Q&A + Tour: Jinja Safari
Sunday, 22 July 2012
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| Photo courtesy of Jinja Safari |
Having just released their newest EP Toothless Grin, Jinja
Safari is not stopping. This is proved by the fact that
they are going to do a tour called The Blind Date Tour with
New Zealand's Opossom and Los Angeles' White Arrows this
August. The tour is followed by festivals that they are going to play in September
such as Bestival in UK and Rifflandia Music Festival in Canada. They are also
working on their album. Some more good stuff seems to be coming out from Jinja
Safari.
Here is Marcus Azon talked about what they are working on, their Triple J Like A Version and a crazy experience that he had.
Who makes
up your band and where do you guys come from?
Marcus-
Vocals, guitar,
Pepa ‘The Dark’ Knight- Keys/Sitar/Production/Vision/bossy
boots/vox,
Joe Citizen- bass,
Al 'Nugget' Roach- Percussion,
Jacob 'fat stacks'
Borg- Drums.
Al and I grew up together in Tasmania, Jacob and Pepa grew up
together on the Central Coast. We found Joe in a box at our doorstep, and we
told him he could stay if he learnt the bass.
What are
you working on at the moment?
Joining
my moustache to my goatee, so I can wear my facial hair like singer/songwriter Chad
Kroeger of Nickleback. Collectively and professionally we are working on an
album full of music and ideas. It will be our first, maybe our last, maybe our
best, might even be a game changer, the game might change us- either way- you
can't AFFORD not TO buy this ALBUM. (yikes)
Saw your
cover for Ignition at Triple J Like A Version, it was sick! Why did you guys
choose that song?
We had a
lot of our song ideas rejected. I had learnt acoustic versions of Survivor by Destiny’s Child, King of Wishful Thinking by Go West, I even broke down Steal
My Sunshine by Len. All brushed to the corner like a box of stale milo
puffs. Ignition was a last minute choice, and went ahead purely because I
knew all the lyrics, in their horrible, vulgar, sleazy, chauvinistic
entirety.
If you
could play anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Brazil.
Tell us
at least one crazy experience from your tour!
Something
I feel like I need to come clean on. Just to remind everyone, mainly Joe and Stral,
that it wasn't my fault.
Pepa had his wife on tour, so the remaining 4 boys
(and our manager Matt Nielson) formed a 'sub band' called Team Kaoss. It was
basically a group of boys on the hire bikes in UK/US/CA doing skiddies anywhere
and all the time. We had an amazing day of bike riding, after a very small
show in Montreal. We were bombing down Monut Royale and I saw a couple of
pigeons, and thought to myself how wonderful everyone would think I was if I
bunny hoped over said birds. Of course as I took flight, so did one of the pigeons. Feathers everywhere and all I can remember is that pigeons terrified face
looking over his shoulder trying so hard to get away from me as I hammered down
upon him. Everyone was shocked and appalled, most of all Team Kaoss. We all
learnt big lessons that day. And yes the bird was fine. A little embarrassed by
his irrational choice of flight, I imagine, but I did see him walking on the
footpath when I glanced over my shoulder as we fled the scene. We we're all
humbled by the incident, both man and Canadian Air-rat.
Tell us 5 random facts about your band
Two of us
are preacher’s sons.
Two of us
are tradies sons.
One of us
is a painters son.
How did
you come up with 'Jinja Safari' as your band's name?
It's a
reference to my grandmother who lives in the Ugandan Town of Jinja. A lot of
the songs are about my family, most of which have an afro beat influence; so it
seemed logical to doff the cap to an old lady who personifies tall stories and jungle
beats.
Have you got your ticket yet for their tour? Here is the dates for The Blind Date Tour, maybe they still have some tickets available:
Wed 8 Aug: Perth – Astor Theatre
Thurs 9 Aug: Adelaide – Uni Bar (Licensed All Ages)
Fri 10 Aug: Melbourne – The Hi-Fi
Sat 11 Aug: Melbourne – The Hi-Fi (Under 18s)
Wed 15 Aug: Canberra – ANU Bar
Thu 16 Aug: Newcastle – UNI Bar
Fri 17 Aug: Sydney – Metro (Licensed All Ages)
Sat 18 Aug: Brisbane – The Hi-Fi