- Tue, 2008-06-10 14:05
Jonas Brothers are Kevin, Nick and Joe Jonas. Three brothers from Wyckoff, New Jersey. Their debut album has now sold over 1.2 million copies in the US alone. They have recently released their debut UK single, SOS, which is an upbeat, punchy, pop track. The video was filmed on the old Queen Mary and has already had over 17 million views on YouTube! The boys have been very busy touring to promote their self titled debut. After a number of sold out tours throughout the US they came across the seas to the UK and Europe to support Avril Lavigne. We managed to catch a moment with the lovely Kevin Jonas to chat about making music, staying grounded and his favourite summer tunes.
"I Like Music because… I feel like music is an energy source for us. We live off of it. We breathe it. Every single moment of our life is dedicated to music. Without that I don't think I know what I would be doing with my life. It is a universal language for sure.” Kevin Jonas, The Jonas Brothers
ILM: Hello! How have you been finding the UK so far?
Kevin: We're loving it! It has been unbelievably amazing. We are having such a blast! Everyone has just been so kind and the fans and the shows have just been amazing!
ILM: Have you had much time to look around?
Kevin: You know, on this trip there really hasn't been that much spare time! We have been able to go and see a couple of late night movies, which has been cool.
ILM: SOS is your latest single from your self titled album. Can you describe the vibe of the single?
Kevin: The entire vibe of the album is very positive and very upbeat. It definitely talks about personal experiences that we have gone through. SOS is a song about a broken heart. About going on a date but having a terrible situation happen. For us it was definitely fun to record and play live. It is amazing! You will hear the song and never have any idea that we were talking about walking on broken glass from the way it is produced. It is cool to be able to put a song about heartbreak to the sound of something upbeat and fun.
ILM: What did you learn whilst making this album?
Kevin: I feel that we learnt a lot on the last record. We have worked hard over the last four years as a band to work out who we are. When we started writing songs for The Jonas Brothers record and really started producing them and feeling it, we knew we had found out who we wanted to be and what we wanted to sound like. It was an amazing feeling being able to identify a sound and a song to The Jonas Brothers and that's why we named it The Jonas Brothers, because it is totally us.
ILM: You have quite a big say on the production of your music, what was your involvement with this record?
Kevin: We are all heavily involved in the production. We do have a producer, his name is John Field and he is very well known for multiple other albums. But for us, it is very important to work with him. We are there for everything that is done on our album. We don't miss a thing. It is so important to us that we are able to properly put together the album we want. We don't want to be in a manufactured situation. We want to be credible. When people ask What instrument is that? we wouldn't be like...err.. We want to know exactly what was played, who played it and when it was played.
ILM: What is The Jonas Brothers process of making music? Is it lyrics then melody or totally random?
Kevin: We find inspiration from everything we do. From travelling, from touring, our friends, relationships, from anything really, we just soak it all in. We use anything as a way to write songs. We learn from everything. For us it can start with anything, it can start with a melody or a chord progression or it can start with lyrics. It just depends on the situation. When we come together it is an amazing feeling because you have three people with different minds all working on one song and when it is finished it is a really great feeling.
ILM: Do you have a favourite track from the album?
Kevin: You know playing SOS in the studio is amazing. We went out on a limb with that song, not knowing what people would think. It was originally never our first single in America, a song called On was. Then, when the song was released, we saw SOS starting to rise on the iTunes site. After two weeks it was number one! And we freaked out!
ILM: The video for SOS is awesome! How was the shoot for that?
Kevin: Thank you so much! The shoot was so much fun, we had such a blast! We did it on the Queen Mary which was just incredible!
ILM: Talking of videos...you have a number of very amusing youtube clips! I recently saw one featuring The Queen?! How was that?
Kevin: It was an amazing experience meeting her! Doing those videos is so much fun. We are very light hearted guys, we just like to have a good time. We of course never want to take ourselves too seriously, or try to be something we are not. Having fun and making videos is something that we are all about!
ILM: Can you let us in on any secrets for up-coming videos?
Kevin: It is very improvised! We just throw ourselves into the situation and see what happens!
ILM: Do you have a favourite?
Kevin: You know, there have been so many! I love the one that goes Oh, how the tables have turned! because it is so quick! People are just like This is the stupidist thing I have ever seen, but it's funny and we're like Thank you....I guess! hahah!
ILM: You are currently on tour supporting Avril Lavigne. What have been the highlights so far?
Kevin: The highlights have been amazing. Everything has been just unbelievable! We are enjoying every single minute of it. We can't wait for the rest of the tour and of course continuing into Europe. Touring with Avril has been amazing. You forget how many hits she has had! You watch her play and you are just like Oh my God! I forgot about this song and how much I loved it! and then it brings you back to a moment in your life.
ILM: You have toured a lot, with artists such as The Backstreet Boys and Kelly Clarkson. What is your best tour memory?
Kevin: In general everyday is a new experience. We wake up everyday and we are just like Woah, I can't believe we get to do this! Some days it is difficult and some days are long, but it doesn't matter, because we know we are getting to live the dream that so many people have. We are out there doing it and it is unbeleivable.
ILM: What do you look forward to most about playing live?
Kevin: Seeing the fans and the reaction. Being able to see people that you have never met know all the words and know your name! To see that they know what you were going through and that they relate to the words of the songs that you wrote, it is just amazing!
ILM: What do you do to relax when you come off stage?
Kevin: It's pretty amazing! We get off stage and have to take it easy for a minute because we push ourselves really hard, so it's like Phew...OK..right let's just sit down for a bit! Haha! Then, of course, we get some food! We are always starving afterwards, so that's usually priority number one! Haha! Once we have done that we just continue on. Get on the bus and say hi to some fans on the way out!
ILM: How have the UK fans been?
Kevin: The fans have been amazing! Everyone has been so kind and so nice, it has been amazing!
ILM: You mentioned that you are living your dream career. What would be your advice to anyone who wanted to follow in your footsteps?
Kevin: You know, for us, our parents put this into our hearts very early on. Even if you're at the top, live like you're at the bottom For us, we have tried to live like that all the way through this journey. I think that has really helped us and put us in a good position to understand what other people go through when they are on the road.
ILM: You have to spend a LOT of time with your brothers. What is the best and the worst thing about touring with them?
Kevin: I don't think there is a worst thing, it is really amazing that we get to be on tour together. Maybe...probably...the best thing is that you have your brothers over your shoulder, so you can look over at them when you're playing. It's like Wow! This is really cool, we get to hang out and do this together!
ILM: What would you have on your ultimate summer playlist?
Kevin: Woah...um...anything from Elvis Costello, John Mayer, and of course Prince - excellent driving music!
ILM: Do you have an ultimate summer tune?
Kevin: You know, being away from home you start listening to certain things that remind you of where you're from. The song 3x5 by John Mayer is one of the songs that plays a chord in my heart. The song is about not taking a picture because it doesn't do it justice, whatever you're seeing, and that it is OK because the next time you are there that person will be with you.
