So how are you tonight despite the computer trouble?
Umm...I just took a biochem exam and realized that I'll have p-chem at 8am next semester...(laughs) which kinda sucks, but other than that things are going good.
That's great aside from the exam. So Just Above Jealous...where does the name come from?
Well our lead singer and his buddy threw it around for awhile. Then we played a Battle of the Bands around here and needed a name real quick. Zach was like hey we should use "Just Above Jealous". Now we all hate it except Zach haha, but I guess it's stuck...It actually has a meaning though, jazz is the word 'just above jealous' in the dictionary.
Ah, makes sense now seeing that you guys have a sort of jazz/funk sound. You guys recently hit one year as a band and released your debut album Reign or Resign. Did you ever think you guys would make it thus far?
Well not with the lineup we have now. We've had our ups and downs, but I guess ultimately we've done what we wanted to within a year as a band. Now we're just working on promoting, promoting, and more promoting.
How is that going?
Well you tell me.(laughs) No, I think its good since we're on iTunes now and our fanbase is growing. We're selling CD's, nothing extravagant, but we're connecting with people and thats what its all about. Also with shirts, stickers etc. we're just trying to get our name out there.
Looking back, how have things changed since you first started out? (aside from the growing fan base and being on itunes)?
Well we're a lot more cohesive, and as far as songwriting I personally think we've grown a lot. In the beginning, every band is searching for its own 'sound' and I think we're finally fitting into ours. Even from 'Reign or Resign', our sound has changed a little more to include some 'metal' but more melodic metal, and still with the funk undertones. That and we spend more time on each song. It's not just write something and thats it. We're actually tweaking things and changing songs arund a lot now. The process is longer, but the finished product is more satisfying.
Would you say song writing is a group effort or is there one main song writer for the band?
It's mostly a group effort. Ian will come in with a couple of riff ideas and then him and dylan get the notes worked out. Then I kinda put structure to the song (like where transitions are and whats the verse/chorus). Then Zach takes it and writes lyrics. Kind of step by step I guess.
Can you briefly describe JAJ's music making proccess continuing from where you left off (from forming the lyrics)?
Well then we just take all of those ideas and play it over, and over, and over, and over (you get the idea). Lots of times what Ian comes in with doesnt even end up in the song. Then we just tweak things and add in our own little pieces of flair....basically by the time we play it live we're tired of it (laughs) But it keeps things tight, which helps our sound a lot cause with the funk style stuff we do it has to be REALLY tight or it sounds terrible.
Speaking of live, what is your favorite song to play live and why?
Hmm...as far as ones we've recorded definitely No. 9, followed Very closely by Stand Still...Zach's is probably Just Drive cause he gets a chance to show off his blues background. Dylan's is Peanut Butter...and Ian says thats his favorite too. I guess thinking about it thats my third choice as well. We have some new stuff though that will probably take their places (laughs)
Your guys' music is definately full of some creative lyrics, with those creative lyrics come some pretty interesting song titles. What can you tell me about how the song "I like my peanut butter sandwich....." and how it got its name?
(Laughs) well we went into the studio to record it. (Previously we just introduced it without a title.) But the first thing an engineer asks is what's the name of the song. And that's what came out of my mouth...so Zach added the "so i killed her" part because of what the song is actually about. (It's about a girl who kills her parents, and she thinks its a dream. But then she 'wakes up' and figures out she actually did it.) I'm not really sure what Zach's inspiration is for that one so we needed a title to lighten it up a bit.
Speaking of inspiration, your debute album's title "Reign or Resign" is a pretty bold statement. What I've noticed with most bands is a trend of self titling their debut albums their bands' name. Having this said, why did JAJ say no to the self-titling? Is "Reign or Resign" an adopted band motto for the overall direction of your band? Is there a time frame in which you have each agreed to "resign" if you don't "reign" in the music business?
Well there was never really a thought about having a self titled debut. I just dont think any one of us would have went with it because we feel theres no creativity behind. Music is 100% creativity so why not reflect that in the title? The title actually comes from the track on the album, which is about what if God decided that he wanted to just quit one day. I was in the midst of sleeping one night and woke up with that title for the song in my head, we though it made a great title for an album. As far as a time frame, I mean honestly we're all college students, and we're all from different parts of the US. So I mean we cant really tell what the next 2 years will hold. But we always say that if in 2 years we're doing exactly what were doing now and havent made it anywhere then well "resign" I guess and move on to a career (eww).
If JAJ ever does go through a "resignation", do you think you'll ever regret the time put into JAJ that you could've spent pursusing something else?
Not at all! I mean just being able to create something and have people take interest in it is enough for me. I mean even after we may go our separate ways I still wont be able to distance myself from a band of some sort...I mean personally my dad is still in and out of rock bands around Cincinnati, it's just what I was raised to do.
It looks like music is in your blood. When you were young did you have a desire to be a musician on your own or were you inspired by your dad to get into music?
