Introducing: Jay Jay Pistolet

-

He’s been personally picked to support Laura Marling on her latest tour of the UK, so the signs are good. It also helps that he writes some good tunes! Jay Jay Pistolet is the latest singer/songwriter to get to his roots and plays some startlingly good folk-tinged songs, full of everyday life and all the trials and tribulations that come associated with it.

For people out there that have never heard of you. Give us three reasons why they should?
Well firstly – I like to think that I’m bringing something new to the table, even if it is to a limited extent. Whilst I know that I’m swimming in an over-saturated market, I do try to create music that is forward thinking and interesting. Every musician should aim for that. Secondly, maybe somebody has heard of me but hasn’t heard me. If that’s the case then I’d urge them to listen to my music because I really don’t think that it is as bad as the name ‘Jay Jay Pistolet’ suggests it could be. Thirdly, the credit crunch means people are tightening their belts. Bartering etc is upon us. My E.P is called ‘Happy Birthday You’. You can work it out. Pitch over.

Can you recall the moment when you first decided you wanted to become a musician?
My father was a musician so music has always been in my life. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a singer in a band. I think it came to the fore though when I realised that I wasn’t going to be a footballer.

Where do your songs come from? What’s your inspiration?
Most of my songs are about relationships with friends and loved ones. It’s predictable but you write about what you know. Love and dependancy are human conditions so it annoys me when people suggest that singing about them is unimaginative or uninspired. I’m not interested in getting tied up with social or political observations because there are people out there who are in a far better position to comment than I am. Ignorance is ugly. Having said that, I like writing about times and places that have no real relevance to my life too. I find the unfamiliar pretty romantic. I think a lot of people do.

Name your Top 5 records.
This is forever changing but right now;
Paul Simon – Graceland
The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

What was the first gig you ever played and was it a success?
The first gig I ever played was when I was fourteen and in a punk band. It was put on in the back room of a pub by a punk collective called the S.T.E Collective. It was so exciting and in our minds it was a complete success. In retrospect, I’m in no doubt that it was terrible. As Jay Jay Pistolet I played my first gig with Tilly & The Wall and Kid Harpoon at Southampton Joiners. Again, I viewed it as a successful gig but I’m sure it wasn’t. I guess it depends what you want to achieve from a gig. They were certainly both fun!

What one piece of criticism has stuck in your mind and was it justified?
A ‘writer’ said my lyrics were bizzare once. I’d always tried to tell stories but the piece bought it home that perhaps my lyrics were/are a little crude at times. As a result, I like my lyrics to be slightly out of focus now. I’m very sensitive but I’m confident too. I always take criticism into account but I don’t generally let it rule me. If you believe bad reviews, you have to believe the good ones too.

What one thing has caused you to waste your free time in the past 6 months?
My flat mate bought an offensively large plasma TV last year. This resulted in marathons of reality shows based in Los Angeles and the like.

If you weren’t making music, what do you think you’d be doing?
When I’m not making music I’m a history student at King’s College London. I’ll get back to you on that one. Definitely nothing monotonous though.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
I once drove this strange hybrid of a car/scooter up and down the high street of a very rough English city on behalf of Iceland supermarkets. There were crashes, engine failures, moments when we ran out of petrol and plenty of tears. I was paired off with my ex-girlfriend too. Memories like these only serve as motivation now.

We’d like you to make us a mix-tape. Pick five tracks with a theme of your choice.
I’m having trouble sleeping right now so I think I’ll make a bedtime mix. The key is to have nothing too lyrical or clever I’ve found.
M. Ward – Here Comes The Sun Again
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain
The Fleetwoods – Unchained Melody (A Cappella)
Sufjan Stevens – Flint (For the Unemployed and Underpaid)
Melanie – Christopher Robin