INTERVIEW: Jackhigh / Singing Statues

Jackhigh, Singing Statues, Bnjmn, 141, half of Teebs & Jackhigh, to me, he goes by the name Ben Thomas, and 2010 is going to be quite the big year for him. Recently singed to Ghostly International, among a slew of other labels (including Rush Hour) the 22 year old beatmaestroguitarplayingenigma took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with me about his upcoming release on Ghostly International, among other things…

Jesse Futerman: When did you start making music and why? And when did you get into making electronic music, were there any particular artists that pushed you into it?

Ben Thomas: I started making my own music about the time I left school. Before that I had been playing the guitar in various bands since quite a young age, but I felt like I wanted more freedom in creating music and getting into music software enabled me to do that. I had a few friends that helped me to get to grips with the software and showed me what could be done with it. As I got more into electronic music I left the guitar behind for a few years and have only just got back into using that with the Singing Statues stuff.

JF: How would you describe the sound of Singing Statues? And is there any particular reason that you started using your guitar again, instead of just software?

BT: I’d like to think it combines the best bits of all the music I’ve done before; melodically, sonically and rhythmically. I’m really into atmospheric soundscapes, the type where you can imagine yourself in another place or time. That would be my main goal really, to evoke images in peoples’ minds. I started using the guitar again just as an extension of what I was doing before, the process of making music is still the same. Also I try to use my voice in the same way, just as another layer to the music, instead of it being at the forefront of the music.

JF: Are there any specific artists, either audio or visual, that have inspired the sound of Singing Statues?

BT: Ahhh, so many. Obviously a lot of electronic music, a lot of the minimal beats stuff over the past few years, people like Lukid and Zomby that are really pushing things forward in those realms. Also a lot of older music, Nick Drake and John Martyn spring to mind. Then there’s artists like Animal Collective and Caribou who fit somewhere in the middle of the electronic/organic stuff who I’ve been really inspired by lately. Oh, and a lot of early dream pop/shoegaze stuff like My Bloody Valentine, that “wall of sound” way of mixing has been a big influence.

JF: Not too long ago you got signed with Ghostly International, how did that come about? Could you give any information on your upcoming release in terms of sound and feeling?

BT: The label boss, Sam V, actually contacted me through MySpace early last year. I continued sending him stuff over several months and we finally penned a deal in September. The first release is going to contain stuff made from last year, but I’m always sending him new things so there may be some new additions aswell. In terms of sound and feeling, the stuff I’m working on now is probably more song-based than anything I’ve done before, with more emphasis on vocal melodies and arrangements rather than just “beats”. I also switched software a few months ago, and what I’m using now has much more of a clean sound to it, which has taken me a while to adjust, but I feel that the tracks are sounding fuller sonically.

JF: I remember you were using some fairly archaic sound software. With your switch to Logic, have you found it to help your work more so than your other software?

BT: For a while it really put a halt to my creative output, I thought I’d lost my sound, ha ha! But now I feel just as comfortable as I did using Cubase. It’s hard to explain, but once you get over the learning curve of the software, and you’re completely comfortable using it, it almost becomes a part of you and the ideas can then flow freely through you into the software, without any hindrance of technicalities.

JF: Very nice. Out of curiosity, do you have any upcoming projects or releases you would like to talk about?

BT: Apart from the Statues stuff on Ghostly, there is a Teebs & Jackhigh EP coming out on Svetlana Industries in a few weeks, which is going to feature artwork by Teebs and some really cool limited prints and tees, which I’m really excited for. Svetlana are also going to be putting out some of the unreleased Jackhigh material along with an EP I made under the name 141. Also, Rush Hour in Holland are going to be putting out some house/techno things I’ve made under the name Bnjmn, which has been mastered, but I’m unsure of release dates.

JF: Well, thank you for your time good sir, and I wish you the best with your upcoming releases!

BT: It’s been a pleasure man, big thanks for doing this! People should also be looking out for ‘your’ music in the not too distant future!

Grab the Outtakes EP by Singing Statues for FREE here.

mp3: Singing Statues – Off The Axis

RBMA: Introducing… 00Genesis

The sixth in our series of Red Bull Music Academy 2010 candidate interviews comes in the form of a cryptic exchange with the artist known as 00Genesis. Remember to go back and check the previous five interviews in this series with Lunice, Kidkanevil, ANGO, Dza and Myele Manzanza. Today, I present 00Genesis…

Jus Like Music: Who are you and where do you come from?

