Thursday, February 5, 2015

Jukebox Monkey Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Jukebox Monkey have been around since 2010, and we're a a stoner rock band from Kent in the UK. We've just released our new EP, Vs Time, which is out now and available on ITunes and Spotify. We're a 4 piece band, and we like it HEAVY!

> 2.So far you have released 2 ep's, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on both of the recordings and also how do they differ from each other?
We've actually released 3 eps. The first one can be a little hard to get hold of! But the main difference is that this one is a little more epic in scope than the previous ones. We had a few shorter rock n roll style songs on the previous records, but this one is longer, more intense, heavier and with a bit more emphasis on groove.

> 3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
That's an interesting question, as we have actually tried to do something specific with this record. Each of the songs explores the idea of a battle against time itself, hence the title. So it could be in terms of feeling like you've wasted your life, getting older, or trying to get back to a past era. It's not a concept record really, but there's definitely a theme running through it.
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> 4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Jukebox Monkey'?
Haha! We get asked that one a lot. It's an interesting story, actually. By a strange coincidence , it turned out that both mine and Niki's grandmothers were in the merchant navy back in the 50s, and they both had tattoos. My Nan had a jukebox on her shoulder, Niki's had a monkey on her thigh.

> 5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We played some great shows in the last couple of years. The highlights were the Teddybears Picnic festival, and a cancer research benefit show in Canterbury, which was very emotional and had a great spirit amongst all the bands.
The Jukebox Monkey live experience is all about flow and intensity. We try to keep the energy levels very high, and keep everyone moving throughout the show. But it's not just naked aggression, like you get from a lot of heavy bands, we like it to be a positive experience, so everyone feels part of it. It's a party after all!

> 6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Yeah, we're gigging throughout 2015, mostly in the SE of England. Including Rafters in Maidstone on 27th Feb, Lady Luck in Canterbury on 13th March, Fiddlers Elbow in London on 9th April and some festivals in the summer. Should be a great year !

> 7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
We've had some interest, but we're not convinced we need it. In 2015 it's easier than ever to operate independently, but if we find someone that can genuinely add some value to what we do, we'll listen.

> 8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of stoner rock?
Good question! The feedback for Vs Time has been overwhelming , everyone seems to love what we do, and we feel we're really hitting our stride as a band. Hopefully we can get over into some other countries for some shows in the near future!

> 9.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
I don't know if we really need to do a full album to be honest. EPs tend to be more focused and are less likely to contain weaker tracks. People don't listen to music in the same way they did 20 years ago, so making things a bit more easily digestible is the way to go. Having said that, we wouldn't rule it out if we felt we had a good collection of songs that belonged together. But it takes a year to make an album- so it won't be any time soon!

> 10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Anyone with a beard! Haha! We like all different kinds of music, but the things that we all like tend to be very heavy rock music, stoner stuff, some metal. Bands like Clutch and Down are big influences on us. Obviously classic stuff like Sabbath and Zeppelin are in there too.

> 11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Why would anyone want non musical interests? Sometimes we drink beer *while* doing music. Does that count?

> 12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Buy Vs Time! We're really proud of it, and it's been selling like mad. Grab your copy now!

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