RHYTHM OF RED
  • Reviews & Features
    • The Cadillac Three - Live At The Lexington - Live Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Rival Sons 'Great Western Valkyrie' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Wille and The Bandits - Live Review London by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Samuel Taylor 'Some Nobody To Me' - EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • 'On a Roll' Interview with Mikey Sorbello & Mike Miley Part 1
    • Danzig Live Review 'Not Of This World' by Lolly Hotwheels
    • 'Meet Me At The Garage, Then Let's Hit The Road' Voodoo Six - Live review by Lolly Hotwheels >
      • Little Brother Eli - EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Ulysses 'Kill You Again' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • THE DOGS D’AMOUR ARE BACK - AND NOT ON THE JUICE - BY KATE THOMPSON
    • Peanut Butter Lovesicle anyone? - By Michelle Nevill
    • Paul Raymond Project Album Launch - Live Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Paul Raymond Project 'Terms and Conditions Apply' Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • The Peacocks 'Don't Ask' Album Review by Pippa Lang
    • Beverly McClellan 'Fear Nothing' (Tour Edition) Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • The Graveltones & StoneRider - Live Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship by Michelle Nevill
    • Black Country Communion 'Afterglow' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • 'It's a South London Thing' Interview with The Peckham Cowboys by Michelle Nevill
    • THE METEORS - 'Doing The Lords Work' Album Review by Pippa Lang
    • Rival Sons 'Head Down' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Peckham Cowboys 12-Bar Club Soho - 20th June 2012
    • A Chat with Lynne Jackaman of Saint Jude. By Michelle Nevill
    • Bob Wayne 'Till The Wheels Fall Off' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Gasoline Thrill 'Burn' - Album Review by Ruth Ayris
    • The Mercy House - A Broken State of Bliss - Album Review
    • Interview with Jim Ronnie - Iron Claw by Michelle Nevill
    • Dead City Ruins - 'Midnight Killer' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons by Michelle Nevill
    • Trucker Diablo - 'The Devil Rhythm' by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with The Answer: 'Answer This' by Michelle Nevill
    • Rogue Male Interview 'First Class Male'
    • The Darkness
    • Rock of Ages Musical
    • StoneWire
  • Features & Reviews
    • Livin' out Rock 'n' Roll - The Movie. Review by Kate Thompson
    • Reuben Archers 'Personal Sin' Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Tracer Shook The Tunnels of Bristol in Electrifying Style - Review by Kate Thompson
    • Tankus the Henge Storm Bristol End-of-the-World Style - Live Review by Kate Thompson
    • Translucid EP Review by Narada C
    • Win tickets to see UK rockers LEOGUN!
    • KREMATED 'Total Warfare' - Album Review by John Otway
    • Soldierfield Release Debut Video
    • BlackWolf 'Taking Root' EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Firefly's 'Cathedral For Your Ashes' Album review by Michelle Nevill
    • Saint Jude release new EP 'Ladies & Gentlemen
    • The Burning Crows are set to release debut album and you can be a part of it.
    • The Claire Cameron Band - Live Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Trick or Treat?
    • Ozone Mama NEEDS YOU!
    • The Magnetic Mind 'Maybe the Stars, Maybe the Sun' 7" Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Matchstickmen 'A Change in Season' - EP Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Howe 'Bolt From The Blue' - EP Review by Drew Davies
    • Last Bullet EP - Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Appeal: Stolen Drum Kit
    • Monument
    • Saint Jude
    • Best of 2011
    • The Mercy House
    • Voodoo Six
    • Wasted Sinners
    • Cavalar
    • Voodoo Six - Ticket Giveaway!
  • News
    • Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards Winners 2013
    • The Graveltones Announce European Tour Dates In Support Of Debut Album
    • Wille & The Bandits To Release New Single ‘Gypsy Woman’ From Forthcoming Album
    • Buffalo Summer Announce Tour Dates and Debut Music Video
    • THE GRAVELTONES: HOTLY-TIPPED LONDON ROCKERS ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE
    • TOUCHSTONE TO RELEASE DEBUT SINGLE 'FLUX' FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ‘OCEANS OF TIME’
    • Leslie West to release new studio album 'Still Climbing'
    • Classic Rock Roll of Honour Nominations announced
    • Stephen Stills & Kenny Wayne Shepherd form blues rock supergroup "The Rides"
