Clientele Hall of Fame:
1. Joe Troman (Fall Out Boy)- Probably the least known member of FOB, but definitely the most unruly hair! Great guy too.
2. Tyler Colton (celebrity hairstylist) - This guy lives in LA, and does hair for TONS of celebs. I just cut his hair the other week, when he came through Seattle to visit me. The thought of me cutting hair for the guy who does Charlize Theron's hair is kinda mind-boggling! www.celestineagency.com Check him out under "Los Angeles" "Hair and Makeup". His resume is off the charts...
3. Chris Traynor (Helmet) - This dude has been a pioneer of heavy music for over a decade. Most of the music I listen to has had a "Helmet" influence in it. He also played in Bush, Blur, and has done studio sessions with Josh Freese, one of the best drummers of our time.
4. Kevin Lyman. The founder of Warped Tour/Taste Of Chaos. Basically, the most influential player in punk rock and heavy music today. And he is so humble. I told him I would like to use his ethics as a blueprint for my career. I only hope I hold to that!
5. Members of Taking Back Sunday, Panic At The Disco, The Academy Is, Yellowcard, Underoath, Relient K, Ex-Screaming Trees.

Years Experience:
Depends... Licensed: 4+ years. Unlicensed: 13
I got started cutting hair at 12 years old, so I count those years as "experience". :)

Lowell: I count since you were 12. Walk us through a typical "Jake" morning, afternoon, and evening?
Jake: Morning: There isn't one. I wake up at noon!
Lowell: HA, I should of known.
Jake: Afternoon: Get ready for work. Throw on some tunes, go to work. At work, I'll usually be booked pretty solid, so I'm usually stressed out because I haven't had a chance to smoke a cigarette! Lol...
Lowell: My bad, unfortunately its probably individuals like myself that over book you.
Jake: (Laughs)...nah, man, it's totally fine. It's the people who TAKE the appointments...
Evening: Finish work (usually running late), then head home and hang out with my little boy Christian. We usually watch movies and eat food. Christian also loves listening to music, so we enjoy jamming out to tunes. If I go out, I usually only hang with my one close buddy Matt Shaw. He and I go to the bar "Lindas" or the "Redwood". I'm not a huge drinker, so I usually just have a few cheap beers and we talk music and how jaded the Seattle mentality is when it comes to music. He and I totally listen to different music, but still keep an open mind. And that's what most of Seattle doesn't know how to do. And it's maddening!

Lowell: From what moment did you discover that you had an unparalleled talent to cut and style hair?
Jake: Do I? (Laughs)... That's quite a compliment, and I appreciate it! I'll say this... I fucking love doing hair. I'm good at it. I am confident in my knowledge, able in my abilities, and always willing to stay on the cutting edge. If that sets me above the rest, its only because I truly believe that no one works harder than me. I'm no more talented than tons of other stylists, but I beg to see any of them bust their asses like I do.
Lowell: Amen brotherin, that positive attitude undoubtedly permeates through your work ethic.
Jake: I sure hope so... on the good days at least! :)

Lowell: Naturally, you have worked very hard to achieve the name you have earned for yourself. Was there ever a point where you were afraid that all the hard work would never pay off?
Jake: At times. But that's life. We don't always get what we hope for. But instead of hanging our heads for too long (because I feel that it is ok to get down from time to time, just not too long), you gotta keep on pressing forward. Sure, it looked to me like I would never do work on a video or photo shoot... But finally one came along...then another...then another and so forth. I'm still not to where I want to be, and I probably won't ever be. The day that I achieve all my goals is the day that I put to rest my haircutting shears...

Lowell: Can you elaborate on some of these goals? Are they the type of goals that can only be achieved if haircutting is placed on the back burner?
Jake: Well, I would like to eventually go from Full-Time salon stylist to Full-Time Freelance Stylist. I'd like to do the majority of my paid work via photo/video shoots. I'd like to open up any given magazine and see my hairstyles on any number of pages. I'd love to have CD's sent to me from tons of bands, with photos inside the liner notes that are photos that I styled hair for. I still want to do hair in the salon, but I want to cut back. So, cutting hair may be placed on a lower priority level, but never will it be put on a backburner. I've still got to keep doing hair to stay focused and inspired.

Lowell: In relation to your career, what is your definition of success?
Jake: Respect. I think that if I represent myself well, and continue working hard, that the impression that I leave will be one of respect. I want respect and I want to respect what I do. If that makes sense at all.
Lowell: Of course, often times respect is more important than anything. Aside from Seattle, where do you feel most at home?
Jake: In Austin with my girlfriend Mischa, who is the most amazing person to grace my life. And on the road touring with my friends bands. Also, a particular setting that makes me at home is doing hair for photo shoots and video shoots. No matter where it is...
Lowell: That's important man, you are one guy that can pick up your career and move it to Timbukto, yet still produce kickass hair time and time again, nowadays that quality is a must. First and foremost, you have found yourself a beautiful women, and we wish you nothing but the best. Is there talk of moving to Austin? Or possibly transplanting Mischa & Co to Seattle? Or is it a time will tell situation?
Jake: I definitely think there is the possibility of moving to Austin. I'm going to ask Mischa to marry me in 2 weeks time. From there, I'll be in both Seattle and Austin. My son is in Seattle, so I have obvious ties here. But, my girl...my heart...is in Austin. So, where she is, I am. But, the future is a time-will-tell scenario. IT could be New York. LA. Paris. I'd like to jet set this whole world, and take this bitch over. Why not?

