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| Jayk Mesler is Super Cool, Yeah! |
| by Matt 2/1 |
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Spawned from the suburban threat, Jayk Mesler's work will not be seen in galleries or on your neighbor's wall. You will however, see his work on record store shelves, on the backs of band groupies and even on MySpace. Jayk is all about the alternative music and even more about digital design. His first go around in the more corporate graphic design world prepared him to branch out and take on his version of design. An undeniable enthusiast of the music scene, this former band member, turned record label creator, is now working from home, probably in his underwear, designing some of the hottest CD artwork, band merchandise and band websites around. Currently resting comfortably in the alternative and hardcore music scene, he has in the past, worked with The Starting Line, Beloved, As Tall As Lions, and The Spill Canvas, just to name a few. Mesler's desire for perfection and his design sensibility comes with ease and fluidity. His versatility allows for minimal and grunge to work elegantly and dramatically in the same design.
His day job designing at 111 Records has given him the ability to pursue his dream - fronting his own company. Melser works alongside friends, late into the night, on freelance web and graphic design for all types of musicians under the moniker Burn It Down Media. We met up with Jayk to talk about music, fonts, mochas and Mighty Taco.
You mentioned that you once worked for a corporate company, can you elaborate on that?
Duquette & Partners is where is I used to work. I interned there for three months after graduating from Bryant & Stratton and then I got hired and worked there for about three years. That's where I really learned how to do things for real. In school they give you privacy and let you have fun, but D&P is where I learned how to do what I do now. It was all corporate work though, for clients like Autoplace, Napa and Mayer Bros., all very corporate. You design something nice and they pick it apart by adding too much stuff. After a while I realized that it was killing my love of design and so, I left. Ultimately, I ended up doing full time design with a few steps in between; starving artist and all.
How did you get hooked up with 111 Records?
I had a very short-lived record label. I didn't have any money, I just wanted to work with bands and do design. I got hooked up with This Day and Age, and they got hooked up with 111 Records through a friend. He kept me on "branding the band" but eventually gave me more projects. The label was just getting started, so there were only about three artists at that time. Little by little they opened me to other artist and more work. So that's what I do now that's my full time job, working for the record label. It's a sweet job, I'm sure I could find something to complain about, but the fact is, I wake up at 10:55am and walk into the other room, and I'm at work. I don't have to get dressed if I don't want to.
Then at night, I do any type of freelance through my label, Burn It Down Media.
Many of the bands you design for belong to a specific genre, have you considered branching out to cover other types?
Yes. Actually, the guy who owns the record label is a former member of the boy band LFO. We tease him about it all the time. So, we did some things for LFO, and I'd like to do more. I found a spot where I'm comfortable. I would certainly like to branch out. I've done a couple things on MySpace for some rappers and a few things that aren't very big, but were outside of my comfort zone.
What is your process when designing, namely CD packaging?
With a record label it's a little more established. It usually depends on what they have in existance. I like to look at what they have as far as a profile, logo, text, photos, and assess what they are looking for. I like to get some input from the band about what they are trying to get across. Some bands come in and know exactly what they want and they want it to look just like "this". Some come in and say, "whatever looks cool man". Both types of clients are fun for their own reasons, and it's nice when I have some direction, but as long as it's not so tight that I can't make a suggestion - especially if they want something really awful.
Where do you get your inspiration?
You'll probably see a lot of influences in my work from Asterik Studio. They have since broken up and have become something else, but they basically do all the work for Tooth 'N' Nail records. Everything they touch I think is really impressive. I like Robb Dobi also. Locally - Matt D. and Ryan Besch, who works for Hero Design now, I think. He was an original member of Burn It Down, but we didn't have enough work to keep him busy. He's a phenomenal artist and definitely does some cool work.
Do you think the iPod will help or hurt the music industry?
Well I do have one in my pocket, so I can't say yes. This is my first one, I just got it for Christmas this year! Hard to say really. I don't get involved in the politics of it all. Music is going to happen either way, and digital music is here, no matter what you do. I think that having it available is convenient. It does destroy the very base, underground bands that really work hard to get there. But there is also those overnight sensations that aren't very good or didn't do a whole lot of work. Ultimately, good music is going to prevail. How you get there isn't as important once you have your target audience. If you're writing good music, I'm ok with that.
