1) Who are you, who is in the band, who does what in the studio and on stage?
We are Jaquimo, we have various forms and members. This Saturday we have Henry Bird on lead vocals and guitar, Adam Harvey on the saxophone, Alex Everett on keys, Sir Tom Watton on the double bass and Gregory Lass on percussion. In the studio Henry writes the songs and cracks the whip and the other guys make it sound sweeter than roast chestnuts on a winter fire.
2) How long have you been writing and performing in this way?
Jaquimo as an entity has been going since last March when we got together for our first rehearsal and simultaneous gig at the Voodoo Rooms!
3) How exactly do you work / write / record?
Henry is known in the band as ‘Quincy Jones’ for his intensely focused writing/rehearsing/production techniques! He writes the music and brings it to them. Everyone adds their personal touches in the rehearsals but if Quincy don’t like it, it ain’t in!
4) How do you feel your studio/recording style informs the way you perform your music live? Does it make it easier or harder, better etc…?
Recording is definitely the best way for us to improve our songs. In a rehearsal studio where you can barely make out what the singer is singing it’s hard to step back and listen to what’s really going on, what really works and what really doesn’t. Recording is invaluable for hearing where the song is and where it needs to be to be the best! It’s like swimming in the sea and coming up for air to make sure you’re still headed in the right direction.
5) What’s been happening lately and what’s new with you?
Well, there’s always something happening somewhere! We all had a break over the summer when everyone got pretty much as far away from each other as it’s possible to be! But there have been side projects, our founding drummer, Ruhith Ariyapala was drumming over the pond in America and having the time of his life while Henry was busy as a session musician playing and recording for Holy Moly & The Crackers, The Birthday Suite, Laura Tippenhauer and working on the album with his other band, The Last Of Barrett’s Privateers. All of it exciting stuff and they’ll all be released over the next few months. Probably the funniest thing was travelling 3 hours into the Highlands to record 27 second long track in a church for the Privateers album. And then driving back.
6) When was the last time you played Edinburgh (and where)?
The last gig was recent on the 27th October at the Wee Red Bar supporting Holy Moly and the Crackers. It was our first time in the Wee Red Bar and we loved the sound and the atmosphere and were seriously impressed by the amount of people who rocked up despite the piss-poor rain. Kudos.
7) If you’ve played Limbo before, what did you like/rate about the experience? If you’ve not played Limbo before, what have you heard about it?
We’ve not played Limbo before (excited!). Word on the street is it’s a mover and shaker for local acts which is always a good thing. The Pleasance Specials was an exciting new event and it’s good to see that they’ve obviously got some clout.
8) What’s next, coming up after this gig, for you and what are you generally looking forward to right now…?
Well the most exciting thing is the recording of an EP down in Essex with Mitch Ayling who plays with a band called The Milk down London town. It’s hard to really convey how exciting it is! We’re pulling musicians from all over the country to make it sound as badass as it is possible to make it and Henry isn’t getting much sleep these days writing, re-writing, arranging and rehearsing material for it. The recording will be finished on Christmas Eve so we’re hoping to release it in early spring so keep an ear out!
9) How do you feel about Scottish independence and the whole ‘Yes’ campaign? Have you decided which way you’re voting yet (and, if so, what’s your decision)?
As a group of people who are predominantly English we’re not sure whether we’re allowed to have a say! You can’t right the wrongs of the distant past but we feel that England benefits from being bound to Scotland and we believe that Scotland benefits as well. It’s like two brothers that have to share a bed, we love each other really! right? right?
10) Is there anything else you feel strongly about that you’d like to tell us about right now?
It has come to Henry’s attention that Van Morrison has not been getting enough credit recently for being easily one of the best singers and performers of popular music. Everybody needs to get past Brown Eyed Girl and Moondance! Seriously, there’s deep soul influences but jazz and folk and classical, al tied together with artistic integrity and passion. No one satisfies like Van the Man! Recommended albums are Hard Nose The Highway, A Period of Transition, St. Dominic’s Preview and A Night in San Francisco.
Jaquimo