Lowell: What's your favorite part about being on the road?
Jake: Waking up in a different city every day. Knowing that 90 percent of the population would kill to travel like I have. And that's not trying to be boastful; I can't believe I've been bestowed with the opportunities to tour like I have.

Lowell: Touring has always been one of my aspirations, whether in a band or with the band, how more kickass does it get?
Jake: It doesn't get more kickass than touring. It is such an amazing experience. The friends you make, the places you go. The crazy things you see. It's all one of a kind.

Lowell: What's your least favorite part about being on the road?
Jake: The sense of separation, from loved ones, regular life etc... For instance, this year on Warped Tour, the Israel-Lebanon conflict was beginning. The whole tour I had virtually no idea because of the lack of regular communication via Internet, newspaper, television etc. It's a whole different world that can become very lonely and isolated despite the number of people you come in contact with every day. Tour is a whole different animal, and certainly is not for everyone. Oh, and lack of showers and regular toilets. But you find ways around that...

Lowell: If you could do hair for any individual, musician or not, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
Jake: Fuck... I have a list. Ill keep it short though...
1. Jonathan Antin. Just so I could smack that pansy ass upside the head for being such a whiny little bitch. (He is the stylist in Bravos TV Show "Blow Out")
Lowell: Ah yes, the egomaniacal crybaby!
Jake: ....little bitchass..... :)
2. I'd love to cut Natalie Portman's hair. She is so beautiful, and she always has cute hair. And, she seems like a genuinely nice person, not a snotty celebrity.
3. Also, it would have been amazing to cut hair for John Lennon. What an icon.
Lowell: Godwilling, hell yeah! What are you future goals in terms of not only your career, but also your life?
Jake: I want to own a salon. But not JUST a salon. I can't give away ideas for fear of people stealing them, but rest assured this salon would be THE SHIT. Also, I want to phase out of doing hair in salons 5 days a week, instead only 2 days a week. That way I could dedicate more time to doing hair for photo and video shoots. That's where the real money is, and that's where I'm going to get the start-up capital to open a business b/c my credit sucks right now. All of this plays out into my life as well... I'd love to be able to provide for my kids and my future wife (hint hint mischa!!), I'd love to be able to own a home. I want a reality TV show. My ultimate goal is to be happy. And, how I'm setting myself up now, I feel is leading me to that. My girl makes me happy...my son makes me happy...doing hair (when not overbooked and stressed) makes me happy...

Lowell: I can tell you have the drive and passion to achieve all of those things and more. Additionally I know for a fact that your reality show would blow Jonathan's scripted bullshit into oblivion! Realistically where would you like to reside during all of this, do you still picture yourself in Seattle, or do you plan to move on?
Jake: I guess, it all depends on where me and Mischa ended up. Austin or Seattle though, I don't want the distraction of LA being the centerpiece of the show...

Lowell: As a father describe the feeling of bringing a beautiful son on to this earth?
Jake: I cried the moment I saw Christian's face and tiny body. Its something that can't be explained until you experience it yourself. I was young when he was born (22 years old), so I wasn't quite sure how prepared I was. But, someone told me that no matter your age, you're never fully prepared. You just do your best, and hope that you show that child sooooo much love that they can't help but know that no matter how fucked up this world may be, there is still one last shining hope: LOVE. PASSION. I am trying every day to pass that along to my son. If I do, then I did my job.

Lowell: I can only hope that Christian's fellow generation have father figures with such a similar standard of raising our nations youth. Nothing but respect, Jake.
Jake: Thank you man...

Lowell: Is there a particular quote that you live by?
Jake: Not necessarily a quote, but definitely a standard: I try and work hard. I try and be respectful. I don't hide myself, good or bad. I accept failure, but strive for success.

Lowell: What have you found to be most influential in your life? (Movies?, Music?, Love?, Family?, etc.)
Jake: Music first. Family and love go together, and they are equally influential. I also find the general population to be influential. America is lazy. That influences me to not be lazy. For every person expecting things to be handed to them, I'm busting my balls to attain it myself. And, definitely I see that in a lot of the bands I work with. Guys like On The Last Day, Lucky For Nothing, Furthest From The Star, Fall From Grace, on up to bands like The Academy Is, Over It, Gym Class Heroes etc... All these guys have a work ethic that I feel is unparalleled. They get "it". They understand that mentality, that "standard" that I try and live by. Because they live by it too.