    • Whitesnake announce new live album "Made In Britain" / "The World Record"
    • SCHEMATA THEORY: UK METAL NEWCOMERS RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
    • JUDAS PRIEST - GLOBAL CINEMA TOUR
    • Peter Frampton announces London Roundhouse Concert
    • The Graveltones release pledge campaign
    • Tracer to release new album "El Pistolero"
    • Joe Bonamassa to release "An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House"
    • VOODOO SIX ANNOUNCE IRON MAIDEN TOUR SUPPORT & NEW ALBUM
    • Peanut Butter Lovesicle to Embark on Headlining UK Tour This February
    • Voodoo Six march into a new era
    • Pig Iron join Paul Raymond's Album Launch in London
    • Jeff Healey to release "As Years Go Passing By" Live CD/DVD
    • I AM I to play Download 2013
    • Rival Sons announce European & U.S/Canadian tour for 2013!
    • Caravan's 40th anniversar​y UK tour starts January 8
    • Leonard Cohen returns to the UK in 2013
    • Dog's D'amour reunite for London/Wolverhampton Shows
    • Led Zeppelin celebrate high chart position. Gig to be shown on BBC 2
    • Bettye LaVette plays London JazzCafe on Tuesday December 11
    • I AM I release new single, 'YOU'RE THE VOICE' on 10th December , also release 'EVENT HORIZON' digitally worldwide the same day.
    • UFO'S PAUL RAYMOND - NEW SOLO ALBUM RELEASE
    • AC/DC: COMPLETE CATALOGUE MADE AVAILABLE ON iTUNES // LIVE AT RIVER PLATE OUT TODAY
    • EUROPE's "Bag of Bones" UK tour starts this Wednesday!
    • DON BROCO: "THE PRIORITIES TOUR" ANNOUNCED
    • AC/DC - NEW VIDEO "You Shook Me All Night Long" and release date for 'Live At The River Plate' Album
    • BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - BRAND NEW VIDEO FOR "TEMPER TEMPER"
    • TRACER wins "Best New Band" at Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards
    • Michael Schenker launches official "Temple of Rock Live" trailer
    • Beverly McClellan Cancels UK tours dates with Steve Vai
    • Charley Pride UK November Tour starts Friday 9th November
    • Michael Schenker announces "Temple of Rock: Live in Europe"
    • Jon Bon Jovi flies back to New York to help victims of storm
    • Europe 'Bag of Bones' UK Tour
    • Happy Halloween from Alice Cooper
    • Stuka Squadron no more!! Welcome Iron Knights!
    • Bon Jovi announce UK tour dates in 2013
    • Joe Satriani announces June 2013 UK tour and confirms new studio album
    • Thin Lizzy add Trucker Diablo as Special Guest at Belfast show in December!
    • Toto's Steve Lukather to release new solo album "Transitio​n"
    • Joe Bonamassa to make recording history at 4 London venues
    • Aerosmith New Video 'What Could Have Been Love'
    • Beverly McClellan Album Release and UK Tour with Steve Vai
    • Classic Rock Roll Of Honour announces Duff McKagan as presenter
    • Tracer confirm new album and announce new member
    • Eric Johnson returns to UK fro nationwide tour
    • Focus release new album: 'Focus X'
    • Black Country Communion's only UK gig for 2013 CANCELLED
    • Flying Colours play only UK show this Friday!
    • Black Country Communion announce only UK concert of 2013
    • Led Zeppelin Release Historic O2 Gig
    • Stuka Squadron announce release date for new album 'New Sound of War'
    • Chelle's Rock Blog is looking for writers.
    • The Reasoning announce new album release date, artwork and tour dates
    • Breaking News: LA rockers Buckcherry announce UK 2012 Tour dates
    • Want to play Download 2013?
    • Stuka Squadron - The Winter War
    • King Mob release new single to celebrate Olympics
    • Voodoo Six - Free Download of 'No Friend of Mine'
    • New Rival Sons single 'Keep on Swinging' tomorrow morning exclusively on Planet Rock
    • KISS Return to the UK and Help the Heroes
    • Mike Portnoy issues video message to fans about Adrenaline Mob’s upcoming UK & European tour
    • Trucker Diablo announced for Tennents Vital with Foo Fighters
    • Alice Cooper returns to the UK for Halloween Night of Fear III
    • Voodoo Six announce Download Festival and dates with Adrenaline Mob
    • I AM I's Debut Gig - Birmingham O2 Academy 2 Sunday 27th May
    • Wolves At The Gate to release Debut Album 'Captor' July 3rd
    • Rival Sons release new video 'Face of Light'
    • GOJIRA to release live DVD and CD: The Flesh Alive
    • Dead City Ruins release debut album and tour throughout Europe this summer
    • MOS GENERATOR 10th Anniversary Re-Issue Test Pressing to be Auctioned Off for Wounded Warrior Charity
    • Trucker Diablo added to SOS Fest & Billing Bikefest AND MTV AUSTRALIA!
    • PEEPSHOW hit London in May with The Howling
  • About Me
    • Reverbnation
