Published: July 6, 2010 10:56 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight July 2010 Edition
One for Jude
Music Now Artist/Band Spotlight Weekly Series
One for Jude
Our Webzine spoke to the band One for Jude about their feelings on several matters concerning the plight of the indie artist/band. The band openly discussed their own experiences so far in the music industry and what exactly makes them tick. Here is what we unfolded.
Isaac: Let’s get started with this interview. When and how did you first become interested in music? How long have you been playing music?
One for Jude: We started a cover band named « Closer » in 1998; remixing and playing live some music from Joy Division, the Cure and other new wave bands. During the whole summer 1999, we locked us up in a recording studio to record and mix our first 5-tracks debut EP. One for Jude was born; we started the first shows and the European tour in the early 2000'.
One for Jude: Isaac: Who would you say are your biggest musical influences and why?
We listen to and like a very wide range of genres and composers. Aside obvious indie/new wave/cold folk tunes, we are influenced by a lot of baroque music, krautrock, electro rock, trip hop, industrial, metal, experimental and popular songs for children. All in all, we may be more inspired by other arts such as literature or painting.
Actually, the reason why some music may inspire us or not is not always related to whether we like it. Instead, it is more the way this music may impact our mood or memories, for one instant at least. We are often inspired by a song we have listened only once, even long ago.
Isaac: What has been the greatest highpoint in your career so far?
One for Jude: Some of us would say we did not reach our greatest highpoint yet. Some other would think it may be the so-called "arch of insult" performed in Grenoble when Benoit was dancing, fiercely blessing the audience behind Yonathan artistically playing the guitar and Billy strumming a hypnotic trip hop guitar to magnetize the public. They were crazy, they were hypnotized, they were crying and yelling, they were 5.
Isaac: What has been the greatest disappointment in your career so far? What did you learn from that experience?
One for Jude: Overall the greatest disappointment is how the business and promotion part works. Only a minority of promoters, distributers, journalists etc... do like music and work for what they feel like. Instead, it is often more about networking, catching the audience to maximize instant income and other market-based approach of music. As an example, our experience with press assistant or manager has been unsuccessful. We learnt from it that One for Jude was not a good short-term investment for anyone.
Isaac: What draws you to want to play the type of music that you do?
One for Jude: Like any band we best express ourselves this way. Humor is also a trigger.
Isaac: What do you feel it takes to play this type of music that you play?
One for Jude: Guts essentially. After our shows and even after our rehearsals (they are 3h long in general), we are just drained and exhausted for the rest of the week.
Isaac: What do you think you will create that will make your performances and who you are stand out in the music industry?
One for Jude: We are a long-lasting band playing some in temporal music, this may stand out. With time, our choreography will definitely last, our intense poetry as well, be it in our words as in our relationship with time: music and words are to be caressed long and soft.
Isaac: If you had the opportunity to do one cover, what cover would you do and why? How would you put your own spin on this cover?
One for Jude: “Drowning Man” by the Cure, it is the only song the three of us like. Nostalgic maybe.
Isaac: What does it take to be a good songwriter?
One for Jude: Time again. Not to write a good song, but to learn how to. Also it needs a bit of uncomforting, or pressure, or pain. Something that makes you stand up (or sit down) and tell the world.
Isaac: How difficult is it to juggle music, family and work obligation, and life in general? Explain.
One for Jude: The "compromise" approach does not work in the long term. Some of us try to use the "sequential" approach, meaning one thing after the other. You need to find the right set-up (work, family etc...). One variant of it is to earn a lot of money at work to buy great instruments and pay flights to tour over the world, bringing your family with you and allowing your wife to stop working. Some of us are considering it.
Isaac: What is your definition of being an Indie artist/band?
One for Jude: Be a wreck in 10 years.
Isaac: Where can fans access your music online?
One for Jude: We have so far released 7 CDs. Sample songs from each of them can be heard on our website www.oneforjude.com. CDs are also sold online on it. We have also a MySpace. Finally, our CDs can be found worldwide on CDBaby.
