Who’s Up Next? - Almost A Cow
The Houston-based alternative power pop band joins us to talk about their recent releases, upcoming shows and artistry.
Joho: Hi Jay! I’ve recently gotten the chance to dive through all of your releases and getting to see the evolution of Almost A Cow has been rewarding to watch in real time. Your sound is so refreshing. What can you tell us about how your music career got started?
Jay: ‘Almost a Cow’ started out as a solo project for me. I’ve been playing guitar for over ten years and had a ton of songs written but never recorded them. Eventually, I was like, “fuck it, let’s put all these out—good or bad—nobody’s gonna listen anyway.” The goal was to grow as a producer and learn everything about the music business. That’s why in the first album you hear four or five different singers.
While working on the most recent EP, Raw Milk Days, I moved to Houston and wanted to play the songs live in front of a real audience. That’s how the band ‘Almost a Cow’ really came to be. Adam took over vocals, Etienne plays bass, and Todd’s on drums. I’m forced to stick to just six strings for now.
Joho: How has your upbringing shaped your artistry and songwriting?
Jay: My mom was a professional classical pianist who also loved jazz. My earliest memories are of her playing piano—one song that’s still stuck in my head is Beethoven’s Waldstein—and coming home from school to Pat Metheny or some random Japanese jazz trio blasting on the sound system.
Later, in middle school, my brother bought an electric guitar, and that’s when I picked it up and got into rock music. This was the time when LimeWire was very popular too so I had downloaded so many pop/rock/jazz/rnb/funk songs all the way from the 50s to 2000s. That early exposure to so many genres definitely shaped the kind of music I write today.
Joho: Your 2023 album “Various Shades of Invisible Ink” features so many pockets that I really loved. The opener “Blast!” felt to me like city pop meets the groove of Steely Dan, all paired with some absolutely ridiculous shredding throughout. I admire how much personality and identity you’re able to squeeze out of your instrumental tracks. It’s like you’re saying so much without anything happening vocally. What can you tell us about this track?
Jay: Blast! is definitely one of my favorites from that album. I was listening to a lot of ‘80s Japanese fusion jazz at the time—Casiopea and T-Square were on rotation almost 24/7. Naturally, I tried to write something in that vein with the limited theory knowledge I had, and Blast! was the result.
I couldn’t hide the fact that I’m a rock musician first and foremost, but it was fun interpreting fusion jazz in my own way.
Joho: That second track on the album “Lovely Days Behind Our Door” gave me elements of early Maroon 5, Michelle Branch and all in a palette I would call very Sonic the Hedgehog coded. With so many working elements I imagine you have quite the list of influences. Who might some of them be? Also how has your experience been with establishing your band’s identity and making your sound unique?
Jay: The late ‘90s to early 2000s dad rock era got the best of me. I’m a huge fan of Nuno Bettencourt and Paul Gilbert—both put out amazing solo albums between ‘95 and ‘05, which I draw a lot of inspiration from.
I never tried to force an image or identity on the band. It happened naturally—I just wrote songs I wanted to hear every day, and the rest of the band vibed with it. I’m not sure if we’re “unique,” but our sound probably comes from our indecisiveness about what our genre even is. And everyone brought their own colors to the table which is always a wonderful thing.
Joho: Your EP “Raw Milk Days” has what I consider to be some of your best work to date. The hook on Schizoid Love is one of my favorite music moments I’ve heard all year. What can you tell us about how these songs came about?
Jay: All the songs on that EP were actually written around the same time as Various Shades. When I sent out demos, Devin—who ended up producing Raw Milk Days—wanted to use some of them for one of his Berklee classes.
We picked five songs that felt strongest and really took time to develop them. Devin’s not just a great producer, mixer, and engineer—he’s got great ears. The best part? Sean Slade and Susan Rogers got to hear my songs. I’m sure they were shocked since Devin was the only one turning in rock songs. At least they liked my guitar solos—they hated my singing though :)
“Supreme Leader” was originally an instrumental, but Devin suggested adding vocals. I basically turned what would’ve been the guitar melody into lyrics. The song’s about a dictator up north of my home country, though it applies to politicians everywhere. I’m a skeptical person—especially about politics—so it’s really about how leaders rarely have the people’s best interests at heart.
“Schizoid Love” was written on a cheap practice amp right after I bought a Boss Katana. I stumbled on this ‘80s Japanese city pop tone and built chords around it. The melody sounded like an “American version of city pop,” so I leaned into that. I wanted to contrast the bright, happy sound with darker lyrics—from the point of view of a stalker whose crush turns into obsession. Sweet from afar, but creepy up close.
All the rhythm guitars were recorded on that tiny amp—it just proves that you don’t need expensive gear. If it sounds good, it sounds good.
“Wallflower” came from a NewJeans song, Super Shy, which is why I titled it that way. I was working on a rock remix of Super Shy and loved the chords I wrote, so I turned it into its own song with a similar lyrical theme. It’s super fun live—though Adam probably hates it because it has the highest note in our set.
“Traitor” was inspired by binge-watching Daisy Jones & The Six. I wanted to write a ‘70s soft rock song—it ended up sounding nothing like I planned, but I love how it turned out.
“Perfume” I wrote for my wife. She’s a Lana fan and collects perfumes. I read that smell is the sense most strongly tied to memory, so I wanted to write something deeply personal with that theme. I aimed for an Oasis Don’t Look Back in Anger vibe, and Devin added piano and strings that really brought it together. I like to think of it as Almost a Cow’s Imagine—every artist writes their own Imagine eventually.
Joho: You recently performed at Solar Flare Music Fest and Stargaze HTX. Tell us about your thoughts on the Houston Music Community and the burgeoning scene you guys are firmly entrenched within?
Jay: Houston never got the PR it deserves, and that’s unfair. The scene here is organic, active, and receptive if you’re willing to work with it. People are kind and open, even to newcomers like us. The whole band is excited to keep growing with this scene.
Joho: What does your creative process look like when making new songs?
Jay: Inspiration hits randomly—when I buy new gear, feel something deeply, or reharmonize pop songs for fun. Whether it’s a riff or a chord progression, I record ideas right away and loop them until I find a vocal melody and structure.
Lyrics usually come last. It’s rare for me to start with words—if I do, the song somehow ends up sounding dull. Sometimes I start from a hook, but most often, melody comes first.
Joho: Have you been working on any new music? What can you tell us about it and when can we expect to hear some of it?
Jay: I can only tell you they all suck... kidding. We’ve got about two EPs worth of material recorded right now. This time, it actually features the full band instead of me playing everything (minus drums).
The next EP will sound heavier than anything we’ve done—closest comparison would be Mr. Big. The first single, “Manatee,” should drop in November, and the full EP maybe summer 2026... but don’t hold me to that.
Joho: What's next for Almost A Cow? Any upcoming shows or releases we should be looking out for?
Jay: No shows planned for now—we’re locked in the studio recording new music. The goal is to finish up over the winter so we can get back out and perform these live for everyone.
Joho: Can we find your music on all streaming platforms? Where else can we stay updated on news about Almost A Cow?
Jay: Yes! We’re on all streaming platforms and all over social media—Instagram, TikTok, and OnlyFans (jk... or am I?). The best way to keep up is to follow us on Instagram or TikTok. :)
