, the new tunes and sounds are different and something that has never been done. As an artist, I feel it’s our job to push that line that has been drawn and sometimes see if we can’t step over it, especially when it comes about as naturally as this project has. Art might sometimes be packaged, but it should never be “put in a box,” as the saying goes. All of these rules for the creative process make it all far from unique, and that’s never what I’ve wanted to hear or create myself. The growth is in the change, and we have to be willing to do so. It’s an incredible journey and process to even think of depriving oneself of. As for the journey, there’s one more single on deck for the LIFE EP, and from there, I can assure you that all you’ve heard so far is just a drop in the bucket compared to what’s coming with the next EP. We will go even further off the beaten path, musically speaking, and most likely veer back towards the end of the project, but you never know. I’m very excited for everyone to hear it all.