I had desire, but it was probably from my dad. He used to always be playing guitar around me and was always listening to like Soundgarden and ACDC. So I mean growing up around it I guess I was conditioned. But for some reason I decided drums were my thing...
Were you particularly inspired by any famous drummers or would you say drums were your sort of "calling"?
Well I started playin drums for no particular reason I dont think anyway. But when I started it was learning things by like Tre Cool (Green Day) and Travis Barker's easier stuff. Then I moved on to music with a bit more depth like Josh Eppard (Coheed and Cambria) and Dino Campanella (Dredg). Then of course Neil Peart from Rush, the most technically talented drummer ever. But I would say my style is mostly molded by Josh and Dino cause I learned EVERY Coheed and Dredg song thats been put out. I even have a tatto of Dredg's 'symbol'. By far my favorite band (laughs)
What would you say is the best part of being the drummer of JAJ?
Hmm...I mean being in a band in general its what I said before about connecting with people. I think drumming specifically for JAJ is cool because a lot of our songs are laid back and I get to set the groove to them. But when I decide to make it rock or even towards metal like No.9, thats where it goes. I think I'm in control of the 'genre' in a sense. I mean we all click together so they know what I'm going to do and stuff, so it works.
Looking at your music interests from when you were in the learning proccess, you have a variety in taste. What's currently in your "ipod"?
...about 6,000 songs (Laughs) But I guess right now my top ten if you will are:
1)Dredg 2)Muse 3)HENDRIX 4)Jamiroquai 5)Jurassic 5 6)Dead Prez 7)Tool 8)Coheed and Cambria 9)Bright Eyes 10)Damien Rice -Changes day to day but those are the usual suspects I guess.
Those are some pretty influential bands, who im sure have gone through a lot of challenges to get into your ipod. What has been JAJ's biggest challange as a band so far?
Well getting people to listen is (I think) the biggest challenge. We have the confidence in our music and the work ethic, but we just have to get people to pay attention and come out to shows. Theres just not the premium of music and desire to see it played live any more. People just wanna go to a club and listen to a constant bass beat and grind on each other....which is especially evident in a college town like Oxford.
Have you been able to overcome this challenge, if so, how?
Well we havent yet (laughs) But once we do I think you'll hear a lot more about us. But we're trying every way we can. Whether it be play a free acoustic show somewhere, do an interview, or just meeting new people. It's just you have to get them to the show, I mean the people we have gotten to our shows come back. It's just taking their live concert virginity, Which is the hardest part.
You guys have done quite a few frat parties and free shows to get your name out. Do you see this as a sacrifice to make it in the music industry?
For sure...theres no doubt that people want things as fast as possible, as well done as possible, and as free as possible. So I mean playing free shows is just our hopes of connecting with those 2 or 3 people that have never seen you before and will at least check out your MySpace if not buy a CD or even a shirt. Sometime we've played a shows for free, but ended up making money. For example, we played a huge frat party last year and we agreed to do it for free. Turns out so many people tipped for beer at the door and tipped us while we were playing we made over $300 outright, which was awesome. Then we played a coffee house acoustic show on a whim one night and we sold 4 CD 2 shirts and the place gave us $40 for keeping in the business. so its not all bad because it has its perks.
What can we expect from JAJ in the near future?
Definately some new tunes when we get them perfected and the money to record them. Possibly a new EP by Feb, maybe. That's really tentative. Other than that we're working with a company in LA called AR Select. They do a lot of publicity stuff and we're submitting to radio stations and stuff. Once we get our next EP or full length depending on what we end up doing, that one will be going to record companies. Any ideas? We're always trying to get new clever ideas.
I think i've got one: staying friends with PGR for as long as possible. :)
We'll stay with you if you stay friends with us.
Well, guys I'm afraid that's all I've got for you. Is there anything you'd like to say to conclude this interview?
Umm..."We hate Fall Out Boy and Emo...but we love Katy Perry cause she kisses girls and thats awesome."
(Laughs) well I can second that Katy Perry statement and as far as emo goes...yep i agree with that one too. Fall out boy..I must say...is losing their touch as they ruined a michael jackson classic...
Yea...theyre good at wirting catchy hooks. thats about it but they are losing thier touch. but they're making money so they did something right (laughs).
They also have a similar knack for naming songs ridiculously long sentences like JAJ though, which is kind of cool :P
Our new ones arent getting any better either haha
Perhaps if you guys "go canadian" and sing songs with tons of misheard words you'll catch onto that fame train with your long song titles.
That's true...I'll pass the word to Zach, or just put in some background stuff that doesn't make sense.
Sounds good to me! Well, I'd like to thank you guy(s) (Where ian is/and if he contributed to this interview is a mystery to me) for allowing me the time to interview you.
(Laughs) Sometimes where Ian is is a mystery to me and he's right in front of me.
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