Jeremey Mitaux (11) is involved with music in many different ways as a guitarist, drummer, and most notably, a bassist for the band “White Collar”. He also writes music and lyrics to his own songs as an individual and has expressed interest in continuing his musical production after high school.
Jeremey Mitaux
Junior Jeremey Mitaux is a bass player for the band White Collar, which is based in Orange County. Mitaux joined the band about three months ago when their previous bass player went off to college. Mitaux can play the guitar, bass, drums, and a little bit of the mandolin.
Before Mitaux joined the band, White Collar had been together for about a year. The drummer and the guitarist are both original members of the band. Mitaux discovered the band when they performed at the Walk For Wellness that was held at SJHHS last year.
“We started out mainly on 80’s hard rock music, but now we are working on our own original stuff,” said Mitaux. “We recorded a four song EP that we are trying to release by the end of the year.”
The writing process for original songs starts with either Mitaux or another member who will have a song idea– either a string of chords, or lyrics. The idea is then recorded into a demo by the band at their studio.
Before Mitaux joined the band, White Collar had written and recorded some music on their own, but now Mitaux has come with new ideas and songs that they have begun to play.
“Mostly I write the song first, and then it takes me a very long time [to write the lyrics]. I’ve had songs that I’m still working on for three years and I haven’t [finished] because I don’t have lyrics,” said Mitaux. “Sometimes I purposely wait until I know that [the lyrics] is what I want to have.” Mitaux tries to not stick to a certain formula to keep the lyrics different and special for each individual song.
In addition to White Collar, Mitaux is also a member of a school band, The Hawaiian Band, and other small bands that he can just play with on the weekends.
Mitaux hopes to play music in bands after high school. “Of course there’s no guarantee with that. It’s very difficult, especially with the music that I play; the majority of youths don’t want to listen to it, and I get that.” As a rock musician, Mitaux recognizes that the genre is growing and hopes that he can pursue music in that genre in the future.