JDM Global's New Single "Cake" Is Oh So Sweet

Fresh out of the oven is JDM Global’s newest single “Cake.” The song is artist Josh Mehling’s debut single and he’s serving up something sweet. The track might be the artist’s first release, but Mehling is no newcomer to the music scene. He’s produced several songs for Claud and is also a member of the band, Shelly. His solo project, JDM global, brings a sound that is flirty and fun. “Cake” is the perfect summer song. It’s light and nostalgic—the ideal track to blast in your car with friends. I got the chance to ask Mehling a few questions about the release. Read our interview below.

 YOU’VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE CREATING MUSIC FOR OTHER PEOPLE, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO PUT OUT YOUR DEBUT SINGLE?

It's been great. I can’t believe it’s out. I love to collaborate with others. Music is my love language, whether it’s making music or sending things I’ve found online to other people. Putting a song out just feels like I’m collaborating with others, but on a bigger scale. The song is so special and personal to me and it’s cool that I can connect to people through the music. 

WHAT PUSHED YOU TO PUT OUT A SOLO PROJECT? 

I guess the pandemic did in a way. I was spending so much time alone in my room in Houston. Over the summer, I was making things every day and trying to stay creative. I wasn’t interning and I didn’t have a job or anything. And then, in December, there was kind of a continuation of that. One day, I came up with this little instrumental. I was playing it on loop in the shower—trying to think of ideas production wise. I kind of just started singing melodies over the track and writing the lyrics. I thought it was something that I could send to someone. And then, I was like, “Maybe I could try singing and send it to friends as a joke.” But my friends were like, “You should put this out.” That was also something that pushed me to do it. 

IS THERE A REASON BEHIND THE NAME JDM GLOBAL? 

There are a few meanings. I wanted something that sounded like it was made up of multiple people, but was just me—kind of like Tame Impala is just Kevin Parker. I also thought it was funny that it sounded like a company name. I wanted something that had a feeling of togetherness and worldwide community. A dream of mine would be for people to connect over the music from completely different countries and become internet friends. I’ve made so many friends with people just because we’re fans of the same music. They could be in Iceland. It doesn’t matter where they are. 

WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE? 

A lot of times it starts with me listening to music. I’ll get super inspired and have this urge to make music. Most of the time it doesn’t even sound like the artist I was listening to. It just makes me want to sit down and create. Usually, I’ll have a huge coffee. Then I'm wired and ready to stare at my computer for hours. Sometimes I’ll sample stuff. Sometimes I’ll make a drumbeat. Sometimes I’ll mess around on guitar. It changes every time. There’s no one process. I don’t set out to make a certain type of song. It always ends up being what It is. 

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU WERE LISTENING TO BEFORE YOU STARTED MAKING THE TRACK FOR CAKE? 

I do. I was listening to a podcast with Rick Rubin and Pharrell. Pharrell worked with Beck on his newest album. He mentioned this one song called “The New Pollution.” It’s this insane song that I'm obsessed with. That was probably the biggest inspiration for “Cake.” I was listening to a lot of guitar-based music. There’s this band called Momma. They have this song called “Double Dare” that is unreal. It has the catchiest melodies and really tongue in cheek lyrics.

DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF MORE OF A PRODUCER OR A WRITER? 

I would still consider myself more of a producer. I'm excited to lean more into songwriting and singing, but I'm a producer at heart. I love that part of the process—just messing around with every instrument and finding new sounds and ways to manipulate them. That part is the most fun to me and the part of the process that I’ve spent the most time learning about. I started producing sophomore year of high school. Songwriting and singing are extremely recent interests. 

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PART OF THE “Cake” PRODUCTION? 

I really like the little radio signal sounds in it. I also like the horns. Someone who I was also listening to a lot in 2020 is Yves Tumor. Their song “Gospel For A New Century” feels so massive. It has these crazy horns. I wanted something that felt super epic like that. 

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE LYRIC? 

Doing lyrics felt like filling in a puzzle. It was almost like math—figuring out what rhymes went with what. It was a total mind game and a fun exercise. I like that the song doesn’t mention the title until way later in the song. I think it’s cool when songs do that. I wanted the title to not be in the hook. So that’s why it’s called “Cake,” and I think that is my favorite part lyrically.

IS THERE A STORY BEHIND THE NAME “Cake?” 

I had this vision in my head where everyone is sitting around a cake and waiting to see who’s going to be the first to grab a piece. It’s a metaphor for the waiting period of a relationship where it’s like, “Okay, who’s making the first move?” That’s where the name comes from.

IF YOU COULD PLAY THE SONG FOR ANY CELEBRITY, WHO WOULD YOU PLAY IT FOR? 

Mary Berry from The Great British Baking Show. That's my favorite show. She’s no longer on it, which is a huge loss and very sad.

IF YOU COULD PLACE THE SONG IN ANY MOVIE, WHAT MOVIE WOULD YOU PLACE IT IN? 

Definitely an older movie. I think it would be good in Almost Famous.

THE IDEAL PLACE TO LISTEN TO THIS SONG IS:

Either drunk at a house party or driving by the beach on PCH.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE WHOLE RECORDING AND RELEASE PROCESS? 

My favorite part of the whole process was that I got to connect with my friends and share something that was special to me. It meant everything to be able to give a real part of myself to my friends and family. Another favorite part of the process is the drive that releasing a song has given me to keep making new stuff. I want to keep getting better at producing and writing. I definitely have so much room to grow.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM LISTENING? 

I hope people feel carefree after listening. I don't want anyone to take it too seriously. It's supposed to be a fun song. I want people to party to it and get lost in it. I also want people to feel inspired to make stuff of their own. There’s literally nothing stopping you from putting out music. I didn’t even record this song with a mic. I just sang it into my computer. You can literally just make songs. It’s such an incredible thing.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU OR YOUR MUSIC?

Stay tuned! 

YOU CAN LISTEN TO “Cake” BY JDM Global ON STREAMING SERVICES LIKE SPOTIFY AND APPLE MUSIC. GO LISTEN AND MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW @twentyminuteslater TO STAY UPDATED ON FUTURE POSTS.