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Dye
Correspondent & Expert
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 5146
Location: Planet Home; Buenos Aires, Argentina
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 Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 17:25 |
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New interesting article/ interview with pic!
Hello Jamirotalkers,
While looking for reviews (watch the topic in News, I found like 5 more  ), here I got this:
Big Bang Theory: Jamiroquai
“I don’t want people saying ‘oh, here we go again’ when they hear a new song from me,” says Jamiroquai mainman/frontman Jay Kay when talking about his music, in particular that of his new album Dynamite. Aware that it is one of the criticisms he’s faced over the years, since his debut in 1993 with now-classic Emergency On Planet Earth album, he’s ready to tackle the issue head-on. With the string of successful singles and albums that followed his debut, and a unique style formed around his fusion of funk, soul and dance, many have written him off as a one-trick pony, but with his new single Feels Just Like It Should – with it’s funk-rock swagger – he’s hoping to change it up.
“In a way that whole “here we go again” thing really does annoy me because everyone’s got their own style – ya know? Beethoven’s first few symphonies weren’t that different from his other symphonies; they weren’t the same but they had the same elements in them.”
'It’s important to feel like you can breakthrough boundaries and not just feel like I have to make another Little L or whatever. Songs like that really worked for us, but I think our audience is mature enough to follow us down a different road, if w'
Comfortably ensconced in the pub he has on his garden property (about an hour out of London in the leafy English countryside), Jay Kay is sitting back talking to me about his new album Dynamite – his sixth studio album – and the progression of Jamiroquai over the years. Whilst he still can’t explain whether Jamiroquai is actually just him, or includes specific members of the evolving ‘band’, he is sure that Jamiroquai as a musical unit has definitely evolved over the years. There is no doubt that Jamiroquai is the only act to have successfully emerged out of the trendy 90’s acid-jazz scene, and transplanted their appeal to worldwide audiences successfully. Following the success of the first album, Jamiroquai successfully repeated their ‘formula’ via the Return Of The Space Cowboy and Travelling Without Moving albums, although 1999’s Synchronized album seemed to lack the spark that the earlier albums possessed.
By then some detractors were firm in the belief that Jamiroquai’s appeal was wearing off, but 2001’s A Funk Odyssey repositioned Jamiroquai at the top of their field with some sparkling goodtime dancefloor singles, and a world tour that rested squarely on Jay Kay’s enigmatic and infectious style. Nowhere more so than in Australia, where Jamiroquai’s cool-factor status had begun to reach new heights. I asked Jay Kay whether he felt the last album helped him reinforce the continued-relevance of Jamiroquai’s presence in the music industry, and on the charts.
“Absolutely,” he states firmly. “I was meeting kids out there in Australia from right around the world who came up to me on the beach, telling me how much they liked my music. I remember thinking to myself then that when I put out my first album they would have been about five years old! A lot of my fans have stayed with me through the years, but it’s great to know that I’m still making new fans with each record. The gigs in Australia were great in that sense; in terms of energy it’s all about what everyone gives me, which helps me give back to them. I mean, I am thirty-five years old, and slowly – really slowly actually – I am starting to grow up a bit, and it’s good to know that people still like what I do.
“Right now I want something edgier, and what it is, is that with the tracks from this album, and in particular Feels Just Like It Should and Black Devil Car, they’re really going to go the distance live, and blow people away. Also I have a great guitarist, Mike Smith, who I want to use… he doesn’t want to just do that rhythm thing. It’s important to feel like you can breakthrough boundaries and not just feel like I have to make another Little L or whatever. Songs like that really worked for us, but I think our audience is mature enough to follow us down a different road, if we chose to go.”
Whilst renowned as the dancing cat-in-the-hat, and the provider of goodtime fuel for the dancefloor, Jay Kay is also known for dealing with social issues via his lyrics. Early on in his career he dealt with issues concerning the environment, whilst on this new album he takes on the current state of world politics – a state of affairs that came into play after the release of his last album. Most notably you can hear his assessments being made on the funky album anthem Give Hate A Chance, as well as his swipe at G. W. Bush on the directly-titled The World That He Wants. “That song is actually on the end of Give Hate A Chance – the two songs are linked,” Jay explains about his lyrical expression. “I’ve also got a song on the album called Starman about crooked TV evangelists who are ripping people off and not delivering what they’re promising. I want to express myself through my songs and spark conversation about issues.
“I don’t really feel too much responsibility to make political statements, until the point where I’m ready to express myself, and write the lyrics I want to in a song,” he continues, in reference to the topic on hand. “After that, you do whatever you can do to send the message out. I tell you what though, there’s an awful lot of messages to be sent out. There’s a lot that has to change. I mean I kinda realized that after the first album, that I really don’t want to take on that mantle because I couldn’t put my weight behind it in the way it needed it because I’m also working on my craft as a musician. I don’t want to make these issues simple just because I have to fit words into a particular line – many of these issues are too important for me to conveniently summarize them like that.”
