Singer-songwriter Roger Jaeger chatted about his new single and music video for “What Makes a Man.”
This song is a track from his latest studio album “Wander.”
Concept for the new song ‘What Makes a Man’
On the idea for the new song “What Makes a Man,” he said, “A couple of years back, my business coach asked me what I needed to write about that I hadn’t written about yet.”
“Manhood popped into my mind, and I couldn’t shake it,” he noted. “I thought maybe I’d write a book about manhood 25 years down the road, but something was telling me I needed to address it now.”
“So I started writing about snapshots of my life—moments when I felt like I hadn’t yet become the man I wanted to be,” he said.
“I introduced the figures of John Wayne, Johnny Cash, and Ernest Hemingway to help paint the picture of the ideal man, the kind of man we’ve maybe hoped we would be like,” he elaborated.
Jaeger on his new music video
Regarding the song’s music video, Jaeger said, “It’s often a challenge to capture the essence of a song visually. We went for it in this video by essentially having me dress as each of the three historical figures mentioned in the chorus—John Wayne, Johnny Cash, and Ernest Hemingway.”
“We also wanted to instill a sense of adventure by filming outdoors, including train tracks, horseback riding, and sitting on rocks by the lake. What makes a man? There are many answers to that question, but one of them is adventure,” he explained.
Music and songwriting inspirations
On his music and songwriting inspirations, he shared, “I’m inspired by all kinds of things.”
“Sometimes, I hear someone say something or read a sentence in a book that makes me think, ‘Hey, that could be an interesting song idea!’ I believe some of the best songs are those we connect to on an emotional level,” he elaborated.
“They are essentially a mirror. So, I’m often asking, what can I write that makes people say, ‘Oh, me too’,” he added.
The digital age
On being a musician in the digital age, Jaeger said, “I love and hate the digital age. Right now, I’m typing this on my laptop that I take everywhere with me, while my phone sits next to me on the table.”
“It’s amazing that we have so much connection to the world,” he said. “It’s amazing that I can upload a song to my distributor and have it out on streaming platforms tomorrow.”
“I also miss the days of hanging out with people without phones, and the days of finishing your business in the bathroom quickly,” he added.
Lessons learned from this song
On the lessons learned from “What Makes a Man,” he reflected, “This song was a mirror for me. I looked at painful aspects of my life—moments and eras that made me think I wasn’t man enough.”
“It sort of felt like jumping over a hurdle. Like, ‘So what if I don’t have a wife and kids yet? I’m still the one who gets to decide what sort of man I’m going to be’,” he explained.
Closing thoughts on ‘What Makes a Man’
For fans and listeners, he expressed, “I hope it inspires you. I hope it shows you that you have what it takes—that you have a legacy to leave.”
“What Makes a Man” by Roger Jaeger is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
To learn more about Roger Jaeger and his music, visit his official website and follow him on Instagram.