  • Links
  • Published Articles
  • Reviews & Features
    • The Cadillac Three - Live At The Lexington - Live Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Rival Sons 'Great Western Valkyrie' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Wille and The Bandits - Live Review London by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Samuel Taylor 'Some Nobody To Me' - EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • 'On a Roll' Interview with Mikey Sorbello & Mike Miley Part 1
    • Danzig Live Review 'Not Of This World' by Lolly Hotwheels
    • 'Meet Me At The Garage, Then Let's Hit The Road' Voodoo Six - Live review by Lolly Hotwheels >
      • Little Brother Eli - EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Ulysses 'Kill You Again' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • THE DOGS D’AMOUR ARE BACK - AND NOT ON THE JUICE - BY KATE THOMPSON
    • Peanut Butter Lovesicle anyone? - By Michelle Nevill
    • Paul Raymond Project Album Launch - Live Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Paul Raymond Project 'Terms and Conditions Apply' Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • The Peacocks 'Don't Ask' Album Review by Pippa Lang
    • Beverly McClellan 'Fear Nothing' (Tour Edition) Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • The Graveltones & StoneRider - Live Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship by Michelle Nevill
    • Black Country Communion 'Afterglow' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • 'It's a South London Thing' Interview with The Peckham Cowboys by Michelle Nevill
    • THE METEORS - 'Doing The Lords Work' Album Review by Pippa Lang
    • Rival Sons 'Head Down' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Peckham Cowboys 12-Bar Club Soho - 20th June 2012
    • A Chat with Lynne Jackaman of Saint Jude. By Michelle Nevill
    • Bob Wayne 'Till The Wheels Fall Off' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Gasoline Thrill 'Burn' - Album Review by Ruth Ayris
    • The Mercy House - A Broken State of Bliss - Album Review
    • Interview with Jim Ronnie - Iron Claw by Michelle Nevill
    • Dead City Ruins - 'Midnight Killer' Album Review by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons by Michelle Nevill
    • Trucker Diablo - 'The Devil Rhythm' by Michelle Nevill
    • Interview with The Answer: 'Answer This' by Michelle Nevill
    • Rogue Male Interview 'First Class Male'
    • The Darkness
    • Rock of Ages Musical
    • StoneWire
  • Features & Reviews
    • Livin' out Rock 'n' Roll - The Movie. Review by Kate Thompson
    • Reuben Archers 'Personal Sin' Album Review by Lolly Hotwheels
    • Tracer Shook The Tunnels of Bristol in Electrifying Style - Review by Kate Thompson
    • Tankus the Henge Storm Bristol End-of-the-World Style - Live Review by Kate Thompson
    • Translucid EP Review by Narada C
    • Win tickets to see UK rockers LEOGUN!
    • KREMATED 'Total Warfare' - Album Review by John Otway
    • Soldierfield Release Debut Video
    • BlackWolf 'Taking Root' EP Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Firefly's 'Cathedral For Your Ashes' Album review by Michelle Nevill
    • Saint Jude release new EP 'Ladies & Gentlemen
    • The Burning Crows are set to release debut album and you can be a part of it.
    • The Claire Cameron Band - Live Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Trick or Treat?
    • Ozone Mama NEEDS YOU!
    • The Magnetic Mind 'Maybe the Stars, Maybe the Sun' 7" Review by Michelle Nevill
    • The Matchstickmen 'A Change in Season' - EP Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Howe 'Bolt From The Blue' - EP Review by Drew Davies
    • Last Bullet EP - Review by Ruth Ayris
    • Appeal: Stolen Drum Kit
    • Monument
    • Saint Jude
    • Best of 2011
    • The Mercy House
    • Voodoo Six
    • Wasted Sinners
    • Cavalar
    • Voodoo Six - Ticket Giveaway!
  • News
    • Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards Winners 2013
    • The Graveltones Announce European Tour Dates In Support Of Debut Album
    • Wille & The Bandits To Release New Single ‘Gypsy Woman’ From Forthcoming Album
    • Buffalo Summer Announce Tour Dates and Debut Music Video
    • THE GRAVELTONES: HOTLY-TIPPED LONDON ROCKERS ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE
    • TOUCHSTONE TO RELEASE DEBUT SINGLE 'FLUX' FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ‘OCEANS OF TIME’
    • Leslie West to release new studio album 'Still Climbing'
    • Classic Rock Roll of Honour Nominations announced
    • Stephen Stills & Kenny Wayne Shepherd form blues rock supergroup "The Rides"