Sometimes Jay Kay wants to speak politics, sometimes he just wants to have fun. Today he’s bouncing around with all the excitement of a child at Christmas. He’s been focusing on the release of Dynamite, and is eager to get out on the road and take centre-stage to support the album. Admitting that he’s “changed his lifestyle” these days, and doesn’t go out that much to party-up, it seems that he’s energized about the prospect of being unleashed on his adoring public in the near future. “I don’t really go out that much anymore,” he says, contrary to the party-image we’ve seen of him highlighted in tabloid reports in years past. “The thing about making a new album is that you get so involved in the process that you tend not to go out as much because it breaks the concentration. I’ve been out a few times, but not like I use to. Actually though, I had a crackin’ night out in New York recently with DJ Mark Ronson and rapper Q-Tip… what a great night with great music – old Studio One reggae, and stunning hip hop; it was very cool.
“When I do go out I really enjoy it. I sometimes feel a little out of touch but that makes sense considering I’m doing my own thing. In terms of listening to other music out there, I hear snippets of things. I’ve been listening to [underrated 70’s funk mistress] Betty Davies, and that to me is what funk really is. Music like that, and Brothers Johnson and Kleer, and all the stuff that was on the Late Night Tales compilation I did. That’s the stuff that really gets me going. It isn’t particularly contemporary music, but I don’t tend to listen to much of what’s going on out there. I do like the Scissor Sisters album, but aside from that I don’t pay too much attention to modern music. It’s funny also how fast things change out there at the moment – you can look down at a music chart, and wonder who the hell half the people on there are!
“I’ve just been focusing on making this album the best way possible, and I’m really happy that it’s come out the way it has. It’s Dynamite… and it’s getting ready to explode! How’s that for cheesy?” he laughs cheekily.
Dynamite is out through Sony/BMG
Sasha Perera
The Link (includes a pic of Jay with the 'Dynamite' car, in a different angle from the pic we already knew)
D! (dyego) |
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Catman
Joined: 14 Aug 2004
Posts: 1737
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 17:50 |
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i think i will have to goto music store tomorrow and pick up 3dWorld! |
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jacko198
Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 67
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 17:56 |
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nice 1, cheers for that diego |
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High Times
Joined: 25 Oct 2004
Posts: 744
Location: music written by JK/Toby Smith
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 03:43 |
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Diego, thank you very much man, i am printing it right now.
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Catman
Joined: 14 Aug 2004
Posts: 1737
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 05:45 |
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i picked up that magazine today!: ) |
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jamirokaki
Expert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 3472
Location: basque country
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:23 |
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| Quote: |
| Also I have a great guitarist, Mike Smith, who I want to use… he doesn’t want to just do that rhythm thing |
| Quote: |
| “I’ve also got a song on the album called Starman |
| Quote: |
| I’ve been listening to [underrated 70’s funk mistress] Betty Davies, and that to me is what funk really is. Music like that, and Brothers Johnson and Kleer, and all the stuff that was on the Late Night Tales compilation I did |
hehe!!! told ya! i knew he was been listening to late night tales (i told in the review of dynamite!  )
great interview by the way
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***STONED AGAIN*** |
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T_R_S
Joined: 02 Jun 2004
Posts: 81
Location: Nørwåy
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 15:54 |
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I got two LPs with Betty. Hard and funky!
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Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication! |
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High Times
Joined: 25 Oct 2004
Posts: 744
Location: music written by JK/Toby Smith
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 16:36 |
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Jay is so right speaking about beethoven!!!!
all composers do their stuff their own way using their own approach..
but when somebody dont dig jamiroquai music they say: "their songs sound all the same". but these are just people who dont dig jazz and disco. many people dont like jazzy and disco kind of thing and unfortunately many critics writing articles dont dig jazz and disco..
they can only speak about rock, punk, rnb.
Toby Smith even said once about the changing style and sound direction in TWM - Synk era :
"fans want us to do the stuff like on first 2 albums,
but critics say all our albums sound the same- and we cant win either way"
well i feel so sad jay and the band paid attention to all these fucking stupid critics who dont dig how genious special and unique band direction is. its so sad jay and the band worried about critics while fans are so happy with their music. i want so much jay to be happy and to realise that he is the best composer in the world, he is unique.
jamiroquai has done the thing which noone did before - they
started to write the most genious songs in jazz fusion disco style, making jazz and disco popular and selling it
millions copies all over the world. only such prodigy like Jay could do this!!!!
thanks to them i started to feel the music the way i do.
they always did the best most special genious beautiful and virtuoso jazz and disco i've heard!!!
Jay is Beethoven of our time !!!! |
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