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ON THE COUCH WITH: Jackson Jackson

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ARTIST INTERVIEW

Access All Areas.net.au: Hey Harry. How are you mate?
Harry: Very good thanks mate.

Access All Areas.net.au: The sound of the band is very unique. Who are some of the bands that inspired you guys?
Harry: When we initially started, we said that we didn’t really want to reference anyone. We wanted some fresh sounds and to try and create new genres. But if I had to say someone, I would say M.I.A. She is just very fresh and so creative. I’d also say Hair: The Musical and War of The Worlds.

Access All Areas.net.au: How did both of you meet?
Harry: It was about 5 years ago. Jan was the assistant on the first Cat Empire record. We became friends, but we didn’t see each other for a few years. It was probably six or eight months ago that we talked about doing a track together. This record was done in our spare, spare, spare, spare time (laughs). When we finally got the one track down, it had a really good vibe. The one track ended up turning into a whole album. It ended up being a very interesting process.

Access All Areas.net.au: Where does the title ‘The Fire Is On The Bird’ come from?
Harry: It was my idea and it’s pretty abstract. It doesn’t really mean anything (laughs). Have you heard the expression ‘the bird is on the wing’? It’s got something to do with things around you changing. I just took that and changed it around a little bit. Added a little bit of fire to it (laughs).

Access All Areas.net.au: What are some of the albums that inspired you to get into playing music?
Harry: I had a very different musical upbringing; compared to the people I work and play with. I don’t remember music being around when I was a kid. Actually there was Les Miserables and some early Beatles stuff. My parents were book people. They weren’t Radio or TV people. So there wasn’t a lot of that kind of stuff in my house. Back then I hated my parents for that, but now I’m extremely thankful for it. I love books. People would come up and tell me about these massive songs from certain decades, and wouldn’t believe me when I told them that I didn’t know them. It changed when I was a teenager though. Around 13, I was into all the typical bands like Nirvana, Kyuss and Metallica. It was around 15 when I started playing trumpet for the school band and I fell in love with Jazz. It changed my whole perception on music and everything. I also loved James Browns music. That flipped my world and showed me how inspiring music can be.

Access All Areas.net.au: You boys are playing the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival, with acts like Ben Harper and John Mayer. Anyone you’d like check out on the day?
Harry: Yeah there is. I’m heaps excited about that festival. It should be really good. I’d like to see Bonnie Raitt. She’s on the complete other side of the spectrum from us. She’s just an amazing artist. She can do anything. I’d also like to see The Roots. They’re sick. I saw them last time they were here, and it was in this terrible room with worse sound. In the festival vibe, they should go off. Probably Bo Diddley as well. He puts on such a great show. He’s quite old, but he still has the same sound. He’s so eccentric and modern. He’s like an alien (laughs).

Access All Areas.net.au: Will we see some more tours from the band this year?
Harry: Yeah definitely. We’re not one of those bands that will jump into a van and visit every little corner of Australia. When we do, we want to make sure it’s a big, spectacular thing. We have mini choirs and theatrics and everything. I’m a little bit worried about the size of the stage though. I don’t think they are very big this tour, so it should be interesting.

Access All Areas.net.au: Yeah I’ve heard that the current tour includes a choir of white-robed winged angels and a mountain of synthesizers. Is there a story behind any of this?
Harry: Not really. It’s practical reality. When making the album, we used a lot of samples and synths. When we signed our record deal, people asked “How is it going to work live?” We had not actually thought of that yet. So it makes sense to get a choir. It wouldn’t work without it. Its like a satanic, futuristic gospel.

Access All Areas.net.au: What are you listening to at the moment?
Harry: I’m really into this artist who is also coming to the Blues and Roots Festival. She’s called Kaki King and she’s an American guitarist. She’s just great. She will be looked back on as redefining harmonies, which is a pretty big thing when you think about it. I’m also still listening to M.I.A. She is just amazing. When we watch war movies and stuff these days, they use protest songs like Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. In the future, we will look upon these times and M.I.A. will be the music that will be used with it. I also listen to a lot of world music.

Access All Areas.net.au: Anything you’d like to add or say to people?
Harry: Not really. Actually…(pauses)… just listen to the fucking album. Whether you buy it or burn it or whatever. Just have a listen to it. Get into it. We put a lot of work into it and tried to make it really original.

Access All Areas.net.au: Thanks Harry.
Harry: Cheers

Interview By Simon Finck

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Jackson and Jackson, abandoned by their planet-hopping friends, wander through a desolate landscape of burning seagulls and gun-wielding cyberchildren, and gradually make the transformation from washed-up venture capitalists to excessively hairy social prophets of the New Apocalypso Beat.

Something’s about to blow. That much is clear. I don’t know when it is or what it’s going to be, but something’s about to blow.

Harry James Angus (Vocals/Trumpet; The Cat Empire) and Jan Skubiszewski (Producer; Phrase, & Composer; Two Hands (APRA award winner), The Rage In Placid Lake, Last Man Standing) met in 2002, when Jan Assistant Engineered a recording Harry was performing on. Fast-forward to 2006 – Jan’s talent behind the sound desk and his mastery of beats collide with Harry’s musical genius to form the collaboration known as Jackson Jackson.

The initial intention was to make a song about a subterranean race of people - far superior to us technologically - who are invading the surface of the planet with one clear goal: the destruction of human civilization.

The resulting song INTELLIGENT, EVOLVED AND INSANE was hailed by their parents and close friends as being ‘really great’, so the gents pressed on to record more and more songs that they themselves describe as ‘some of the best music ever recorded’.

Our hero, Jackson Jackson, has since endured a number of trials and tribulations. The formation of the International Society of Bad Dancers led to his fateful meeting with the beautiful lesbian revolutionary Eliza, who we now know had the most beautiful shoulder blades in the history of the human race. Unfortunately she was lost to him during the tumultuous February battles.

Things are looking up, with their collaborative masterpiece THE FIRE IS ON THE BIRD set for release in March 2007. In the meantime Jackson Jackson is hard at work rehearsing the live show - which features a choir of white-robed winged angels, a mountain of synthesizers, and an acoustic guitar – as well as undertaking an intensive waxing program to get the hair growth under control before hitting the press.

www.myspace.com/jacksonjackson

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MY FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

British India
Adelaide Big Day Out. We were staying in the same hotel as other artists and I came downstaris to go to the after party and a big crowd was surrounding Aracde Fire and Bjork at the grand piano in the restaurant of the hotel. They were doing old show tunes and everyone was singing along. The lead singer of Arcade Fire was playing piano and everyone was singing along. I recall Buddy Holly's 'Everyday It's Getting Closer', a couple of ABBA songs and some John Lennon, it was very cool. Favourite festivals moments though are just when it's a good show with good reactions, where you don't have to think too much on stage and lose yourself.

Ideal Lineup?
I'd have bands that would never be seen on the same stage because they've long since broken up or died, I'd have Blur opening the festival followed by the Smiths who would reform for my music festival, and At The Drive In would finish the day just when I was drunk enough to dance like they can.

Fave artist you've seen at a Music Festival?
Rage Against The Machine. Also, Brand New who are a vastly under rated band from New York that played at Big Day Out. I saw them pretty much without fail at every Big Day Out and they were astounding, and to use the the cliche, quite inspiring. I've ripped off many of their moves since then!

Tips for attending Music Festivals
Don't break your neck. Don't worry too much about getting to the front for every band you want to see. It's probably better to pick 4 or so that you can really absorb as opposed to having cursory glances at every one. It's like any 'day out' it's best to pace yourself, don't go mental and try to see everything, relax and take it all in.