MYSTERY JETS - WRITTEN FEATURE

We’ve recently seen the departure of Henry from your live performances. Have you had to make any significant changes since becoming a quartet?

“Not really, it all fell into place quite easily. Obviously when we first started rehearsing and trying to learn the new songs we were a bit apprehensive about it, but it all kicked into place really easily. So yeah it’s been a very smooth progression.”

When did he actually stop performing live with you?

“It was about this time last year in January 2007.”

Your second album ‘Twenty One’ is out soon how would you say this album differs from your first record ‘Making Dens’?

“I think the songs are a bit more grown up. I think we’ve been listening to so much more music that we weren’t listening to the first time around. We’ve really immersed ourselves in things that we hadn’t really heard of before and we’ve all become massive fans of pop music.”

Any particular names?

“Phil Collins, Cindi Lauper, Michael Jackson. All tunes from the 80’s, we’re really getting into the pop side of things as well as dance music. I think that’s had quite a big affect on how the new record sounds and has developed. We feel like a different band this time around, we feel more grown up.”

How was it working with producer Erol Alkan?

“Erol is a really good friend of ours; he’s not really a typical producer. He became more like a fifth member of the band. We got on with him really well. Generally producers are quite like, ‘I am the producer and you are the band,’ there are boundaries involved. But with Erol there were no boundaries and we all tried things. It was just really refreshing to work with someone that we all like and really get on with. Also it was his first album that he has ever produced, which I think was a reasonably big thing for him. It was a very exciting time for Erol and I think he had a lot to prove, and he’s proved it basically.”

Would you say this record reflects your growth both as a band and as individuals?

“I think so, we all wrote songs for it. There’s a lot of creativity coming from different places and it definitely says a bit about each of us. It’s about growing up, it’s called ‘Twenty One’ and 21 is  midway point between being a teenager and being an adult, it’s just about making that step into more grownup life. There are a lot of songs on there about heartbreak, frustration and infidelity.”

Do you have any favourite tracks on the album?

“No I can’t actually listen to the album. It sounds strange saying it, but we spent nine months making it and it wasn’t always easy, it was difficult at times. I find it impossible to listen to I just can’t.”

Is there any particular reason behind this?

“It’s because it’s done, it’s over. I enjoyed making it; I enjoyed writing it, that’s it. If it came on in a club and I was a bit drunk I might get up and have a little dance to it. It’s kind of like putting pictures up of yourself on your bedroom wall - no disrespect to anyone who does that (Laughs). I would rather have pictures of Helen Bonham Carter and Angelina Jolie.”

Would you say your music could be categorised?

“I don’t know that’s what you should be doing really isn’t it? I’m not going to categorise our music. I believe in it and I think it’s just good music. Yeah it’s pop but at the end of the day what is pop music? Pop music is a thousand different things. I think categories are a bit silly really you don’t like something because it’s in a category, you like it. That’s the thing about music it’s so hard to talk or write about, there’s no point really just enjoy it.” 

Your new single ‘Young Love’ features Laura Marling how did that collaboration come about?

“We’ve been fans of hers for about a year, we found her through MySpace. We wrote this song called ‘Young Love’ it’s in two halves, there’s a boy bit where’s he met this girl and then there’s the girl bit where she’s thinking, ‘Young love never seems to last.’ To get a girl to sing the girl part made sense. We were wracking our brains as to who we thought we should use and we all just felt that Laura would be great at doing it. So we called her up and got her down to the studio and she recorded it one or two takes and the job was done.”

You obviously have longevity as a band having been around since 1999, what’s your secret?

“In terms of bands lasting there isn’t really a formula. I think if you’re honest with yourself that’s the best place to start really. Instead of being swayed by what the label want you to do and what other bands are doing, just do what really fascinates you and if it doesn’t happen then at least you did it for yourself. People do come back even if it takes ten or twenty years. I think that really good music will find its audience eventually.”

In terms of your audience how did you actively build your fan-base from the beginning?

“We were here before MySpace, we’re not really a MySpace band - when we get reviews and stuff they don’t mention that. We toured a lot; we did about five tours of England before we got signed. A lot of those tours we did without any financial support. We just saved up pocket money and stayed at friend’s places across the country - just so we could gig. Also we like to meet the people that come to our gigs and have a drink with them. We’re almost like a folk band in some respects; we’re not fussy about whether we get fancy dressing rooms or play big venues. We just enjoy playing and if there are people that enjoy our music, then that’s enough for us."

What’s your favourite part of being a band?

“I like all of it really. It’s all got its time and its place. When you’ve been on the road for a year and you’re all tired, you’ve been getting drunk too much, too many gigs and so on. You really just want to start writing songs again and then you want to record again. So things work quite nicely in that respect. I like all the processes, I like doing the press, the gigs. When you’ve done enough of one thing, it’s often time to start doing the next thing so it’s all good.”

You’ve toured with some big names, Klaxons, Artic Monkeys and Bloc Party to name a few. Have you got any idols that you would like to work with in the future?

“I’d love to work with Black Devil Disco Club he’s an Italian guy and he does really underground psychedelic disco – so I’d love to work with him.”

What’s the greatest gig you’ve played so far?

“We played the Fuji Rock Festival two years ago and that was just incredible, up in the mountains near Mount Fuji. It’s just a really beautiful setting and the Japanese people go crazy for pop music and guitar stuff. It’s just a real thrill, particularly when you’re on the other side of the world something just really gets hold of you and you can really live life to the full.”

Speaking of big audiences do you ever get nervous before you go on stage?

“Yeah, I think the important thing to remember is not to over-think things on stage. One of the great things about performing is that accidents happen and they can either turn into something really embarrassing or into something amazing depending on how you play it. We know our songs but we never really know what’s going to happen, my guitar could break, or a member of the audience could jump on stage. You kind of want those things to happen in a way because that’s what makes it exciting.”

Have you got any tips for bands out there trying to crack into the industry?

“Be honest with yourselves, don’t follow other bands. It’s a really hard one. I’m just going to use the Nike slogan ‘Just do it’ (Laughs).”

Finally are there any up and coming bands that you would like to big up?

“There’s a girl called Micachu and her bands called Micachu And The Shapes, and she sounds a bit like a female Jamie T and I think she’s amazing. She’s not really pop music; it’s really interesting and quite dark in places. It’s just brilliant music. You can find her at www.myspace.com/micayomusic”

"People do come back even if it takes ten or twenty years. I think that really good music will find its audience eventually."

See also
Mystery Jets