Fort Wayne’s music scene is an ever-growing community of talented individuals, one of which is Jae, The Band. 

The creation of Jared Schneider, Jae, The Band is a one-man alternative band that began when he was about 14. The recent University of Saint Francis graduate started writing and performing while learning about his passion for music. His capstone project resulted in an EP, Failing Gloriously. 

His work has led him to be featured in ALT 99.5 FM/102.3 FM Homegrown Spotlight.

Going it alone

Schneider has been in a band, but his current musical endeavor meant he had to play all the roles while studying at Saint Francis.

“I wanted to display all the skills and knowledge I’ve received from the program,” Schneider said in an email response. “So, I wrote, performed all the instruments, recorded, mixed, mastered, and set-for-release these seven songs. 

“One of the songs I wrote in October ’22, ‘Little Miss Sally,’ and I wrote the hook for ‘Somewhere’ sometime in August ’22, but the rest of the songs were written from January-March ’23. I was basically writing them as I was editing and mixing the previous songs. It was definitely a whirlwind of a process: I’m always looking forward to making new music, though.”

Jae, The Band’s latest song, “2K,” has been released on streaming platforms. 

Lessons learned

Although he has been practicing music most of his life, his knowledge of the process to create it grew exponentially at Saint Francis. 

“Having the access to the USF Music Technology Center every day for four years and learning from the expertise of Miles (Fulwider), Mark (Everetts), and Phil (Schurger) has taken my ability to make music to brand new heights,” he said. 

“I’ve learned general studio knowledge, mixing and mastering, expanded my music theory and songwriting, and learned how to interpret the ever-changing music industry. I’m currently in New York on a studio internship because of what I’ve learned from the professors. It’s also given me the knowledge and facility to continue making music independently, so it’s been life-changing.”

Find him on Patreon

Schneider has an interesting take on funding his musical journey. 

Jae, The Band has a Patreon with different levels and perks for subscribers. Through the “audience” subscription, you get early access to music, discounts for merch, and an opportunity to talk to Schneider about the general process of his music creation. The next option is “drummer,” offering more in-depth knowledge and behind the scenes looks at his music. The highest option is “bassist,” which gives you workshops to go into details about what instruments he uses for not only himself but for clients as well. This category focuses on learning the low-end of the tracks, plus it comes with all the perks of the other subscriptions. 

This is a great opportunity to learn the musicians behind the instruments, all while supporting them. You can find his Patreon at patreon.com/JaeTheBand. 

On down the road

Schneider’s next adventure is booking live shows. 

While his internship is coming to an end, he is using his connections and tools to set himself up for the future. 

Not only will he be continuing his musical endeavors, but he also will be mixing and mastering for other artists.