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James Higgins
Soul Continuum
Joined: 03 Feb 2008
Posts: 88
Location: Australia
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 Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 13:39 |
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Are you kidding!?!?! 
I'm finding it hard to contain my excitement!!! I've been excited about every Jamiroquai album that has been on its way, but this one is particularly special, as it is the first JMQ album since we've known Derrick personally, and he's given us some insight into how it will sound (nothing that we or he haven't shared with the Jamily of course!).
The fact that the album will be all live, and possibly contain significant horn and string parts like the old days, and the fact that Derrick is directly involved with the writing and arranging of this one (unlike the last two), makes me very excited indeed.
Also, the fact that they really no longer have the "commercial concerns" that SONY would have held over them with all the previous albums, means this could very well be their masterpiece album - completely creatively free and refreshed!
In a nutshell, yes! Very excited!!!  |
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Princess Freesia
Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 32
Location: The Continuum
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 13:52 |
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Oh yes yes YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS (with lots and BONGLES of excited jumping and crazed Freesian antics and "oh MY's!"  )!!!!!!! There is not another album I anticipate more than when I know something's a-brewin' from the ol' funkertoonies. And you just know it's gonna be packed full of interesting layers, funky riffs n catchy lyrics. I've been following their career since I heard "Cosmic Girl" back in 97' (and then went out and frantically bought the preceeding albums of course!), and I can say without hesitation that for me personally, they are the one band whose music I feel has never grown boring or worn off. I think it's wonderful that throughout the years they have expanded and experimented with different stylistic textures and "evolved" their sound, and of course it's been a HUGE inspiration to my own work. And although I love it all, I am particularly chuffed that this next album will return to a more "live" context......some of their best work arose from that creative womb, and I'll be ITCHING like CRAZAZY to hear the fruits of their labour! But until then, I shall remain calmly composed....and eat my clothes.
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CosmicMouse
Jamirotalk mum
Joined: 10 Feb 2002
Posts: 4821
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 13:55 |
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Thanks so much, James and Freesia for the first part of this interactive interview!!! Now I'll hand over to everyone else. I hope you will check in here from time to time and answer some more questions from the Jamily.  |
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James Higgins
Soul Continuum
Joined: 03 Feb 2008
Posts: 88
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 13:56 |
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Absolutely! Fire away Jamily |
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Princess Freesia
Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 32
Location: The Continuum
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 14:03 |
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Thank YOOOUUUU oh-so-muchly Meike! I dig it, I dig it chuffedly.
Let's do dis answer-dance!  |
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jgrizz
Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 1049
Location: Claremont/Southern California/USA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 15:27 |
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 Great to have you guys share our stories of inspiration here with us, I have been following Jamiroquai since 1995, when a friend of a friend at a local gig here in LA handed me thier first two albums. And NO thier music never gets boring.!
I just heard you guys for the first time yesterday, as fellow jamirotalker Brent Armstrong convinced me to have a closer look, and boy was I happy I did.
You guys have a great sound. I love new (modern) music that has a lot of energy and you definetly do.
My question as a fellow musician for 15 years (Bass, Vocals, Guitar) is:
Were you both self-taught? What kind of learning experiences did you have? I'm sure it was a long road to get where you are now, what kind of sacrifices did you/or are you having to make as a result of your music? |
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FRA
Jamily Coach & Correspondent
Joined: 07 Aug 2004
Posts: 5477
Location: London don
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JamiroFan2000
Correspondent
Joined: 21 Mar 2002
Posts: 2881
Location: The Jamiroquaized States Of America
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 20:40 |
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 Hello & Welcome to the community,
Great and expansive interview, Meike, very very well done . I look forward to Lija and James contributions to the JamiroTalk community whenever they can! Cheers and welcome again guys !
Sincerely,
JamiroFan2000
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James Higgins
Soul Continuum
Joined: 03 Feb 2008
Posts: 88
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 01:53 |
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| jgrizz wrote: |
Great to have you guys share our stories of inspiration here with us, I have been following Jamiroquai since 1995, when a friend of a friend at a local gig here in LA handed me thier first two albums. And NO thier music never gets boring.!
