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- In what way has your musical focus
changed since your debut “Forty-Six Minutes, Twelve Seconds of
Music” when compared to it?
It’s more evolved, than changed, we’ve added components to an
existing foundation. I think since 46:12, one of the most
notable differences would be that we incorporated more groove
and harder riffs. We tried to create more movement on The Audio
Guide to Happiness. Just because people consider us a form of
prog, doesn't mean we want people to look like they are solving
math problems when they come watch us, we wanted to incorporate
sections that allow people to move and have fun when they
listen, as well as have those deeper, introspective moments.
Also, with this album there was more experimenting with
different sounds in production which gives this album more
characteristics.
- What was it that made you decide to sign
a contract with the record
label InsideOut Music?
Well they are a well-known and respected label in the genre that
we have
been associated with which is obviously a selling point. Also,
we met with Thomas Waber from InsideOut when we were on tour
with Riverside and Pure Reason Revolution, and we had a very
promising conversation with him about JOLLY's future with the
label and where he sees us, it actually made it a pretty easy
decision and so far we’ve been happy with them.
- I'm very interested in layouts and logo
creations, what was the inspiration behind yours and who is the
creator?
The layout for this album feels like a textbook in some ways.
The cover is unapologetically bold, the inside is
straightforward and to the point, It's also very clean and
sleek. Drummer/Producer Louis Abramson did the design of this
album, he worked very hard to get everything perfect and we
think it looks great. It fits the Feel of the Audio Guide and
everything it's about perfectly.
- The name Jolly, would you like to tell
me about the reason why you chose this band name?
JOLLY is just so bold and a perfect for the music we write as
well as who we are. It's ironic, direct, contradictory, playful,
serious, it's all of these things at once somehow. I think as
people start to become familiar with our music and just who we
are in general they will begin to understand what JOLLY means.
- When I listen to The Audio Guide Of
Happiness "Part 1", I sense a touch of arena rock with some
progressive elements, kind of like bands like Muse. Is it a goal
of yours to reach the big arenas or do you prefer the smaller
and more intimate stages?
I don’t want to speak for the rest of the guys, but I would love
to play in a giant arena. I think our sound and style lends it’s
self to that sort of venue. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing
in smaller places, there’s something very personal about it, but
we got a taste of playing larger venues when we were with
Riverside and it’s like a drug in the sense that I think we’re
just going to want larger and larger crowds moving and singing
along to what we are playing. There’s no other feeling like it,
unless you’re Charlie Sheen of course.
- From where did you get the inspiration
for the lyrics of The Audio Guide Of Happiness "Part 1" and
"Part 2" which according to InsideOut is in the Pocket Pac on
the first?
Well InsideOut is not lying, we did include the lyrics to part 2
in the liner notes of this album, we hope you enjoy reading them
without music. The lyrics are inspired by almost everything and
anything and sometimes nothing at all. We have a pretty
interesting lyric writing process, I do not want to give away
all of our secrets yet. Maybe in the future we will discuss
meaning a little bit more, but for now I would like to let the
listeners find their own meaning in these lyrics. It's a very
introspective album and I believe people listening will be able
to take away their own meaning that will help them in their
situation.
- The music for "Part 2", when is it
planned to be released and why didn't it become a double album?
We didn’t want to release both albums at the same time because
we wanted you to become familiar with part I first. We thought
it would be a bit much to give you the whole thing at once. It's
a lot to take in.
- Will the music concept differ in "Part
2" compared to "Part 1"?
The concept is the same; it’s still part of the Audio Guide-
There are, however, styles and sounds on Part 2 that are not on
Part I. Because it’s a four-phase process, Part 2 containing the
3rd and 4th phase, these will have some different
styles because it is further along in the progression, bringing
the listener closer and closer to happiness.
- The melodic track "Joy" should,
according to me, be able to reach successful list placements -
how has it been going with being aired on the radio?
Someone actually recently sent us a message on Twitter saying
they put a preview of the album on their station and said they
got some good response to it, I don’t know how Joy in particular
is doing.
If anything it would be on air in Europe and
I don’t
have a European radio so unfortunately we don’t get to hear if
it’s played.
We have the same hopes though; I think Joy among a few other
songs on the album would do well on the radio.
That’s where you come into play, maybe one of your readers is a
DJ and will want to play our album over and over on the radio
after reading this!
- The track "The Pattern", with its
absolutely magnificent drive, seems to be a song made to be
performed live - are those factors that you consider when you
compose your material?
Absolutely, I think I mentioned this earlier; we wanted some
parts of this album that just moved and had groove and energy.
This riff was actually made to do just that and we hope it’s
working! So far we’ve gotten a really good response to that song
and we’re very happy about that. I actually would like to thank
all the fans that have posted feedback about this song and the
album in general, we really appreciate all of it.
- How does a song come to you normally,
when you count in everything from the first idea to the finished
track? Take "Storyline" for example, which is also one of my
personal favorites.
Oh well thank you! That song from what I remember started out as
Joe playing that chord progression and Anadale just singing a
melody over it which sounded really nice and we all liked it.
Louis started playing a funkier/groovier rhythm and that’s what
I started to follow with the bass line. That was the foundation
of the song, usually we start with some sort of foundation like
that, then as we work on it more and more things get added, and
as we start recording and Louis starts to work his production
magic, the songs takes on a new life that’s bigger then the 4 of
us. We usually start out with a base of a song, then it gets
JOLLY-fied and we have the end result, it’s a pretty interesting
process.
- You guys have been touring with both
Riverside and Pure Reason Revolution, who both have a pretty
dark visual image on stage (at least when I've watched them
perform), how would you like to describe yours?
Those guys are the Queen’s tits by the way (that means they are
awesome, it’s a popular British saying). I guess I would say
we’re pretty dark as well.
- A lot of bands are not particularly keen
on being categorized within one musical genre or other, like
neoprog for example, but if you have to choose one then where
would you place yourselves?
Probably Post modern updated classic contemporaryism,
but what it used to be, it’s changed now.
How does Sarcasm translate in Sweden?
- (Almost the same “Sarkasm”)
- After a few record releases a lot of
bands usually have live DVD's following, are there any plans of
doing that and will we be able to watch you live in Europe this
year?
I certainly hope we will be able to play live in front of you in
Europe this year, we’re looking for opportunities to come back
of course. We had a great time last year when we were there and
we want to return.
As for DVDs, we’ve talked about something like that, who knows
what the future holds.
Just be ready.
- Is there a dream artist/band of yours
that you would like to perform with or have as guest performers
on your upcoming albums?
I would have liked to play bass with Michael Jackson if he were
still around. I can imagine playing that sort of show and with
such a talented musician that would have been a lot of fun.
-And on a last note I'd like to thank you
for your time and I will be waiting with excitement on The Audio
Guide Of Happiness "Part 2".
Thank you too! I’m glad you liked Part I, that means a lot. We
can’t wait until people have the full collection! Take care.
www.jollyband.com
www.myspace.com/jollyband
www.theaudioguidetohappiness.com
Jolly – The Audio Guide Of Happiness “Part 1”
Review in Swedish |
