#solarestates

July 2nd , 2016 // Day 184 of 366 Subject: Aric Jeffries  Age: 24 Years Old Born: Lancaster CA Currently Resides: Chico CA Occupation: House Painter // Student // Husband // Musician 

“I really feel that painting has been more of an educational experience, almost, then school has. I’ve learned so much about talking with clients, dealing with people, and getting things done on a deadline. I don’t know (but) there are so many parts of construction work that are applicable to my life. I just feel like I’ve learned so much from my boss and just being on the job.” 

“I do remember what it’s like to be eighteen and in college but at this point I’ve been going to college for so long (that) It does wear on me a little bit. I don’t want to sound pretentious or (like) an asshole but younger college students have a different vibe and a different set of interests then I do at this point. And also I’ve spent more time doing all of that. I do feel a little bit out of place a little bit and ready to move on from that. I’m so fucking tired of college but it’s great; I’ve learned so much and I’ve taken so many different classes on so many different things. And I feel pretty well rounded at this juncture which I guess is the whole point of general education but I’m definitely ready to move on for sure.”

“There’s a sense of relief I would say. I feel like a lot of people, and me personally before I met Ashely, that I spent a lot of time searching for THAT person. Maybe I’m just that sort of person that is looking for someone, you know, and when you found that person and you said, ’I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you.’, it feels like a relief; like that’s a part of your brain you don’t have to access anymore, searching for that person or whatever. So in that sense it does change, but Ashley and I have done a lot of the same things that we did before we were married. We’re pretty independent and we don’t push things on each other too much. I think it’s comfortable to be married for sure; it feels really nice and it feels like a safe warm place. But also I think it’s good to keep the things that made your relationship good before, also, once you’re married.” 

“I have a lot of ideas about different things. I’ve been thinking about this podcast idea for a long time and now I’ve got a friend talking about it with. So I am thinking about artistic ideas a lot but musically I feel like I actually need to be in sort of a turbulent mindset, almost, to write my best stuff. And I’ve gotten to a point now where I’m writing more music that doesn’t really relate to me. A lot of my newer stuff is about; I’ve been reading an Orson Welles book which has kind of influenced the last few songs that I’ve written. The other thing about marriage is that you feel that safety and that turbulence kind of evaporate a little bit, which can make it a little hard if that’s the sort of creative person that you are; Like,’I’ve gotta feel so shitty before you can write anything.’. So it’s been sort of a learning process to figure out how to get into a mindset, or how to be methodical about it maybe, and just make yourself write in a different setting then you’re used to.” 

“The more I stay in Chico, the more I feel so good here and so happy. But I’ve never lived in a city before, I’ve never lived in the big city. I’ve never experienced that world and I’m excited to just see what it’s like, and see what sort of people are there, and the sort of things I can do with my music in a city. There’s just this unexplored section of my life that I’d like to see what it’s all about. And I’ll probably will end up back here at some point but I’ve just got to fucking try it out.” 

July is starting off pretty hot and I’m not just talking about the temperature here in Chico. People are coming with that hot-fire on so many levels and today I got so more of that passionate yet grounded Chico mentality when I met up with Aric Jeffries. The dude is a self-sufficient master of making his own music but also collaborates. I feel that’s the way he approaches a lot of things; his marriage. His work. His education. Well, maybe not school but definitely the learning process. Stopping by while he’s working on his new home and finding him in his environment is a reminder that life is the best game in town. Meeting up with people at their most calm and authentic is a wonderful treat and today I was treated when I met up with one awesome person, Aric. Check out his band Solar Estates. They’re super awesome. 

Thanks Aric.