29 Jan 2007 // An interview by Shade
These questions were answered by Jason Johnston, drummer for Jakob.

1) What is your greatest achievement?

Our greatest achievements are firstly having my baby girl (Emily Hata Johnston) born on the 11/11/06... As a band I thnk releasing albums/singles on vinyl and CD and Video and being able to see parts of the world that we'd probably never see if we were to travel by ourselves. Being invited to play festivals in Denmark and Austins SXSW would probably be some of the highlights. Yet in saying that even some of the local shows back home have been great. Also, another would be people being moved with the music we create.

2) What do you think could be done to make NZ music even better?

If there were move live venues for bands to play. With decent sound systems, lighting, back stage areas - if you're a band just starting out to bands that have been around for ages. Better funding systems in place for bands of all genres.

3) Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Next five years - ah... I'll still be a dad of a 5 year old and a 6 year old and the band will still be releasing music and touring the world and NZ and live a comfortable life playing music, and surfing as much as I can... World domination? You've heard that line before hahaha

4) What is the best thing about making music?

The best thing about making music whether it's in Jakob or in any other band is that 'magic' you get when you have a group of musicians in a room jamming and you all start to gel - you just know when it starts to feel right - smiles start to happen and it feels great. Fully improvising and recorded jams... Just so you don't forget what you were doing.

5) What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Don't stop practicing your instrument, there's always something to be learnt. Jamming with friends and having fun doing it. Don't let anyone put you and your music down. Be good to people and listen to all sorts of music.

---

Jakob is Maurice Beckett (bass, vocals), Jeff Boyle (guitar) and Jason Johnston (drums).

The swell emerges slowly on Sines before a mighty storm of sound unfolds. The album’s opening track Blind Them With Science erupts in cacophonous splendour as if to tell the world that Jakob has awoken from a long slumber. It’s a record that Jakob fans have waited upon for eight years. Some patiently, some feverishly, some believing that it might not ever arrive at all. As on their previous three albums and two EPs, Sines is built upon lushness and texturing. A journey that spits with menace and relapses into beauty as The sound of Jakob has ever been evolving, but is always unmistakeable.

This, New Zealand’s most formidable sonic instrumental three-piece, formed in the sleepy seaside town of Napier, Hawke’s Bay in 1998. Their debut album Subsets Of Sets (2002) put them on the map, their sophomore Cale:Drew (2005) solidified them as one of the country’s true explorative musical outfits and their third album Solace (2006) took them to the world. On the back of Solace’s release they toured Europe, the UK, Australasia and the USA with the likes of Isis, Pelican, Cog and The Hidden Hand. As their reputation continued to build they were twice personally invited to tour with American prog-rock heroes Tool throughout Australia and New Zealand, and toured alongside Damo Suzuki, frontman for seminal German psychedelic band Can.

Their previous album Solace was released in 2006 and in the eight years that have ensued various obstacles were thrown in the way of a new Jakob album materialising. By some freak coincidence all three of the band members all suffered debilitating hand injuries that would leave at least one person unable to play at any given time. Wrist surgery, broken hands and severed tendons all contributing to Jakob having to wait, and wait. Every time that momentum looked like building, the band were forced out of action and left to start again. Frustratingly this included cancelling a 29-date tour of Europe in March & April 2013.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Jakob

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