Who is your favorite band to work for?
There hasn't been any bands that I loved first and then got to work with. One of my favorites right now is Reign of Kindo. They are former members if This Day and Age. Really amazing! The fact that I get to work with them is amazing. Definitely the most talented musicians I've ever worked with.
What is your favorite font?
Oh man, that's a hard one! This is so bland of an answer, but Avant Gard is always really pretty. Everyone loves the eroded fonts and I have a couple of those that I like. I like real clean fonts the most though.
Do you do your own photography?
No, it's usually provided. I have a photographer on staff named Jason Hewitt who does the photography when we need it. We haven't had the budget to get the work that would require custom photography. It would be nice to get some with a budget though, to take a concept and run with it. Once, we used Mark Goldsmith [their Sr. Web Manager] for some images and we got to use them for a concept album." That was fun because we got to take it from concept to the end without involving other people. I like it better that way. I have a hard time trusting other people with my vision.
Do you outsource any illustration?
It hasn't become an extreme necessity, but I have a guy, James Barnes, I found through MySpace. He does some cool sketchy drawings. I appreciate his work. They really haven't used them much other than for concepts. I'd like to use that type of work more, but most people don't like to pay for illustrations. I get a lot of small budget bands, which is part of the business. I contemplate that some of the good design isn't used to its full potential.
Do you think it's possible to survive - artistically - in Buffalo?
Because what I do is digital, primarily everyone I work with is not in this area. My project manager is in Maryland, my boss is in Florida, another guy out in L.A,. So for me, location is not as big of a factor. Wherever you are, where the good people are, that's where it's going to happen. As long as you are dedicated, you are going to make it happen. I think Buffalo has some things going, but I'm not that involved with the scene, so I am probably part of the problem.
So then, what keeps you here?
I have a lot of friends here. I'm not crazy about winter, especially on days like today. Ultimately, it's the people. I have a lot of good friends, I'm close with my family and that's primarily what keeps me here.
For a while I didn't think I was going to stay in Buffalo. Before I had started the record label, I knew I was going to move to Florida, which as you can see I'm still here. Shows what I know. I think it's essentially the same no matter where you go. You have to find what you like, what's going on in the area. Obviously if you are looking to do what you like, you're going to find them no matter where you go.
You' have teamed up with some friends to build your business, has that been a good experience?
I think it is a good experience because we are only freelance. I have a hard time being nasty. I wouldn't want to be a boss. But I think once we got to that point I would have to appoint someone to the position to make sure people are on task. I wouldn't want it to ruin my friendships. I'm very thankful to have the friends that I have. It's crazy I didn't know whom I would be working with. I didn't realize that's what they were interested in. The doors just opened and it's been great how it worked out.
What are your plans for 2008?
Keep growing the business and get some larger clients. I would love to have a studio where we could work from as well.
Do you have advice for young designers?
Really, it's different for everyone. If you love what you do and you really put the time in, that's what's going to do it for you. I went to Bryant & Stratton for 2 years and didn't learn much of anything. I didn't even know what DPI was. That's what you learn on Day One, right? Everything I learned, I learned by immersing myself in the field and designing constantly. I involved myself with those that knew it and leached free info from them.
If I were an out of town guest, where would you take me?
I'm a rut guy. I don't go out a whole lot. I enjoy eating so I would probably take you to a nice restaurant, or something fun. Everyone from out of town has to go to Mighty Taco. I 'm not the biggest fan of Mighty but I do enjoy it. We like to visit the nicer places, like Bravo or the Cheesecake Factory, or maybe even the BBQ Pit - we can get messy! For the most part though, we're pretty relaxed.
Lightning Round! Choose one or the other.
Chicken or Beef - Chicken
Coffee or Tea - Coffee (flavored)
Foosball or Bubble Hockey - Foosball
Slayer or Metallica - Slayer
Bills or Sabres - Bills
Cars or Trucks - Cars
Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune - Wheel of Fortune
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