I just heard you guys for the first time yesterday, as fellow jamirotalker Brent Armstrong convinced me to have a closer look, and boy was I happy I did.
You guys have a great sound. I love new (modern) music that has a lot of energy and you definetly do.
My question as a fellow musician for 15 years (Bass, Vocals, Guitar) is:
Were you both self-taught? What kind of learning experiences did you have? I'm sure it was a long road to get where you are now, what kind of sacrifices did you/or are you having to make as a result of your music? |
Hi jgrizz, and thanks for your lovely comments and question - its a great question too! I think we'll both answer this from our own perspectives, so expect one from Freesia too 
Were we self taught? Yes. I learnt trumpet as a kid in a very traditional way, but I gave up on it once I had started tinkering on the keyboard and picked up my dad's guitar. I found those much more fulfilling because I could write songs with them. I don't consider myself much of a player, more a writer/producer, and in terms of production, I have learnt everything I know by trial and error, and by a lot of imitation in my early days.
In terms of learning experience, EVERYTHING has beena learning experience. We both did a degree called the Bachelor of Popular Music, where we were surrounded by a whole heap of other talented musos, and given access to these incredible studio facilities. We basically recorded as much as we could with as many different people as we could, and that really helped us learn the art of crafting a recording, and studio practises. I try to learn something from every musician I meet, I try to pick up a tip or a new concept where-ever I can, and impliment it into my work and see how it meshes - that's why you'll notice that in my list of influences I have a whole bunch of musos that I know and am working with like Soulpersona and Harry Coade - their ideas influence me greatly.
Sacrifices: when we finished uni, we were unemployed and on welfare for a while. We went through the "process" to get our pay each week, but we really had no intention of getting jobs, because we knew what we are and why we are here. For a while we tried a few little call-centre jobs etc., that on the surface were very well-paying and easy to do, but for us as artists, they were quickly very soul-destroying. So we got out quick and did a small business course and decided to get our music into order and make it work for us. For the last year now we have been self-employed, and earning our bread and butter from doing covers gigs locally (you'd be surpirsed how many Jamiroquai covers we do! But a whole range really from Al Green, to Sade, to Michael Jackson). This has been a great way to earn a crust, and through the weeks we have been recording like crazy and networking and trying to get this whole thing off the ground. We're doing it completetly independently, so there is a LOT of work to do.
Basically, the biggest sacrifice we have made, and quite willingly, is to live with not much money. Nearly every dollar we earn from covers and production work is being invested back into Nude Continuum, so at the end of the day we have to live very humbly at the moment - our car is an old faithful bomb, our PA constantly has issues, and our house is an eclectic mix of hand-me-down, op-shop, and SOME new furniture. But we really wouldn't have it any other way. We are incredibly grateful to be able to focus on our music in this way, and to not have to answer to anyone but ourselves. Our only financial goal is independence - the freedom to live our own way and make the music how and when we want, and in a sense we already have that. |
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Princess Freesia
Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 32
Location: The Continuum
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 05:46 |
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| jgrizz wrote: |
Were you both self-taught? What kind of learning experiences did you have? I'm sure it was a long road to get where you are now, what kind of sacrifices did you/or are you having to make as a result of your music? |
WOOOOAAAAAHHHH MAMA!!! Hehehe, it looks like James has pretty much summed up the last 7 years for the both of us (well done!), but I suppose I can add to that
I think I first began singing when I attended choir in lunch breaks all throughout my schooling years. I just kinda sang because it felt good to express creatively in this manner, and not long after I was "encouraged" (actually, my mother enthusiastically dragged me to a small drama academy in the hopes of coaxing out the dramatics I displayed at home and to assist me in overcoming my social shyness!) to partake in other extracurricular activities such as acting, which I took to immediately and ended up taking lead roles in high school musicals and became a boisterous crazy as a result of this burgeoning, hehehe. But to be completely honest, I had NEVER, EVER thought of myself as a vocalist per se, let alone a lyricist - I remember one attempt at writing poetry during my first year of high school and the result was utter-stutter-monosyllabic-blah-blah!!! In fact, I first began dabbling in lyricism through a rather nasty habit - being labelled the "eccentric" comedian within my friend circle, I took to imagining up alternate lyrics to well known songs and parodying or twisting them at the expense of my friends! They loved the joke of course, but I suppose it's not the most decent of beginnings, lol
My experience as a blossoming musican were brought about by two pivotal things: Jamiroquai, and meeting James. The first of course, completely altered not only my musical appreciation, but my daily existence - the way I thought, my emotional responses were heightened, I felt for the first time that I "belonged" to something special, that there were people who were connected with that "vibe" I didn't even know I was searching for; but Jamiroquai showed me where it was, and I'll never forget it.