    • Whitesnake announce new live album "Made In Britain" / "The World Record"
    • SCHEMATA THEORY: UK METAL NEWCOMERS RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
    • JUDAS PRIEST - GLOBAL CINEMA TOUR
    • Peter Frampton announces London Roundhouse Concert
    • The Graveltones release pledge campaign
    • Tracer to release new album "El Pistolero"
    • Joe Bonamassa to release "An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House"
    • VOODOO SIX ANNOUNCE IRON MAIDEN TOUR SUPPORT & NEW ALBUM
    • Peanut Butter Lovesicle to Embark on Headlining UK Tour This February
    • Voodoo Six march into a new era
    • Pig Iron join Paul Raymond's Album Launch in London
    • Jeff Healey to release "As Years Go Passing By" Live CD/DVD
    • I AM I to play Download 2013
    • Rival Sons announce European & U.S/Canadian tour for 2013!
    • Caravan's 40th anniversar​y UK tour starts January 8
    • Leonard Cohen returns to the UK in 2013
    • Dog's D'amour reunite for London/Wolverhampton Shows
    • Led Zeppelin celebrate high chart position. Gig to be shown on BBC 2
    • Bettye LaVette plays London JazzCafe on Tuesday December 11
    • I AM I release new single, 'YOU'RE THE VOICE' on 10th December , also release 'EVENT HORIZON' digitally worldwide the same day.
    • UFO'S PAUL RAYMOND - NEW SOLO ALBUM RELEASE
    • AC/DC: COMPLETE CATALOGUE MADE AVAILABLE ON iTUNES // LIVE AT RIVER PLATE OUT TODAY
    • EUROPE's "Bag of Bones" UK tour starts this Wednesday!
    • DON BROCO: "THE PRIORITIES TOUR" ANNOUNCED
    • AC/DC - NEW VIDEO "You Shook Me All Night Long" and release date for 'Live At The River Plate' Album
    • BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - BRAND NEW VIDEO FOR "TEMPER TEMPER"
    • TRACER wins "Best New Band" at Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards
    • Michael Schenker launches official "Temple of Rock Live" trailer
    • Beverly McClellan Cancels UK tours dates with Steve Vai
    • Charley Pride UK November Tour starts Friday 9th November
    • Michael Schenker announces "Temple of Rock: Live in Europe"
    • Jon Bon Jovi flies back to New York to help victims of storm
    • Europe 'Bag of Bones' UK Tour
    • Happy Halloween from Alice Cooper
    • Stuka Squadron no more!! Welcome Iron Knights!
    • Bon Jovi announce UK tour dates in 2013
    • Joe Satriani announces June 2013 UK tour and confirms new studio album
    • Thin Lizzy add Trucker Diablo as Special Guest at Belfast show in December!
    • Toto's Steve Lukather to release new solo album "Transitio​n"
    • Joe Bonamassa to make recording history at 4 London venues
    • Aerosmith New Video 'What Could Have Been Love'
    • Beverly McClellan Album Release and UK Tour with Steve Vai
    • Classic Rock Roll Of Honour announces Duff McKagan as presenter
    • Tracer confirm new album and announce new member
    • Eric Johnson returns to UK fro nationwide tour
    • Focus release new album: 'Focus X'
    • Black Country Communion's only UK gig for 2013 CANCELLED
    • Flying Colours play only UK show this Friday!
    • Black Country Communion announce only UK concert of 2013
    • Led Zeppelin Release Historic O2 Gig
    • Stuka Squadron announce release date for new album 'New Sound of War'
    • Chelle's Rock Blog is looking for writers.
    • The Reasoning announce new album release date, artwork and tour dates
    • Breaking News: LA rockers Buckcherry announce UK 2012 Tour dates
    • Want to play Download 2013?
    • Stuka Squadron - The Winter War
    • King Mob release new single to celebrate Olympics
    • Voodoo Six - Free Download of 'No Friend of Mine'
    • New Rival Sons single 'Keep on Swinging' tomorrow morning exclusively on Planet Rock
    • KISS Return to the UK and Help the Heroes
    • Mike Portnoy issues video message to fans about Adrenaline Mob’s upcoming UK & European tour
    • Trucker Diablo announced for Tennents Vital with Foo Fighters
    • Alice Cooper returns to the UK for Halloween Night of Fear III
    • Voodoo Six announce Download Festival and dates with Adrenaline Mob
    • I AM I's Debut Gig - Birmingham O2 Academy 2 Sunday 27th May
    • Wolves At The Gate to release Debut Album 'Captor' July 3rd
    • Rival Sons release new video 'Face of Light'
    • GOJIRA to release live DVD and CD: The Flesh Alive
    • Dead City Ruins release debut album and tour throughout Europe this summer
    • MOS GENERATOR 10th Anniversary Re-Issue Test Pressing to be Auctioned Off for Wounded Warrior Charity
    • Trucker Diablo added to SOS Fest & Billing Bikefest AND MTV AUSTRALIA!
    • PEEPSHOW hit London in May with The Howling
  • About Me
    • Reverbnation
  • Links
  • Published Articles

