E novamente a Austrália dá boas vindas aqui nas páginas do TBTCI.
Desta forma aterrizando por aqui o trio Jukai Forest, um mix deliciosamente pegajoso de pos punk, psicodelismo sessentista e uma grande influência das bandas do grandioso selo Flying Nun.
South Meringue sua estreia, lançado no final do ano passado tem que ser degustado em volumes altos, melodicamente perfeito, encantadoramente viciante, o Jukai Forest simplesmente acertou em todos os pontos.
Um preciosidade escondida no submundo dos bons sons que merece atenção redobrada.
***** Interview with Jukai Forest *****
Mel: With a few of Matt’s songs after he arrived from New Zealand in 2012, his pillarbox red Rickenbacker and vox, my dan electro bass and a drum machine. We recorded a few songs as ‘Westall 66’ then recruited a drummer. We went through 6 drummers… then found Ritchie at our local a year ago via Matt’s ‘drumdar’. That’s when things really started coming together for us.
Matt: I moved to Melbourne from New Zealand in 2012 and Mel and I started writing songs with a 1960s NDK 4 track
Ritchie: I started in April 2014 with Jukai Forest, been playing in bands since high school
2. Who are your influences?
Mel: I’m really influenced by the music my parents played (Beatles, Stones, Kinks), 80’s radio pop, the New Zealand Flying Nun scene, the early 90s UK shoegaze and indie/dance scene, and USA college radio. But I also love punk/new wave, krautrock etc…
Matt: San Ul Lim, PIL, Velvet Underground, Wire, JAMC, The Only Ones, Bird Nest Roys
Ritchie: As a drummer I have always tried to keep an open mind with as many styles as possible to help me become more rounded musically but for Jukai Forest main influences The Stone Roses, Ride, Tame Impala, Nirvana ,Pavement.
3. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
Mel: This is too hard. OK. REM – Murmur, Wire – Pink Flag, Straitjacket Fits – She Speeds, Stone Roses – Stone Roses, Velvet Underground – Banana Album.
Matt: Love – Forever Changes, Daniel Johnston – Hope 1990, Deerhunter – Monomania and Cryptograms, Kraftwerk – Radioactivity, Neil Young – On The Beach
Ritchie: various
4. How do you feel playing live?
Mel: Exciting but with a nervous tension/expectation and I love that combination
Matt: I don’t like looking down on anybody
Ritchie: Playing on stage is the best feeling in the world!
5. How do you describe Jukai Forest sounds?
Mel: Well. I have a list of bands people have compared us to. It’s up to about 30 bands. I think that says it is hard to pigeonhole us. Someone said we’re like early Velvet Underground and the Go-Betweens and The Cure and I’m OK with that
Matt: I don’t
Ritchie: Indie Rock, with a hint of Punk and Dream pop thrown in
6. Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
Mel: We’ve recorded at 5 or 6 different places including studios like HeadGap, and at home with a well know and awesome producer…(the South Meringue ep) My favourite is to play the songs live then overdub vocals and guitar parts
Matt: Book studio time. Play. Tends to sound sterile. We still haven’t found what we’re looking for.
Ritchie: Its usually pretty quick, a live take then overdubs over the top
7. Which new bands do you recommend?
Mel: I am loving Fat White Family and … random stuff
Matt: Foxygen, Brainbombs (not new but massively underrated)
Ritchie: none in particular, just go out in Melbourne's' northern suburbs and you'll be sure to find some quality bands!
8. Which band would you like to make a cover version of?
Mel: Once we did a cover of Wire – Heartbeat and it made my heart beat
Matt: Don’t play covers. Not ruling it out but we are constantly writing new songs so don’t have time
Ritchie: Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings
9. What’s the plan for the future:
Mel: We have enough songs to record a double album… ha. Plus we hope to tour the USA next year and play with Hamish Kilgour in Brooklyn (he doesn’t know this yet but we played with him in Melbourne this year and he was ace). Also we are playing a with great line up of bands at the Beetle Bar in Brisbane on 31 July (our first interstate gig)
Matt: Changing out band name
Ritchie: Playing lots of Shows in Melbourne, Hopefully an East coast tour next year sometime and get an EP or 2 recorded for promotion and getting our sound out to as many people as possible!
10. Any parting words?
Mel: It’s tricky to make your way in this new world as an unsigned band where some people love your live shows and it costs money to record but the labels go with the scenester bands. I’d just say to anyone who has made the effort to come see us play or listen to our songs, THANK YOU
Matt: Have a good time all the time
Ritchie: Thanks for having us! legends!
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Thanks
https://jukaiforest.bandcamp.com/