The second thing (well he's more of a cool cat than "thing") is of course my fated meeting and first time collaboration with James. After getting to know each other's musical preferences and personalities, everything just kind of clicked universally and during a difficult period with a boyfriend at the time, I took a stab in the dark and wrote the lyrics to our first tune "Loss Of Love" - and something profound shifted in me. For some strange reason, I began to form the means to write emotively and with conviction and true passion, and through the years of frequent writing and experimentation with styles and wide listening (LOTS of quality aural exposure, digging up Rare Grooves and anything that I could get my hands on I assure you!), I developed my own style and became what you know as Princess Freesia. She is my alternate ego, my stage presence - that is where she lives, and I love her dearly - we share the same body, but in a sense she feels strangely alien (in a positive way of course!); I can't quite put my finger on it, but I guess the closest thing I could describe is that she feels "channeled" somehow - like another part of me from another universe, or planet - am I tripping you out enough??!!?!. But in all seriousness, James helped significantly in bringing her out of me (like a sonic shaman!), and what a beautiful birthing it was! So I am soulfully grateful to have these amazing presences in my life especially.
Sorry if that was a bit of a ramble-amble, but to me these are the defining moments that have shaped me into the being I am today! Hope it provided you with a bit more insight into my groove.....it was a fabulous question that really got me reminiscing!
_________________
You're flippin' about like a sunnybeam stretch
Keepin' me dry when I shouldha been wet... |
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Vivienne
Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 34
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 09:55 |
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Hello James Higgins and Princess Freesia, thank you for sharing your experiences and inspirations. Both of you have great and eclectic taste in music. I love your music and your early recordings. I hope you guys have a prosperous year. Can't wait to get your album. Welcome to the Jamily.
My question for you is:
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together? |
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James Higgins
Soul Continuum
Joined: 03 Feb 2008
Posts: 88
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 14:51 |
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| Vivienne wrote: |
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together? |
Hi Vivienne. Thanks for your lovely compliments and for your question.
The answer is A LOT!!!! When we started writing together, we knew the sound we were going for - JAMIROQUAI!!! But of course, we were very green and inexperienced, so not only did we not have our own sound, but we came off as a mediocre attempt at someone elses! Hahaha
Once we started recording digitally and focussing on our arrangement and composition skills in the Uni years, I think the biggest problem was that our habit (or rather MY habit) was to just layer and layer and LAYER... every single good idea I'd get would just get thrown into the mix, and although at the time I thought it was the best thing ever, I realise now that the best songs are arranged with care and a degree of simplicity. Maybe not simplicity, but each element has its own space, and things aren't just piled up in a messy heap.
I still feel like my production approach needs to simplify more and more, which is part of why I'm taking on other projects like Karen Morales, where I can intentionally keep things really sparse and focus on each sound with great care - this will be a good exercise for the next NC album.
As for the future, I can definitely see NC going in a more live direction. We will still keep a lot of it electro and even housey at times, but nothing beats the feeling of a live band, so we will follow JMQ's footsteps and get as live as possible with it. We'll also be bringing in some of the rare groove influence I think too - a big thanks there to Soulpersona, Mascara Jones, Jools Fontenell and Derrick of course for always showing us great new OLD material.
