Jamison, who uses the monicker Teen Daze (so called because “I never imagined it would be a project that would gain the audience it has”), says he grew up with music around the house. “I remember hearing the Beach Boys a lot. I've just always loved music,” he said. Born in the mid-’80s, Jamison came of age in the 1990s, and prides himself in a strong, encyclopedic knowledge of ‘90s TV show characters. He’s also extremely proficient in producing  hazy, ambient melodies and synthy beats, starting from his debut Four More Years. Released when Jamison was 24, the memorable collection was followed up by three more full-length sets and numerous EPs. On August 14, he drops Morning World, an album that expands geographically and emotionally, and sonically captures moments of optimism and hope — much like a morning world.

Hometown: Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada

Homebase: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

I listened to Four More Years nonstop when it came out, and it’s a lot different from Morning World. What have you been up to in the past five years?

It's been five years since that record came out, so needless to say there have been a lot of experiences that have shaped my creativity.  I got married, I've travelled extensively, I've had relationships form and fall apart.  Recently, I spent a week in Iceland, and even in that short amount of time I can tell it's inspired me.

Why is your latest album called Morning World?

It's a description of the geography I wanted to create with this record.  I wanted to create a place that captured that moment of hopefulness/optimism that exists a few moments before the sun comes up.  A place devoid of cynicism and brokenness.

What was your songwriting process like for this album?

Usually a song starts out with some sort general idea, conceptually or sonically.  I'll usually experiment with guitar or synth sounds, until I find something that can serve as the foundation.  Then I'll write and record parts, and vocals (and lyrics) are usually always last.  It's rare that I'll just sit at/with an instrument, write something, and not record it.  A lot of my songwriting is tied into the recording process.

Who were your musical childhood heroes?

I'm a ‘90s kid through and through, meaning that I was born in the mid-80s and I was fully engaged in ‘90s pop culture.  In Canada we had our version of MTV, called MuchMusic (it still exists, in a different way), and I watched a lot of music videos growing up.  Smashing Pumpkins were always my favourite.  But I had a lot of ‘60s and ‘70s rock playing in the house.  So I listened to a lot of The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin.  

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote about?

When my friend Chris and I were only in elementary school, we would make songs with his Yamaha keyboard and one of our stereos that had a mic input.  I think the name of our band was "The Crazy Monkeys"?  It's all a little foggy.

Who are your musical inspirations now?

Now, I'd say some of my inspirations would be Brian Eno, Manuel Gottsching, Laraaji, and I still love Smashing Pumpkins a lot.

Do you have a piece of gear you can't live without?

I'm not too precious about instruments or gear, mostly because I don't have an immense collection.  I bought a Gibson SG about ten years ago, and that's probably been my most consistently used piece of gear.

How do you describe your music to people who haven't heard it before?

Something you could probably play around your grandparents, and not feel like you're offending them.