Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerad Atherton.
Hi Jerad, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have a band named CHPTRS that I share with my musical partner, Josh Auer. Growing up in Lakewood, I started playing music in 3rd grade. Influenced by my older brothers and dad, I was obsessed with classic rock, metal, hip-hop, punk, and pop. I loved listening to music and had to be closer to it- to got inside it by learning to play instruments. In church, with various bands, I eventually studied music at USC and Vanguard University. Recording and producing has always been my passion and that began in college. For the next 15 years, I worked with artists, toured, and music-directed as much as possible.
Josh grew up in Lake Forest and started a band in high school called Pax-217. They signed a major record deal and toured for years. He was completely emerged in the punk and rock scene from southern CA for years. Continuing to tour with many different bands and artists, Josh began writing for TV (ABC Television) about 10 years later and mixing/producing other artists.
He and I met while I was producing a record for another artist. His bands and productions had always stood out to me as having exceptional vocal production, and that was what I wanted for the project I was on. We immediately found a common language and efficiency working together. It was fun and easy. From that point on, I never produced another record without including him. We were a team
In 2016, we started our band CHPTRS. We were still recording a lot and Josh was on the road with Phil Wickham most of the time, but it took shape quickly and we eventually found a strong following through the niche world of music licensing.
CHPTRS, and our pop project RIYL, have been featured in many television shows including “The Rookie”, “All American”, “The Fosters”, a bunch of MTV shows, indie-films, documentaries, and wedding films. Our music has been used in ads by NASA, MLB, ESPN, IKEA, ABC, and hundreds of others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our band is called CHPTRS because each album is a collection of songs that represent what is actually happening in our lives during that era, or chapter, of life. The happiness and difficulties of life are all explored with raw honesty. Child adoption, addiction, fears, loss, love, etc… but always with a thread of hope. In 2018, Josh’s 3-year-old daughter experienced heart failure. She was rushed to CHOC, then helicoptered to UCLA medical center where they settled and lived for the next 5 months. They never went back home. While they were staying in LA, friends sold and put in storage all of their belongings from their Lake Forest home. With 3 other children under 5 y/o, including their 3-month-old…this was the scariest and most challenging time of their lives. We continued making music through this era, with Josh writing and recording in the hospital. Chapter Four, in particular, was entirely written from the hospital. “Stay With Me” tells of Josh standing bedside holding his daughter’s hand begging her to just hold on as she was fighting for her life. “Better Than This” sounds like a love song but is actually written from the perspective of his daughter’s favorite blanket, her closest companion in every scary moment of the hospital. She eventually received a heart transplant and is miraculously still healthy today. The journey after the hospital was full of challenges and celebrations. Our song “Finding Our Way Back Home” describes this path- the celebration, hope, and adjustment of it all.
This is just an example of some of the struggles we have had along the way, but that have directly influenced our music. Adoption, disabilities, love, parenting, etc. We write because we need to make sense of the life happening around us. We need the processing and hope that’s always found through art and faith.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Jerad Atherton and Josh Auer are a music production team with 2 bands: CHPTRS, RIYL. https://wearechptrs.com
With over 21 million plays, thousands of music licensing placements in commercials, films, tv shows, and other independent projects- we’ve written 7 albums since forming in 2016.
We are proud of these original songs because they’re honest, raw, and unflinching. In art, emotion is what matters most and we feel like we have been able to encapsulate it with our own unique voice.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
From our experience, the best thing an artist can do is create as much authentic art as consistently as possible, as well as possible, and as long as possible. Outside market forces will eventually work in your favor if you can do these things. It’s always rewarding to invite talented artists and friend to join in on the making of the art. When doing so, we have found that communicating clearly, compensating generously, and expressing gratitude cultivates partnerships that are mutually beneficial. Of course we could make music by ourselves, but it’s so much more fun with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wearechptrs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearechptrs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearechptrs
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wearechptrs
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFbEc7F2WQ5HxnacuzTlUfQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-928832527