00Genesis: The name’s Genesis… 00Genesis, coming out of Silver Spring, Maryland.

JLM: And what is it that you do?

00G: I do many things. On any given day, you might catch me working on illustrations, drawings, paintings, graphic designs, or music/beats. My art knows no limits. Even when I cook for myself I pay attention to the minute details.

JLM: Why do you do what you do?

00G: That’s a question that can attract a deep answer. It is hard to concisely articulate my connection with art. However, one key reason why I do what I do, is because I’ve been doing it ever since I was a baby; art is a way of life now.

JLM: So, what’s new?

00G: Lots of things… lots of changes.

JLM: Ha ha, fair enough! So, what do you hope to achieve at RBMA 2010?

00G: I have a lot of ‘big’ personal goals, and visions. That being said, I’m very optimistic about RBMA, and I want to give and receive as much as I can. No limits.

JLM: What music have you been feeling lately?

00G: Textural music, past and present. A lot of WARP records these days… I’m looking forward to FlyLo’s new album… uhhh, Aphex Twin’s Ambient works… Boards of Canada’s catalogue… Too many names to list.

JLM: Lastly, what’s the best advice you could give to an emerging artist?

00G: Believe in yourself more than anyone else, and keep it pushing!

mp3: 00Genesis – Mr. Murphy

PREVIEW: Invisible Inc – The Exit Strategy

Considered by many to be up there with the cream of UK hip-hop, Ghost, Verb T and Kashmere are back as Invisible Inc! Their digital album, The Exit Strategy, is coming out on 26th April via Bandcamp. Check out the above preview to get a feel of what this new album is all about. But, in their own words…

“This album was recorded whilst under the influence of LSD and lemsip max strength, the names have been changed to protect the innocent, this is a true story…”

The good news, as you’ll hear for yourselves, is that they’re sounding fresh as ever. That trademark heavy drum-break production from Ghost, coupled with the sharp, yet smooth flowing cyphers from Verb T and Kashmere, shows that the UK can still bring its hip-hop A-game when required. Naturally we’re a little way off the end of April release from Invisible Inc, but nearer the time we’ll have a proper detailed review of The Exit Strategy and some more sneaky previews – so, stay tuned!

Oscillations Mix: 3:37am

Following on from the very popular first Jus Like Music & Apple Juice Break present: Oscillations promo mix by BUG, I now present to you the second mix, by Akello Light.

Akello Light said of his mix, “An extreme amount of sedative herbal tea, incense and upcoming releases is the vibe. The tracks played are the artists I will be working with or just really enjoy (Slept on hard). Raw late-night uncut bedroom music in Hi-Fi. Hugs for everybody!”

Oscillations will be coming out later this month and, as well as some of the names previously mentioned, will feature some amazing artists on the cusp of blowing up, like; 8Bitch, Dza, Bluntspeakers, Vital and Grillo. Those names are merely the tip of the iceberg, but I don’t want to give too much away too soon!

Stay tuned for more mixes and then of course the actual Oscillations compilation later this month, containing the best in emerging hip-hop, electronica, neo-soul and dubstep sounds.

Original Cultures – The Showcase

In the London area this Friday (5th March)? Get yourself down to The Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane for the Original Cultures showcase at Corbet Place. Original Cultures – The Showcase is a unique one-hour audio/visual showcase of collaborative works created by seven artists from the UK, Italy and Japan in the four days prior to Friday as part of Original Cultures 2010. The artists are Ericailcane (IT), DEM (IT), Will Barras (UK) and Hiraki Sawa (JP) for the visual arts and Om Unit (UK), Tatsuki (JP) and Tayone (IT) for music.

In the aforementioned four days prior to the showcase, the artists will work in private workshops on brand new works. This is part of the concept by Original Cultures to encourage collaborations and working relationships which stretch the artists beyond their own respective areas of expertise and comfort zones. It’s impossible to predict the eventful outcome of such an experiment, but then that is indeed the beauty of the project itself.

Starting at 6pm with DJ sets from participating artists and Original Cultures team members, the actual showcase will commence at 8pm, with an after-party from 9-11pm. Oh, and did I mention that the entire evening is FREE?!

This will prove to be an exciting and extremely fascinating close to Original Cultures 2010 and I would advise you all to attend.