An interview with Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons by Michelle Nevill

4/3/2012

1 Comment

 
Rival Sons are an extraordinary, talented band of musicians. With their blues-infused brand of ROCK N' ROLL, they are unstoppable. When a band like this hits you, the way that Rival Sons do, they ignite a fire within. They fill me with an undeniable passion.
Picture
Photo Stephen Fourie
Mike, Scott, Robin and Jay have an immense talent. Each of them are individually amazing. Rival Sons are a band that you can completely immerse yourself in, feel every note, every chord, every lyric and beat. Music like this is an incredibly beautiful and touching occurrence, one that I hope continues for many years to come.

So when I was asked to interview Jay Buchanan, of course I had to. As the early evening approached in London, I was standing with Jay outside, in the car park behind the Forum; we did aim to sit on some kegs of beer, but ended up standing and it was still warm and sunny, a perfect way to spend an evening.

Tonight is the last night of the tour with Black Stone Cherry; after this, the guys head off to Germany to start a European headlining tour. I asked Jay what he thought the highlights were so far:

"It's been a great tour. They've all been highlights really. It's very much been a tour of meeting a lot of new people, sharing the bill with Black Stone Cherry, and getting to know their fans, and hopefully making new fans from them. We've been hitting some cities that we haven't hit before and it's all been fantastic."