_________________
I think I'll go for a wander yonder, find a place to play... |
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CosmicMouse
Jamirotalk mum
Joined: 10 Feb 2002
Posts: 4821
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 16:18 |
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This question is for both of you, James and Freesia:
What are your favourite Jamiroquai songs to listen to (and maybe to perform)? Please pick one from each album plus favourite B-side or unreleased tracks!!
Which of their songs is rather "not your cup of tea" ?
_________________
~ I look up to Heaven, every star I see is mine.
I'm walking on air and every cloud is Cloud 9. ~ |
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jgrizz
Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 1049
Location: Claremont/Southern California/USA
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 16:57 |
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Thank You for taking the time to answer my questions!!!
I was on welfare (and poor) when I first put out my demo too!!!!
and I also made somewhat pf a living on playing covers!...
and you guys aren't rambling on at all! It's great to hear your stories !!!
Look forward to your new release.. |
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James Higgins
Soul Continuum
Joined: 03 Feb 2008
Posts: 88
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 02:50 |
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| CosmicMouse wrote: |
What are your favourite Jamiroquai songs to listen to (and maybe to perform)? Please pick one from each album plus favourite B-side or unreleased tracks!!
Which of their songs is rather "not your cup of tea" ? |
This is a hard question... very hard to pick just ONE from each album, but I'll do my best!
1) Emergency on Planet Earth..... hmmmm.... I think at the moment (and this is likely to change at any given time) I would say my favourite track is "Blow Your Mind". You just can't argue with that groove!
2) Return of the Space Cowboy - again, SO many tracks that I love on this album, and all of them take me somewhere special, but at the moment the one I'm connecting with the most is "Mr. Moon" - again, its got a killer groove and some of the most interesting chord changes in any song.... ever! And the fact that Jay can lay a hooky and fluent melody over the top just shows his calibre as a singer and songwriter.
3) Travelling Without Moving - possibly the hardest album to single out a song from! ummm.... I'm gonna say "High Times" at the moment, because since I bought the "High Times" DVD, the video and song has brought me many heart-flutters - seeing the boys on the road, and thinking about our potential future playing our music around the world, makes me very excited! And the horns in the chorus are killer.
4) Synkronized - for me, this album has been the pinnacle of the Jamiroquai sound - the balance between live and electro is perfect, and Al Stone's production/engineering is ridiculously good. I used this album as my primary reference for mixing our own album. I would love to work with Al on our next album - Derrick's gonna introduce me to him, so that will be amazing. As for the song.... I would have to say "Butterfly". It's always been my fave on the album. It's got the best sounds I have ever heard- the drums, bass, synth bass, the strings... all perfection! The song is so beautiful and moody and wistful. I love listening to this one on headphones and letting it carry me away
5) A Funk Odyssey - I would have to say "Main Vein" for this one, as it carries such emotion for Jay - you can really feel his frustration. And the groove is great again - funky shit! The chord change section at the end with Beverly is my favourite bit, cos its very old-school, but that section would be nothing without the build up before. On the whole, its a great song I think.
6) Dynamite - Without a doubt, its "Time Won't Wait", which I must say (in a very pissed-off tone) that Sony (the bastards) took off the Australian release of the album, so I had to get it seperately!  This song has the most old-school Jamiroquai vibe of this album, and its like some un-released Earth Wind and Fire gem. It gives me goosebumps everytime, and its one of those songs that makes me so happy I could cry! It always helps to motivate me if I'm every feeling down - inspires me to grab life by the balls again, so to speak!
B-Side) This one is easy, definitely "Bullet". And pretty much for the same reasons that Derrick said - except the lyrics, since I have never heard them. Its just an undeniably funky track with the best horn lines ever, and Derrick's drums are the shizznit!!!
As for the "not my cup of tea" category, I'd have to say that there are none in that pile. Not every Jami song hooks me in as much as others, but I can honestly say that I love every track they've done for one reason or another, and I think they have shown such great evolution in their career, and they've never been afraid to re-invent their sound. I think this new one is gonna take the cake though, as it will be new-OLD-school, unlike anything we've heard yet!!!
Phew....  that was hard!!! If you ask me again tomorrow, my selection will be different, but that's where I'm at for now - would love to hear who agrees or disagrees with me on those. |
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