“The kinda spark I ain’t afraid to hold” — Jet Jurgensmeyer’s “Midwest Sunset”
Photo Credit: Urban Hill Photo
Born and raised in Nashville, your family splits their time between Tennessee, Missouri, and California.
You shared that some of your best song ideas have been sparked while riding your horse and working cattle on your family farm in Missouri. How does being outdoors spark your creativity?
I think being connected to the world around us is the most beneficial thing to a songwriter.
Whether it’s ideas like “Midwest Sunset” or “Roots,” these are songs that being outside and experiencing the world helped with.
Active in sports, soccer, basketball, golf, and karate. Does this help you find balance between your career and personal life?
Absolutely. You have to understand how to balance everything otherwise you get burnt out and overwhelmed. Having an active personal life is really helpful.
Award-nominated actor, comedic and dramatic roles. What has been your most challenging role to date?
Honestly I couldn’t pick just one. Each role is its own challenge and requires a different way of attacking it. Whether it’s for Disney, or ABC, or Netflix, each show or movie has a different way of wanting the character to act, sound, or look throughout the whole shoot. If you look at a show like Ozark for Netflix where I played young Marty Bird, it’s a lot different preparing for the seriousness that comes with it as opposed to a role like Boyd on Last Man Standing. Marty was a very serious person and a fast speaker, and Boyd was a lot more of a relaxed kid. So both require different ways of preparation.
Philanthropic endeavors, including supporting The Ryan Seacrest Foundation. The Foundation’s primary initiative is to build broadcast media centers within pediatric hospitals for patients to explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media. How have you seen these centers help the children and their families find healing during difficult times?
Being in the studio and seeing these kids faces is the most priceless thing ever. Even more so is the families’ smiles. These people are going through just as much, if not more, seeing their loved one being in a hospital for part of their childhood. So going in and playing games, singing songs, and helping them forget about whatever they’re going through right this minute… is something I’ll always try and be a part of.
“Good music is good music, and I’ve always loved the art of it.” Released last summer, THE RIDE: phase 2 is an album of songs that blend poetic storytelling with innovative musical arrangements.
The song “Bones” is the only solo write on the album. Can you share the backstory to the song?
The guitar melody throughout the song I came up with while I was bored in a hotel room playing my guitar. It wasn’t for another week or so that I decided to try and write to it. Through a serious of personal events, the lyrics of song kind of just fell out onto the page. I wrote the song in about 20 minutes and didn’t really think anything of it until I played it for my parents a little while later. They said they loved it and couldn’t believe I had just written it, since I never really write by myself. It was such a personal song though, that I had to put it on the album.
First show of the year was at the Bluebird Café. “I want people to feel less alone in whatever it is they’re going through.” The Café opened in 1982 as a small eatery with a side stage for friends to perform on. What other small iconic venues do you hope to have the opportunity to play?
The Bluebird was definitely top of my list, so it’s always an honor getting to perform there. The Listening Room is another iconic place in Nashville. I’ve always wanted to play the Nashville hotspots like the Ryman, Opry, and Bridgestone. So hopefully we’ll get to check those off the list soon.
Co-written with Ericca Latza, “Midwest Sunset” paints a picture of the couple watching the fading light of the sunset from the tailgate of a truck, as it reflects the burning passion of their connection, a love that feels as timeless and vast as the sky itself. What is your favorite lyric from the song and why?
“The kinda spark I ain’t afraid to hold” has got to be close, if not at the top, of my list. When you hear that in context with the whole verse, it caps off such a vivid image that everyone can understand. I wish I remembered which one of us came up with that. I’d love to take the credit for it because it’s so awesome! That song is full of little comments and words that are really pretty neat if you pay close attention to it.
Hunting. Became a lifetime member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation at age 8. After a four year wait, went with your dad and cousin on a hunt, along with your custom-built rifle, in New Mexico last year. With limited legal light time left to shoot, a clean shot and you bagged your first elk. You hunt to provide food for the family. What is a family favorite elk meat recipe?
Elk tacos!!! They are the absolute best, hands down, no competition. I love a good elk steak and just some ground elk in an omelette, but there’s nothing like good elk tacos. I personally use just whatever taco seasoning I can find, and it’s always the bomb! Little tip, you can take your taco seasoned elk meat, and make homemade nachos with them as a little snack too!
To stay updated on Jurgensmeyer’s latest projects and upcoming releases, please visit his official website. Connect with him on social media through Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, and YouTube.