Eoin: Individual perception and interpretation is obviously really important to you…
Jared: Everyone looks at everything differently, art or otherwise. You know, for example I really don’t think that anyone is inherently evil. There are people who are psychopaths or sociopaths sure, but that’s a mental illness. Most people want to do the right thing. Even people I don’t like, even people I disagree with, I want to see where they’re coming from or why they think the way they do. In their minds they’re doing the right thing. When someone crosses me I always try to understand where they’re coming from; why they are the way they are. Who knows what the fuck people are going through? People don’t take the time to understand one another.

So everything is up to individual perception, yeah. Everything. Is it satanic or is it godly? It’s always up for interpretation. It’s always down to perspective.

Eoin: Maybe that’s where punk is supposed to go? Instead of going out looking for fights and looking for liberation through rebellion, punk now should be about liberation through acceptance and embracing of differences?
Jared: Punk has always been about freedom. When it started and even when we started it was reactionary. We’ve progressed so much from some of that shit now that punk needs to become about understanding and a free exchange of ideas, about how to decently deal with each other and talk to each other. The whole idea of the Sid Vicious punk is really dated and juvenile. I’m 33 now, I’m not going to flip off old ladies and yell “cunt” at them, am I? Differences are awesome and learning to understand them is awesome.

Eoin: Lots of kids see you and your band as a big influence. They really admire you and what you do. Are these all messages you think you’re putting across through The Black Lips?
Jared: Absolutely. Every male in my family is preacher, and I’m definitely still in the family business in a different way. I try to set a good example for the kids that come see us. I do think rock ‘n’ roll itself is kind of like preaching a message of freedom. Life’s fucking tough and you need a release, whether that’s through rock ‘n’ roll, or religion, or whatever. At the end of the day we all have the same primal desires and people want to have fun and like each other. Art helps people belong. That’s why I hate any form of censorship of expression. It’s so liberating when you can create and enjoy what other people create. It’s a great way of creating empathy. It’s a beautiful thing.

Eoin: So that’s the message people should take from this record?
Jared: We never really have a straight message. I don’t like telling people what to do. Just be free, just be you. We’re not here very long. We have such a finite time on this planet, why would you spend your time being mad at someone else? Let’s just party while we’re here, you’re going to die eventually anyway. This is what I was born to do, this is my calling, and I’m going to have a damn good time doing it.

Black Lips‘ Satan’s Grafitti Or God’s Art? is out 5th May via Vice Records.

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