Just before leaving the States, the guys finished recording their fourth record. Looking forward to the album, I wanted to find out how it went:

"Yeah, we kinda just finished it, and we did it in a few weeks. Three weeks, actually, it all kinda went by like a car crash. Right now, Vance Powell is mixing, so we haven't even really heard the tracks, we just went in, laid them down, and once again it was definitely a record full of first and second takes, just go - move onto the next song, make somethin' new."
Picture
Photo Stephen Fourie
Rival Sons constantly evolve with time. The difference between 'Before The Fire' and 'Pressure And Time' is obvious but you can hear differences between the ways each record was written and recorded. Being curious, I asked Jay what evolution we can expect between 'P&T' and the new record:

"I don't know, we're growing, in some way, I don't know exactly in which way that is, you know, every time you go in to make a record all it is is a snap shot of exactly where you are at that specific moment creatively. In another month, we'll be a different band, and that keeps happening. We could go in and make another record next week, and it would be different than what we did a couple of weeks back and so as far as this next record, I'd have to let you know once I hear it."

I asked if he would be happy once they get the album back and can listen to it:

"Yeah, on one hand, on the other hand I'm mortified, because I don't really listen to our music very much, you know, we play it every night, it's really like, well we'll see, we'll see how this next collection of songs goes. I think that maybe we stretched out definitely a lot more on this next record, beyond that, I really don't know."
Picture
Photo Stephen Fourie
Since both the new record and 'P&T' were turned around quite quickly, I asked Jay if they find it tough to write within that time frame; maybe it would be better to have more time, or if they write on the road to prepare.

"For me, I'm always writing, I probably have the bulk of our song writing responsibility, lyrics, melody and arrangement, and I also bring in complete songs for the band and so that makes my job a little bit different from everyone else's but, aside from that, we write very collaboratively, even when we are putting riffs together. Scott will bring in riffs, or Robin will, we'll have these different ideas, as far as difficulty, we specifically set out to make a record and put ourselves under those circumstances, so that we wouldn't have the luxury of second guessing ourselves, so that every time you hear the next track, you get hear it for the first time, and, you're hearing us hear it for the first time as well, so just to try and keep that energy going."

If you're familiar with Rival Sons you would know that their records have nothing but energy, through every track. I told Jay that I thought they had a great energy, definitely one that I feel drawn to:

"Thanks, we do what we can and I think that our big MO really for this band is to just try and produce the best music that we are capable of at this point, and this ethic of recording very quickly and writing very quickly and putting ourselves under the gun, is where we are at right now, that could change, you know. The world needs Radioheads and needs Pink Floyds and needs those long big thought-out records. I just think for us, we're still stretching our legs and finding out who we really are, so to attempt to make a big statement, or something along those lines, we're just not really keen on doing that yet."

One of the things that I adore about the guys is their insatiable hunger for music, the knowledge that they all have, between Robin, Scott, Mike and Jay, their range of influences is humongous, from Howlin' Wolf through rhythm n' blues, jazz to Pink Floyd and the prog side of things. Jay tells me of his influences on a vocal scale:

"There's too many to count, because it changes from week to week, you know, everyone from the Staple Singers, a big influence on me, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding, I mean, so many, Eric Burden, Blind Willie Johnson, they each possess something different and so, I think that growing up, as far as like the tone of my voice or what I can do, I think you spend a lot time trying to shape who you are and shape your identity, somewhere along the line, you know a couple of years back, something just clicked and I stopped listening to myself, and stopped worrying about it and I just sing now."
Picture
Photo Stephen Fourie
Jay as a vocalist has such a huge range, not to mention an undeniable velvet tone to his voice. It can go from guiding you into an almost lullaby-like state, into a rock-induced frenzy on more uptempo tracks. I asked him if he'd had any vocal coaching:

"No, I am 100% self-taught vocally. I can't read music; I don't even know the circle of fifths. I've been playing guitar since I was nine years old and I don't know the names of any but three or four chords."

Just goes to show you don't always need to be trained or endure lessons. Passion for music is all it takes.

Rival Sons have really only stepped into the limelight over the past year or two that they have been signed with Earache Records. Earlier in the mix there was a possibility of a contract with EMI. Would they have been as successful if they would have signed with EMI?

"Well", Jay says, "Where EMI comes in - that part of the story was really before I got with these guys, you know they were slugging it out, trying to make things happen, and they kind of got turned away from EMI, and you know I came in and I sung the vocals on that first record, without even writing."

