Daniel Spencer (left) and Aiden Taylor (right) practice in their shared apartment. **(Courtesy of Jayden Moore)**

Ahead of their debut album release and May 30 show at X-Bar in Cupertino, four-piece band Blue Jean Baby sat down with me to discuss the group’s growing country sound.

The band and album, titled Feeling on Top of the World, are comprised of Daniel Spencer ’27 on lead vocals, guitar and primary songwriting, Aiden Taylor ’28 on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Juno McGinnis ’29 on bass and Brian Park ’27 on drums. Together, they shape a sound that blends “70s homegrown country aesthetics with a rock edge and poppy exultation in a similar vein to Johnny Cash, Fleetwood Mac, and Bob Dylan.”

“None of us are from the South,” said Spencer. “But we figured we might as well call it country.”

The band’s sound exists in the space between Southern country and rock, according to Spencer, lacking some of the genre’s traditional accents and themes but holding true to the twang and clean guitar tones reminiscent of artists like Zach Bryan. The project began as a solo passion endeavor for Spencer before evolving alongside his involvement in other musical groups.

“He brought us all together,” said Taylor. “Something we all believe in is the difference between recorded and live music. It’s a different feel—you’re emphasizing different things, and it’s a different experience for the listener.”

Taylor also pointed to his own musical path as unconventional and somewhat separate from aspects of the existing campus music culture. Originally beginning as an electrical engineering student, he didn’t declare a music major until the spring quarter of his freshman year, first playing in jazz combos outside of the rock scene before joining the band.

“After a few years on the combo scene, I came back to rock,” said Taylor. “And that’s when Danny posed the opportunity to join forces. It was an easy ask, and an easy answer.”

Spencer cited his musical journey as beginning in Chicago as a member of School of Rock, where he started at age nine and began writing his own songs around 14. By 15, he was forming bands and recording with his high school group.

Once at Santa Clara University, Spencer continued experimenting musically, exploring 80s pop, hard rock and even reggae before settling further into the sound that would shape Blue Jean Baby.

Daniel Spencer sings and plays to the crowd. **(Courtesy of Perkin Yang)**

“I had these soft folk rock songs,” said Spencer. “But I realized I was asking a lot of people to believe in my music. So I decided to record a little bit by myself before having these musicians go in on songs. Those 11 songs became the album.”

Both Spencer and Taylor expressed a deep interest in the commerciality of music as they self-recorded and produced the album, as well as the importance of connecting with listeners beyond simply releasing the project.

“I feel like I’m making the best possible music when the layman, or the person who doesn’t usually listen to music, is having fun,” said Spencer. “Recording music alone is lonely and boring. I think if I have music that can make people feel a little bit better, that’s the best.”

When asked to sum up the band in a word or short phrase, Taylor chose “content.”

“If music makes you feel any more content, then I’ve done my job exactly how I’m supposed to,” said Taylor.

The Logistics

Blue Jean Baby is set to perform at X-Bar in Cupertino on Friday, May 30. Tickets are available here.

More information about the band can be found on their Instagram.

See you there.