'Deathbed' Reimagined: A Heavy Collab with Bonus Words from Jā-WrK

When Buried Beneath Me began work on their latest single, set for release on June 20, they weren’t looking for a typical feature. They wanted someone who could match intensity with honesty, someone who could bring a new dimension to the sound without diluting its message. That person was Jā-WrK, a Reno-based artist with deep roots in hip-hop, a foundation in rock, and a passion for creating music that confronts addiction, mental health, and personal transformation head-on.

With nearly nine years of recovery behind him, Jā-WrK brings more than just lyrical skill to the mic, he brings lived experience. His verse on the upcoming track is equal parts raw and refined, challenging listeners while seamlessly blending his genre-bending style into the heavier framework of the song. What makes this collaboration stand out isn’t just the mix of styles, but the shared vision between him and V, who fronts BBM. That vision is pushing boundaries and telling real stories.

How did the idea for this collaboration come about?

Jā-WrK: Well, V and I started chatting on Instagram sometime last year. I think it was about a track I released with Krizz Kaliko on it. We were choppin’ it up about music, sharing songs and concepts, and whatnot. V said something about us doing a track together. Of course, I thought it was a dope idea and thought our sounds could mesh well for a record. Eventually, V threw me Deathbed and asked if I thought I could do my thing for a second verse on a remix. Immediately, Falling In Reverse x Tech N9ne - "Ronald" pops in my head, and I'm like yeah, dude!

V: I had a serious desire to do a collab. To me the ultimate question is, “How do we get the sound to new audiences?” A great way to achieve that is by mixing it up with other artists! I had seen Jā-WrK around the Facebook music scene and was watching his work. I listened to a few songs and saw he had done a track with Krizz Kaliko. I’m a MASSIVE fan of Krizz and love his songs and a lot of what he did with Tech N9ne. Tech N9ne is also a musical love of mine, he really got me into rap first thanks to my partner who was super into tech when we met and still is. 

“Riot Maker” off of the Everready album really gave me inspiration to hopefully one day do a collab with a rap artist. I listened to Jā-WrK’s song with Krizz Kaliko and I FREAKED OUT! So, I figured we had to get together and make a song together. It just so happened that during the writing of the album The House Of Ash.  “Deathbed” was the song that I thought would work the best with Jā-WrK’s style. So after talking with him about it and showing him the song he agreed to do the track with us and here we are! 

What was the creative vision going into this song?

When doing a collab or a feature with someone, I do my best to stick to their vision and make my part as cohesive as possible. I just add my flavor to it and give 110%. With this being a little different for me, I asked a lot of questions to get their direction and a good feel of what the overall vibe and message is. From there it was about creating a story that fit with what they already had, I guess.

For me walking into this I really didn’t know what to expect. Jā-WrK doesn't know this yet but this was the first collaboration for this band. I really wanted to work with him because he too seemed eager to work on more collaborations with other artists. He was doing some stuff with Nick Lang UK at the time and I was really loving what they were getting done (Nick, I’m coming for you next!). I figured well let’s see what comes out of this. Honestly, this version is my personal favorite of the two. I think Jā-WrK really sold the idea I was trying to get across in the original. His vibe just really helped move the story forward. 

How did each of you contribute to the songwriting and production process?

Most of that was V and their team. I gave some input on some of the production and mixing on the second verse to help blend the rock and hip-hop styles. As far as the songwriting, I was free to do what I do. I also had a reference of the original track, so I listened to it and did my best to continue the story in my own words. V loved it, and I was grateful to be a part of it. 

So I had this idea of having Jā-WrK on the track, the problem was neither of us artists are really beat makers. I’m a guitarist by trade and he’s a rapper so I approached Tra$hdog, who produced the record for me, to ask if he had any ideas. I didn’t know this at the time but he had quite the track record with producing hip-hop and rap tracks, and he was happy to whip up a beat for us. Jā-WrK liked the beat. Once he got his verse finished it only took a few tries to get the guitars to sit right and allow that kick to really punch but we got it figured out and came up with something I think everyone will like. 

What was it like blending your unique styles,metal and hip-hop, or otherwise, into one cohesive track?

It was a fun and challenging experience. V was great to work with and very professional. The challenging part was keeping it cohesive. I think we both have very diverse tastes and backgrounds in music that really helped with doing so. I have a background in both rock and hip-hop, myself. So, that was about tapping into that part of me, when it came to the songwriting. When it came down to it, I think we just trusted one another and listened to each other's feedback until we got this thing dialed in.

