Image credit: JW Paris
Exuding swagger with their latest song ‘Sober’ via Buffalo Studios, alternative rock outfit JW Paris have presented the accompanying music video for the track. Consisting of pals and founders Aaron Forde (Vocals/Bass) and Danny Collins (Vocals/Guitar) the duo have enlisted a new member Gemma Clarke into the mix. The ‘Sober’ single is the band’s most angsty and vibrant single yet and sets the tone for their forthcoming EP release later this year. ‘Sober’ is a lyrical middle finger to the hypocrites and all the anarchists that bring shame to the human race. We are not sure whether to march to these lyrics in the streets or shout it from the rooftops and make a commotion.
We chatted with alternative rock band JW Paris below.
Looking back, what were some of your earliest entries into music appreciation? And music production?
Our Dad’s were in the same band during the ‘90s called Choke, so guitar music was pretty much in our blood from day one. Subconsciously we knew the words to most Suede, Elastica and Placebo songs before we were born. Gemma our new Drummer comes from a similar musical heritage with her family owning ROOZ Studios and her Dad working with the likes of Led Zeppelin on tour. Guitar music is all we know!
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
For us songwriting is what we do together, we like to look at songwriting as a bit of a creative argument. As we’ve been playing together a while now, we know how each other works and what buttons to press to get the best of the creativity from the session. We don’t like to just have a full song by one person, we bring our ideas and argue over them (musically of course). A song has to feel like all three of us have wrestled with it, when played live you will all believe in what you are performing.
What gets your creative juices flowing?
Anything from a glass of red wine to overhearing some aimless conversation on the tube. Sometimes it’s hard to sit and force a song, ideas and creativity can come from anything. A word to something you see.
As a musician, it becomes apparent that there is a huge difference between the art and the business. Is there anything about the music scene that you would personally change?
It’s all a bit of a game of life in the music scene. Personally, we’d love to see more support of grassroots music, not just fuelling pockets of promoters and labels but seeing some support of getting young musicians on the stage and into the studio. The business needs to take more risks on emerging talent and get that money at the grassroots level. Support live music more.
Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?
Each comes with its benefits, we feel as a band we are a different entity live and in the studio. If you listen to our records we always try to give the listener a different experience live. We never want someone to come to our live shows and say “that’s exactly like the record”. You’ve got to have an element of danger live and that engagement. Whereas on record it’s all about telling a story sonically and taking the listener on that journey.
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
Recently our new single ‘Sober’ has been picked up by Radio 1 which is pretty much top of the bucket list. However. In the past selling out shows in Manchester (our first up North gig) was something that was one of those stop and soak in moments.
What’s on your current playlist?
Head over to our Spotify to find our recent Sober inspiration playlist.
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you in the near future?
The next single should be out in August / September time with our first EP soon after, followed by a tour.
Famous last words?
Wham, bam, thank you ma’am.
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