An Interview With Japanese Jesus
Japanese Jesus has arrived with a crazy new single deep rooted in metal and brought into a fun and erratic energy that gives off a little bit of Mr. Bungle along with others at times but all done with more of a thrashy garage rock style as well.
The main riffs in "Bus Weirdo" are ferocious and punk driven but have a little Slayer influence in them and when it hits that chorus there are some killer bends and sections that really just feel blistering and face melting.
These guys certainly feel like they would indeed melt faces in a live setting especially but oin record they also manage to capture a sort of live feeling performance that just bursts open and bleeds out everywhere possible.
Like, I still have chunks of bloody riff on my clothes from this song.
It's a gorgeous sonic presence and it fills you with an energy that yeah sure, makes you wanna bang your head or jump around but really it's just got this killer approach to the genre.
Japanese Jesus has a mixture of greats flowing through their music and each of them show face for different little sections of song.
It's absolutely awesome and it will leave you on the internet searching for tickets to wherever they may be playing next.
And that got us thinking. Do they play live?
So, after hearing this badass punch to the gut single, we wanted to actually ask them about that. And other things as well.
Here's what went down.
TSWS: Okay so let's start with "Bus Weirdo". The track had a crazy energy and a killer heaviness to it! Where did this song come from?
Thank you! We had that verse riff knocking around for awhile. I record simple vocal and guitar ideas on my phone all the time, so I went digging and found the chorus melody and when we paied them up it worked out OK.
TSWS: I'm hearing some great styles on this release. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
Biggest influences for me would be bands like Metz, show me the body and probably the biggest is a London band called USA nails. Highly underrated band, but at the same time they have a very loyal following.
TSWS: So how did this all begin for you really? When did you fall in love with music?
Played in bands since my teens with some great musicians, and always had an obsession with music since as far as I can remember. Think my earliest memory of that obsession is Roy Orbison. Just loved everything about it. Always loved a good vocal melody and a catchy hook
TSWS: What's next for you as a band?
Probably a gig! We ve been a band for around 10 months and havent actually played a gig yet. Then I think a physical release of something like an EP.
TSWS: What inspires you to write a song?
Hearing other songs. I spend hours shifting through bands on Bandcamp as I love Hearing new material.
TSWS: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
Farming believe it or not. We built a little studio on the farm last year and have recorded all of our singles there. No need to worry about the neighbours complaining.
TSWS: Who are you listening to right now?
This week lip listening to a hardcore punk band called $. I think they are from the US. Also a new band called weird nightmare who just released their debut album.
TSWS: Are you doing live performances?
Yes definitely plan on doing some live
TSWS: This single seems like a big undertaking. What kind of advice might you have for other up and coming bands out there?
performances, but as JJ is a two piece, we are trying to rope in some buddies/ acquaintances on guitar and bass. I play bass in another band called SWEETS so getting my live fix that way.
TSWS: Before we go, what would you all like to say to fans of the music?
Yes releasing materials is a fairly big undertaking. Videos and PR can be costly for a new young band. For me and Denny we have done the struggling artist things years ago, so for us now, doing this along with having full-time jobs definitely suits us better. Playing live is probably the best advice I can give. And make sure you are tight!