Q&A: The American Hotel System

Can you introduce yourself?

Hey there, my name is Jacob Betts. I write and sing songs in a rock band called The American Hotel System! 


Can you describe "Can You Hear It?" in three words?

Heartfelt Rock Journey

What were the first and last parts of "Can You Hear It?" to be written?


The first song written was ’21st’, which was written six years ago the day before my twenty-first birthday. When I wrote it, I thought it was just an acoustic singer-songwriter tune, but it’s grown alongside the band into a rock anthem. 

The last part to be written was actually the bridge of the title track! While I had written the lyrics to the song in the summer of 2021, we didn’t actually intend to record it. I pulled it out while we were finishing our demos to show to our guitarist CT. He immediately fell in love with the song and said we should record it for this project. He and I demoed the whole song in about 90 minutes, but I still didn’t have lyrics to the bridge. Five days before we set to hit the studio, I sat at my favorite coffee shop with my headphones listening to the bridge on loop. It only took five minutes or so before I put pen to paper and wrote the bridge in one go! It was quite an unusual process for me, since the majority of my songs are written over the course of many revisions, but I think there was something special in ‘Can You Hear It?’ That really gripped the band. We ended up connecting with the song so much that we decided to name the whole record after it!


What’s your favorite lyric or production element of "Can You Hear It?"?


Lyrically, I’m most proud of ‘Seattle’, specifically the bridge; “Did we jump the gun, ‘cuz we were young? Did we treat our love as a hit-and-run? Or is this our time to see we’ve just begun?”

Production element wise, my electric guitar on ‘Can You Hear It?’ was recorded using Billie Joe Armstrong’s amp from ‘American Idiot’! I don’t mean the same model…I mean his actual amp!


Did you learn anything new about yourself while creating this EP?


Multiple instances during the recording process pushed me beyond what I believed I could achieve, particularly vocally. Whether it was CT or our producer Jake encouraging me to sing a line in a certain way, my initial response would often be, "I can't do that." Yet, their consistent reply was, "Just go for it." Reflecting on that journey, I've come to realize the importance of embracing new challenges without fear, as they can enhance a song beyond my initial expectations.

Is there a certain place that you feel the most creative in?

Madcap Coffee in downtown Grand Rapids feels like my home away from home. Countless songs have been written while sitting at the espresso bar looking out of the giant windows into beautiful downtown Grand Rapids. There’s a unique magic in coffee shops that sparks my creativity like no other place can.

What was on your playlist as you worked on this EP?

Each of us brought a uniquely diverse personal playlist to the table during the creation of this project. Over the past few years, Hailey and I immersed ourselves in the sounds of Manchester Orchestra, while CT and I rediscovered our affection for 90’s alternative music. Samuel developed a deep admiration for the indie rock band OWEL, and Jocko found himself captivated by Foo Fighters and Chris Stapleton. Despite the apparent genre gap among these artists, I believe their influences seamlessly intertwined in 'Can You Hear It?' in a way that's distinctly recognizable.


If you could transport listeners to the perfect location to hear "Can You Hear It?" for the first time, what would that place be?


A boat in the middle of Gull Lake (in southwest Michigan) during a summer sunset…which is where I wrote the majority of the lyrics to the title track. 


If you had to describe your music to someone who couldn’t hear, how would you describe it?

If I had to convey our music to someone who couldn't hear, I'd want 'Can You Hear It?' to evoke the same emotions as the longing and nostalgia brought on by the scent of a cherished childhood food. We aim for it to have a taste reminiscent of the warmth and comfort found in a beautifully roasted and brewed cup of coffee or tea. The visual element should mirror the blurred yet vivid memories of days gone by. Ultimately, we designed the experience of the record, from start to finish, to encapsulate the full-circle sensation you feel at the end of a movie or book.



What comes next for you?

The pieces are falling in place for a spring tour and several festivals in 2024. We’re eager to share this record with new audiences as well as write more new material into the new year!

Make sure to listen to "Can You Hear It?” and follow American Hotel System to keep up with the band for future releases!