This was probably more of a pain for Jā-WrK than it was for me. I wrote the song and just relayed my idea to people who knew how to do this stuff and it happened. He had to do all the work to make his parts fit. I told him the direction I wanted it to go and he took the wheel from there. The only thing I really wanted to work well with the song was that guitar solo or line there in the second verse that he raps over. Tra$hdog was able to get a nice blend and weave in the soundfield to really ad some great color to Jā-WrK’s track. That’s my job as a guitarist anyways, is to support, unless I need to be seen and that was my biggest concern was how does that line support his part rather than take away and I think we did a great job at achieving that in the end. 

What do you hope listeners feel or experience when they hear this song?

Almost a sense of suspense. This is like a pivotal moment in the main character's story. It's about transformation. It's a buildup. What's gonna happen next? 

If you read the other Loud and Heavy Booking article, you will know more about how I wanted listeners to feel about it when listening, which is whatever they want to feel. What I will add to that is fans that have been kind enough to share their opinions and feelings with me have told me that it reminds them of certain times in their lives where things happened that I won’t share here. Or how it affected them because of this situation in their past and that the lyrics resonated with them because of that situation. That tells me I did my job. I wrote a song that people can attach their own feelings to. That’s what I really wanted. So I hope with Jā-WrK’s additions that they only feel even more connected to this song and are able to feel something new when they listen again or feel something old, either way I hope they feel something from listening. 

Can fans expect to see you perform this live together at any point?

I guess we'll have to see what happens. We're not terribly far from one another, and we see festivals with a blend of hip-hop and rock artists these days. I guess I'll say this, if the opportunity arises, you bet I'm 1000% down.

Well we are not too far away, and BBM has routed through the west before. It wouldn’t be crazy to expect a tour with a special appearance from Jā-WrK at some point. I don’t think it would be impossible to pull off, sometimes logistics with stuff like that can be tricky while on tour but if we can make it happen at some point I think we will. 

How do you feel this single fits into your overall artistic journey right now?

I'm at a point where I'm really establishing my sound and just who Jā-WrK is as an artist. I think this track shows some versatility and my ability to stretch across genres. It also kinda highlights some of the influence in my sound, including that rock background. I think you can expect me to lean toward that more in my own music.

I had a desire to do a collab. Funny thing about that though, now I just want to do more of them! The problem is they take a lot of time and a lot of work. I think when we started this whole process it was probably close to like December of 2024. I think this shows the versatility of BBM. I don’t really want Buried Beneath Me to be labeled as “Just another rock band” . I want the music to be heard no matter what you normally listen too because you never know what band might be the one to make you feel heard or seen when your world is crashing. The more people I can get to hear BBM the better. If that means I can also show the fans a new artist they may not have heard of that might have been that artist for them? That’s even better! 

Jā-WrK: Bonus Interview

We caught up with Jā-WrK to learn more about his journey, the heart behind his music, and how this unexpected collab came to life.

 Can you introduce yourself to readers who might be hearing your name for the first time?

I'm an artist based out of Reno, NV, though I'm originally from FL. I also spent time living in AL and CA. I go by the name Jā-WrK (pronounced JAY-werk). I'm a recovering addict of almost 9 years, and I speak mostly on addiction, recovery, and other mental health related topics. It's all about pushing through the things that hold us back from our full potential, whether it be ourselves, haters, greed, politics, labels, played out rhetoric and ideals, etc. 

How did you first get started in music, and what inspired you to pursue it seriously?

Music ran in our family. Our dad played guitar and drums. I started with a saxophone and a guitar. Though, the first music I ever wrote and recorded was hip-hop/rap. My younger brother, a friend of ours, and I had a little rap group. We were all in gangs, then, so it was quite different than now. We had an 8-track recorder and a microphone, and we would record in the closet at my mom's house. My two brothers and I had a rock band at one point after that. I went a long time away from music and creating it when I went through active addiction. I maybe wrote a couple of songs, but I was too far gone to worry about pursuing music. It took years of recovery and a failed marriage to bring me back to music. My older brother asked me to do a song with him, and it relit the spark. After that, I decided I never again wanted to look back 5, 10 or more years down the road and have to ask the question, "What if..?” Plus, I've seen so many successful independent artists these days. I'm tired of working to support other people's dreams. I'm here now, and I'm investing in myself.  

