- Mon, 2009-09-28 15:04
We caught up with Jack at the Need For Speed SHIFT UK championships to chat firstly about cars, but more importantly about his second album All Night Cinema, his knowledge of the music industry, discovering new bands and writing music under a different name.
"I Like Music because… without it, life would be pretty meaningless.” Just Jack
ILM: You're having a drive at the Need For Speed SHIFT UK Championships, are you into cars?
Jack: I don’t actually drive but strangely I am really into cars! I don’t really like modern sports cars, they can look really plastic and tasteless but I really love classic sports cars. My ultimate car would have to be the Porsche 356 A Speedster that Kelly McGillis drives in Top Gun. It's a really beautiful car.
ILM: Do you spend much time playing computer games? Do you have an all-time favourite?
Jack: I play video games a bit when I'm on tour, but I used to play them more when I was a student. I'm not really into violent games, killing monsters and shooting doesn’t really appeal to me. Driving games do, even though I don’t drive! I have been playing Need For Speed Shift quite a bit recently. We used to play Mario Kart loads when we were students after a big night out.
ILM: Back to music, All Night Cinema is out now, how would you describe the vibe of the album?
Jack: That’s tough to say. I feel that this is my best work to date, I worked really hard on it. I would have to say that it is better than my previous albums...
ILM: What was your music making process? Did it change or develop from ways you have worked in the past?
Jack: I found it much harder to make the album this time. I took it much more seriously. I've learnt so much since I started making tunes. My process… I generally like to write about real life situations and circumstances, observational stuff. I really like getting out and about, walking around noticing things.
ILM: What have been the highlights of your summer? Best gigs? Best musical moments?
Jack: There have been some great moments this summer. My highlights have been Glastonbury, Bestival was great. Rock en Seine in Paris was really cool; I would recommend that festival to everyone!
ILM: What's been your most recent musical discovery?
Jack: My most recent musical discovery has been a US band called Passion Pit, they are cool. I really like their lead singers falsetto, although I played it to my girlfriend and she hated it!
ILM: We spoke to you in 2006 and 2007, having had more time to grow and develop musically and within the industry, what have been some of the biggest lessons you've learnt?
Jack: The main thing I've learnt is about the marketing side of things. As a result, the creative process has become much harder because I know how the industry works now. I used to just make music, but now you know in the back of your head that some songs will be singles and others album tracks, so it becomes more difficult to just make songs and let things happen musically
ILM: What music have you been listening to recently?
Jack: Apart from Passion Pit I've been listening to a French Band called Phoenix and a lot of the guys who were shortlisted for the Mercury Prize like La Roux and Florence and The Machine. I really like their albums at the moment.
ILM: What are your future plans? What's next for Just Jack?
Jack: I'm touring in October, so I'm just finishing up rehearsing for that. It should be really cool!
ILM: Aside from the implications of your name, do you have any future plans for musical collaborations?
Jack: No not really, although I am working on a project where I collaborate with myself... It sounds really weird, but by working under a moniker that isn’t Just Jack I can experiment a lot more and not be so critical of my work. It allows me to be really creative and do things that I wouldn’t normally. I hope people like it!
ILM: Who would your dream collaboration be with?
Jack: Probably a French band called Phoenix, I have been told that they sound like me before! I'd love to be their lead singer!
