For Jeremy Parsons, music has always been more than a career—it’s been a lifeline, a mirror, and a constant teacher. With the release of his new EP, Life, Parsons opens up about resilience, reflection, and the messy but beautiful process of growth. From the raw honesty of his single “Who Was I?” to the chart success of “The Garden,” Parsons continues to craft songs that connect deeply with listeners while staying true to his personal journey. In this candid conversation, he shares how feedback fuels his creativity, why storytelling remains at the heart of Americana, and what excites him about stepping into the next chapter of both his artistry and his life.
Jeremy, congratulations on the upcoming release of your EP “Life”! You’ve said the title reflects both your personal journey and what we all go through—what does *Life* mean to you at this point in your career?
It’s everything to me. At one point, I was taking it for granted and trying to end it all chemically; now, all I want to do is continue experiencing it, writing about it, and sharing it with everyone from a different perspective. I’m here to learn as much as I can for as long as I can.
Your new single “Who Was I?” feels incredibly raw and personal. What was it like to revisit your younger self and put those reflections into a song for the world to hear?
It felt like exposing myself in a way that only those really close to me get to see. I’m never wary of writing a song, but that doesn’t mean it will see the light of day. I’ll just put it aside as a writing exercise piece. And in the past, I’ve written similar pieces, but leaning heavily on metaphor. This one was the first that hit me differently than any other song I’ve written like this. It felt like the proper presentation, the flow of events, and the timing of writing it. I was ready to share this side of things in this way. The right amount of time had passed, and the moment was right for looking back and not being so hard on myself about my growth. The journey is a beautiful thing, but the process is messy, and that’s okay, it’s natural, and that’s what I wanted to express. Overall, I would say it feels complicated and liberating to be able to put it out there, and that’s just another reason why I’m so grateful for this craft and all those who continue to show the love.
You’ve had incredible chart success with songs like “The Garden”, which even broke into the Billboard Digital Songs Sales Top 50. How does that kind of recognition impact you as an independent artist?
Things like that are a big deal and truly mean a lot, but they’re catalogued emotionally for me as little victories. They are there and gone, and you post about them and everyone says “way to go,” but it’s never something you can stay grappled to. It’s something you can look back on and congratulate yourself on occasionally, especially when those low moments grab hold of you. As an indie artist, though we all need those, it shows those around us who never saw this as a “real job” that it is, and just because we love what we do and work odd hours, we are still out here hustling to keep the dream alive. It’s fuel to let yourself and everyone know that you’re on your path and to keep on truckin’.
You mentioned that a critic’s comment sparked the idea for “Who Was I?”. Instead of brushing it off, you turned it into art. How do you embrace feedback and transform it into something creative?
If I can prepare myself, I can maintain an unbiased opinion about most things, even if it is one of my own creations. That is important because not everybody reacts the same way to all music or anything in general, and an opinion is something we all have the right to, whether we agree or not. And with reviews of my songs or albums, I want to hear genuine thoughts, not just the niceties. With this particular review, I adopted it more as a challenge to myself than anything. “I’m like, okay, I hear you, let me see what I can do.” Whatever was swirling around me that day really worked, and I’m glad I was able to make something of it.
Throughout this EP, there’s a theme of resilience and growth. What do you hope listeners take away when they sit down with “Life” from beginning to end?
I hope they see that there is a flow—the goods and bads and ups and downs. Hills and valleys are all on the way to a destination; that’s why we go through them—the light and the darkness, the yin and the yang. The two halves that make the whole. Life is a journey, and the journey is life. I want them to look at scars and not just remember the pain. I want them to remember what they gained from the experience, how beautiful the sky was that evening, the place they were in, which they thought they’d be stuck in forever, and how far from that place and that person they have come. I want them to look back and forward and smile at both ends, realizing that they are capable of growing because they’ve accomplished so much already. And if they feel stuck, I want them to know they will become unstuck as soon as they are ready—everything in time. You’ve got your whole life to figure it all out. Don’t push it and don’t rush. Appreciate and embrace all you can.
Songs like “The Garden” and “Humanity” touch on universal experiences—love, compassion, the human condition. How important is it for you to write songs that connect beyond your personal story?
It’s crucial. I’m here trying to connect all the dots I can through my own experiences. When something feels universal, I think it has to be spoken or, in this instance, sung into existence. At times, we’re all just trying to substantiate our own thoughts and feelings, searching for like minds in a sea of so much difference and indifference. I feel like that’s one of the most potent things that music can do: uniting everyone through the message of a song. They might not even be on the same page as you when you wrote it, but instead connect based on what they’re hearing and how that makes them feel. I find that all absolutely wondrous.
As someone who’s been a steady voice in Americana and country for years, how do you see your role in keeping storytelling at the heart of this genre alive for the next generation?
Whatever role I’m lucky enough to play, I know I won’t be alone! As much as I’m seeing people who are writing in what I consider a stale, overdone writing model. I’m seeing so many more artists come out of the woodwork that truly look at the world and see, whether it be on a global scale or right out of their front door. I’m just grateful that the ideas keep coming and there’s never a shortage of inspiration from my peers and idols. I have faith we will keep the fires burning.
Looking ahead, with the release of “Life” and “Who Was I?”, what excites you most about this next chapter in your journey as both an artist and as a person?
I find that I’m never unexcited and always waiting for whatever’s next, and in this case, it’s another EP full of an even more interesting set of songs. It’ll be like nothing you’ve ever heard from me and maybe anyone else ever, especially from my genre. It’s taking me even further out of my comfort zone musically and expanding my catalog in a very sonically unique way. As a person, I am also planning a wedding and will be joined with a beautiful soul next April 2026. What more could someone ask for than love and music, maybe more of both?
Jeremy’s EP, Life drops on September 19th.