This was 'Before The Fire'? Jay replies: "Yeah 'Before The Fire', I just went in and sang, I've never done that in my life. I've always been a writer, that has always been my thing, but I knew - I listened to what they had and I thought 'wow'. So I'm gonna get in there and I'm not really gonna write?

"The record seemed like it was too good to just let it die, and so for me it took humility to go in there and go 'look, it's not just about me, this is a band, this is our band and we're going to try to make this work', so I set the ego aside and just said 'OK, let's get in there and let's do this'.

"But EMI had already fallen off with the band by then. So then, for a while we were on our own, and you know, you talk about things picking up over here the past couple of years, you realise it has really only been, one, year, it's been amazing, the response, and support that we have gotten from the UK audience is really amazing."

Although the band are chameleon-like, and constantly transforming and growing, I wondered if they still had a vision of where they might see themselves over the next few years.

"I don't know, I really don't, I wanna make a lot more records, I couldn't sit here and tell you how many records the band will end up making, or how long it will last, or what our sound is gonna be like, I know that right now, we're really hot on the heels of trying to do something with a sense of urgency and immediacy, and maybe we will take a different approach, a different recording approach in the future, you have four guys, with very, very different opinions, with very different, um, very different vibes and how they approach music, and I think that visceral nature is what, maybe sets us apart a little, you know."

I think collectively as a band and individually, the guys definitely stand out, and I would expect that in the coming years, more and more people will, hopefully, realise how special this band is. Not all will, you can't please everybody, but those of you out there who do, hold on, because this is going to be one hell of a journey, and personally, I am really looking forward to where Rival Sons will lead us in the future.

I said something to Jay about how much bigger I think they will become on a mass scale in time, and Jay laughed: "Well we're working towards somethin' you know, but like I said we have a huge opportunity right now, because of all the support we are receiving, and people have been so supportive."

People are stepping out in force at the moment, the band have their own street team, the 'Sleepwalkers' who are working really hard:

"Yeah, yeah, the street team is building, and the shows are getting bigger and bigger, and more and more crowded and the fan base gets, more into a fever pitch, and it's been fantastic. Where we go from here? We'll be releasing this next record probably in late August early September, I'd like to get back into the studio in December and record another record.

"When we set out, we wanted to record, like, two records a year. But when you're with a label, you know, they set things up in a certain time, you have to tour the record and for us, when you're not growing creatively and constantly producing, you get really, you get very bored, it becomes monotonous."
Picture
Photo Stephen Fourie
Playing live every night must help with the exploration of the music, having a jam on stage; you must discover new methods, melodies.

"I think that with the experimentation of the music, touring, of course because you're on stage every night; and we never do things exactly the same way every time, and that's not to say that we get up there and its free form and 'hey, whatever', there is always something a little bit different. We have a very energetic and frenetic drummer. Your drummer, he steers the ship, and so when he's gonna switch things up... and Robin, he has such a catalogue of his knowledge, he's really our secret weapon, our bass player, because he is so educated he can do anything! You know, he can improvise on anything, on a dime!" says Jay enthusiastically.

I think the reason why the band is so electric and exciting is due to the knowledge of music, talent and experience that RS have collectively:

"Yeah, it's good to hear that from you, with our live show we're definitely gonna get up on stage and fuck around for 45 minutes, and that is what people are going to watch. We're a train that could go off the rails at any moment, and, you know we poke and prod each other (makes prodding gesture) to maybe do something a little bit different, we're always throwing out kicks and throwing sand in each other's faces and there is that, and at the same time, we understand that we have to support each other, whip the horse and see how fast it will go."

It's refreshing to hear of a band that just constantly push the barriers and with Rival Sons the future is bright. The new record should be released (fingers crossed) in August/September 2012. I am filled with excitement at the prospect of the unknown, I'm looking forward to being educated, and hearing an album that I am sure will be refreshing and a pleasure to indulge in.

This has been a fantastic experience, and one that I won't soon forget. I think Rival Sons are a treasure to behold and I look forward to watching them grow in every aspect of the word over the coming years, for it will surely be, like tonight has been, very special.

1 Comment
Pukkelpop link
8/17/2013 02:13:29 pm

Great blog here

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    All articles are © Michelle Nevill

    Archives

    July 2014
    May 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.