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The perfectly-toned guitar picking and subtle harmonica on “Ain’t Gotta Be This Way” set the mood for JM Steven’s new album Wish On A River Bridge.

“Ain’t Gotta Be This Way” has a wonderful anticipation and memorable chorus that one would hope for while crafting an opening track for an album. It truly makes you want to go on the journey.

Mississippi

Stevens was raised in West Point, Mississippi just outside of Tupelo before making the move to Texas. His mother was a singer and pianist at the local church, and his father once hit the stage with Bo Diddly.

“All he ever talked about was Bo Diddly because he got on stage and played with Bo Diddly when he was a kid,” Stevens said. His father was on the maracas in that family legend. “I never believed the story but I actually found out it was true. He always told me growing up ‘there’s nothing good that ever happened after Bo Diddly.’ He totally just skipped the Beatles.” 

Stevens and his brother picked up instruments at an early age, along with skateboards. His brother moved off to Los Angeles at eighteen and formed Blind Melon. 

“They were a pretty big band,” Stevens said. “Those records still hold up.”

To the Southwest

Stevens was looking for an escape from his rural upbringing, and followed the trail out West to Texas.

“I kind of moved to Austin on a whim when I was twenty years old,” Stevens said. “My brother was in a band and had played here and said it was cool and that’s about all it took.”

Stevens quickly found a hotel to post up in while looking for a home. 

“I came here with my girlfriend and a band I had at the time, which quickly dissolved,” Stevens said with a laugh. 

Austin in the early 1990’s was a vibrant art community with cheap rent and stages on every corner. It was a golden era just before the tech industry took a more prominent role in the city’s culture.

“I’ve done about every job you could possibly do in this town,” Stevens said. “I was a professional dishwasher for a long time.” 

Inspiration

Stevens described his musical influences as “wagon rock,” those songs they grew up hearing in the back seat of their parents car. 

“I’ve gone through all kinds of phases with music,” Stevens said. “I think this morning I was listening to Doug Sahm, and I was listening to Nick Drake.”

East Austin Recording

Stevens built a garage studio in the early days that’s been his main focus outside of performing. East Austin Recording has since grown into prominence, having credits with acts like rhythm and blues standout Carolyn Wonderland and alt-country troubadours Uncle Lucius. For over a decade he performed with Moonlight Towers before releasing works under his own name.

The New Era

We came across his new release on Bandcamp, the latest platform to see an influx of A.I. releases. It’s still the best platform to find and support independent artists.

“I almost think it just makes people that are doing cool stuff even stronger,” Stevens said. “We have to do stuff that’s more guttural now and real that can’t be replicated in some way. It’s kind of an incentive to keep it raw, keep it real you know. AI can’t go play, can’t go drive around and live in hotels and such.”

Ain’t Gotta Be This Way

Stevens has spent a lot of time performing solo, and after releasing several full band albums he knew it was time to record something more intimate.

“To me that almost seems scary or more ballsy than doing a band record, you know, just something really stripped down,” Stevens said. “I went into it with that mindset.” 

“Ain’t Gotta Be This Way” was a song that Stevens came up with on a crunch, working with a songwriting group that uploaded new material on a weekly schedule. 

“That was just one of those that kind of popped out right quick at the last minute,” Stevens said. “I feel like that’s when some of the best stuff happens, you’re not thinking too hard.” 

The song describes a couple trying to hold their relationship together. The main character is pleading his case as the track rolls along.

On the Road

Stevens has a small southwest tour and an east coast run on the horizon.

“I always found it inspiring to be out traveling,” Stevens said. “Your mind is free to roam.” 

The photo on the album cover was taken just outside of Mississippi on the way to Louisiana.

“There was this thing we always did when I was a kid with my old man,” Stevens said, “whenever you cross the bridge you had to put your hand on the ceiling, hold your breath and make a wish, and if you make it all the way across without taking a breath your wish will come true.” 

It’s a tradition that he’s passed on to his own children. 

“I think it can trigger different memories, or different images for folks,” Stevens said. “I just found that picture I took and thought it fit.” 

Support the Artist

Stevens also has a live recording from the famed Old Quarter in Galveston that he’s planning to release next.

You can keep up with JM Stevens here.

Stream and Purchase Wish On A River Bridge on Bandcamp.

Photo by Patrick Glennon.

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