Who are your biggest musical influences, and how do they shape your sound?

Well, there are the rock influences like,Tool, A Perfect Circle, Chevelle, Deftones, Alice In Chains, Linkin Park, and many others who kinda shape the sound in a lot of my hooks and melodic parts of my songs. Then, you have rappers like Tech N9ne, Bone Thugs, Twista, Krizz Kaliko, Tupac, Eminem, Biggie, Dirty Boys (IYKYK), Hopsin, and more who influence my lyricism and who I am as an artist. But, also, Bag Of Tricks Cat out of Phoenix mixes all of my tracks, and I think he really contributes to my overall sound. He has given me tips and helped me build weaknesses and hone strengths. I owe a lot of my sound and where I'm at now to that man. Kato On The Track has also been helping me in many of the same ways, giving me tips, advice, and even helping me to establish my sound.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?

Music for life, wrapped in a nice, neat, vibey, sometimes hype, alternative hip-hop shell with a hint of rock in there. I think I speak on topics and emotions that a lot of us go through and feel throughout our lives. Something between Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, Eminem, and Linkin Park, I think. 

What themes or messages do you find yourself coming back to in your songs?

Definitely mental health related topics like addiction, depression, etc. I spent a lot of time in my life struggling with a handful. Recovery taught me how to better cope with them, and it just gives me a sense of purpose to use my music to spread awareness, connect with others, and be a light for those still struggling in the dark. It's about fighting through these things to become a stronger version of you.

Do you produce your own beats, or do you typically collaborate with producers?

I don't produce my own beats at this time. I just haven't allocated the time and energy to doing so. It's cool working with other people on that part, and I've had the pleasure of working with some dope producers, both big and small. BeefyStu is a long time friend, and I always love his beats. I think we sound great together. Bag Of Tricks Cat is another one who has produced a handful of exclusive beats for me, and like I said, he has helped me to shape my sound, so he really knows what works for me. Kato On The Track is another top producer for me, and I really like what I've done with Wyshmaster, as well.

What’s something about your creative process that’s changed as you’ve grown as an artist?

Having structure to how I handle everything throughout the creative process, which is something I have learned from Bag Of Tricks Cat and Kato On The Track. It's good to have a gameplan when taking things more seriously. I was all over the place with songwriting, social media, etc. I've started to find some balance and routine through consistency, trying new things, and just seeing what works for me.

What are your short-term goals for your career in 2025?

It's really just to grow as an artist and establish the name/brand and a real fan base. I'm trying to stay consistent with releases all year. The goal there is one every four weeks or essentially one a month. Also, up until this year, I've had a lot of features in my releases. This year has a few, but it's been more about establishing the Jā-WrK sound, so it's mostly solo tracks that I have planned.

Are there any artists or producers, local or major, you dream of collaborating with?

I'm pretty happy with the producers I know, but I'm always checking out new beats from producers new to me. Tech N9ne is THE dream collab, as far as artists go. King Iso would be sick, as well. I know Hopsin hasn't been doing much lately, but I would love to collab with him. I think Eminem, Jelly Roll and I would make a great track together. There are also artists like Ekoh, Whitney Peyton, Seuss Mace, and Bag Of Tricks Cat that would make great collaborations.

Was it challenging or exciting to step into a track that leans more into a different genre?

It was a little bit of both, honestly. Having the rock background helped, but I was adding my hip-hop sound to the mix. Doing so in a cohesive manner was the challenge, but I love challenging myself. So, it was exciting, as well. Telling an almost theatrical story while maintaining the overall original message, creating something new in the process. It was a killer experience. 

What do you hope new listeners take away from your verse on this upcoming single?

A transformation has begun. Something new, something fierce has risen from the ashes, and this is just the beginning.

This collaboration between Buried Beneath Me and Jā-WrK is more than just a creative experiment, it's a testament to the power of authenticity, vulnerability, and genre-defying artistry. With "Deathbed (Remix)," both artists bridge musical worlds while staying true to their individual roots, crafting a track that resonates on a personal level. It's a reminder that music doesn’t have to fit into a box to make an impact, it just has to be real. It’s clear both BBM and Jā-WrK are just getting started.