Unlike many Baton Rouge bands, Jamie and the Fine Divine isn’t afraid of being related with pop music, it does so by bridging the gap between pop and grunge.
About a year and a half ago, Jamie Hotard began a transition that led to the creation of Jamie and the Fine Divine.
The band started as a solo project, but soon Hotard asked longtime friend, University alumnus and drummer Casey Stallcup, to join him on this new journey.
Hotard and Stallcup met during high school and have collaborated with music for the past 10 years.
The Fine Divine’s mindset came from a system of philosophy seeking direct knowledge concerning the nature of divinity.
“The divine self is just talking about the spirit within, not sort of religious but more like spiritual,” Hotard said.
Stallcup and Hotard were the only members of the band until September 2014, when the band stumbled upon bassist Zak Ocmand, who also plays in local band The Patsies.
Hotard was working at Spanish Moon when he saw Ocmand play bass with The Patsies. He said he thought Ocmand was phenomenal and asked him to play a live show with them, and after that show, the chemistry was so pure they asked him to stay for good. Hotard said that for the band, it was like finding the missing piece of the puzzle.
Jamie and the Fine Divine is currently working on recording its second LP which will feature 10 songs.
Fans sometimes have a hard time describing the style of music Jamie and the Fine Divine creates. Some call it pop-rock or post punk, but the style that describes the group best is pop-grunge.
Most of the band’s songs are about love, heartache, hope and perseverance.
“In the first album there were quite a few songs that dealt with philosophies on life and existence,” Hotard said. “I’m kind of trying to stray away from that on this [next] album, a lot of it is stories put together to be metaphors on overarching philosophies.”
Hotard said the main difference between the first album and the upcoming one is angst about growing up verses the hope of getting past that phase and moving forward.
Most of Hotard’s influence comes from playing music with Stallcup. They were the rhythm section in death metal band Cattle Drive. Collectively, their influence is derived from jazz and big band concerts, but the band’s music also mixes happy beats and choppy melodies. The band also is influenced by Queen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Nirvana, John Paul Jones and Foo Fighters. Making their influence both jazz and rock.
“It’s kind of like an eclectic mix more on like the rock side of things,” Hotard said.”
For Stallcup, one of the strongest elements of the band is its chemistry. Hotard and Stallcup have known each other for so long, they said playing together comes naturally, and Ocmand’s versatility and chameleonesque abilities to adapt to new sounds and styles help the trio perform as a whole.
The eventual aim for the band is to tour nationally and play music for a living. Ocmand is currently attending BRCC, and that will give the band time to branch out.
Because the band is focused on recording the new album its next show will be Aug. 22 where they will be opening for BradyStock III at Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Javier Fernández

Baton Rouge local band Jamie and the Fine Divine are focused on recording their new album in Baton Rouge.