Wonder, Beauty, Isolation: Jagwar Ma Talk 'Every Now & Then'
Tuesday, 28 February 2017
Written by Milly McMahon
Jagwar Ma have been composing accessibly irreverent psychedelia for half a decade now. Layering kaleidoscopic sounds, they effortlessly married imagination with melody on their second album, ‘Every Now & Then’, which was released last autumn.
Gabriel Winterfield, Jono Ma and Jack Freeman recorded album two between a remote farmhouse in rural France, their native Australia and London, where their Le Bunker studio is located.
And, working to an impromptu creative model featuring live recordings interspersed with trippy and complex beat constellations, they perfected an immersive feel that is captivating upon first play.
Their lyrics feel both relatable and nonsensical, encouraging audiences to tailor the meaning of each track to their own thoughts and feelings. We caught up with Winterfield prior to their UK tour to talk lions, cheese and bees (oh my).
You spent a hefty amount of time writing this latest album in La Brèche. Which cheese was a heavy influence on the new music?
Now, that's one hell of a way to start at an interview. Probably either a Camembert, Roquefort or Munster. We ate a lot of cheese.
Did you know that cheese apparently triggers the same parts of the brain as drugs? Any poignant dreams inspired by local cheeses that influenced the words or sounds?
Cheese was omnipresent throughout the entire recording process. Sadly I have no 'control' to evaluate this hypothesis. But I guess you could say cheese is the fourth member of the band.
Why did you return to La Brèche? What is so inspirational about that space?
The wonder, the beauty, the isolation...and the fact that at any point in the day we could be trying to deal with a swarm of bees of Biblical proportions or maybe just working out which mushrooms won't kill us.
You worked in the same studio block as Andy Weatherall with this album. Did he offer you any advice on the music?
By the time we had moved back to London a large bulk of the record was finished, but his penchant for turning the odd phrase as he walked past never went amiss. The last one I remember was him asking us whether we'd managed to redefine the musical artform for the next generation to admire and revere.
Did any of these tracks divide you creatively?
Every single track is a fleeting peace treaty. Anything you haven't heard was a casualty.
How much anxiety did you experience going back into the studio following on from your cult debut?
About a 10 out of 10.
Batter Up is my fave song off the album. What’s the story behind that track?
It started off as two different beats, then we smashed them together and I wrote the lyrics from the perspective of Cecil the Lion, who was hunted by that coward dentist. I imagined a rematch whereby old mate dentist would have to take on the lion without the security of standing behind a rifle.
Some of the music is created spontaneously. What does a session of impromptu recording look like?
The amoeba part of Gimme A Reason was a one off take and completely fuelled by my having stood in front of a mic for 10 hours straight. It makes very little sense but it quite accurately represents nothing.
What are the outstanding memories from touring with Foals, The xx and Tame Impala?
Foals was the first main tour we ever did, so I was quietly in awe of the whole situation and didn't really say anything. The xx we had fun sending code messages via paper planes. Jamie, Sam - one of his homies - and I all played a game of ‘Horse’ on his skateboard which was fun. I skated under a trailer which was my best move. With Tame we spoke a lot about our homeland and the differences between Sydney and Perth.
What happens at the live show?
People clap their hands, they stomp their feet. I occasionally enjoy throwing or dragging my guitar on the floor. Then we put on our white gloves and top hats and start tap dancing to show tunes. Last time we played a show, just as we were beginning our encore, a giant real-life T-Rex smashed through the side of the venue and its tail whipped our audience. I remember one guy was whipped straight into the air and clung on to the chandelier, then he started screaming uncontrollably and threw up everywhere. We sold a lot of merch that night.
What was the last lyric you wrote?
“That don't make it right.”
Jagwar Ma Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri March 03 2017 - LANCASTER Lancaster Library
Tue March 14 2017 - HOVE Old Market
Wed March 15 2017 - LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
Fri March 17 2017 - NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Sat March 18 2017 - MANCHESTER O2 Ritz
Sun March 19 2017 - EDINBURGH Liquid Room
Fri April 28 2017 - DUBLIN Academy
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