fluoro speaks with Jagwar Ma
Jono Ma and Gabriel Freeman are Jagwar Ma. Hailing from Sydney, Australia the electronic duo are fast making a name for themselves. fluoro interviewed Jono Ma in the lead up to the release of their debut album.
Travel has played a significant role in the production of Jagwar Ma’s music, the recording of their debut album saw them spend a summer in France. The duo also spent early 2013 touring Australia with The xx and Europe with Foals. “It’s funny but people seem to like our music more in Europe,” Ma noted when asked about the difference in musical scenes.
With a series of international tour dates in the pipeline, including Glastonbury and Splendour in the Grass, Jagwar Ma are continuing their rein on the electronic music industry.
(f) Tell us more about when you realised you wanted to create music?
(JM) The moment I got my first delay pedal. I’d been mucking around on electric guitar for a while but I remember flipping out when I first realised I could loop and feedback with an echo pedal. This changed everything. I started writing music from that moment.
(f) How does travel inspire your work?
(JM) When we travel there’s loads of transit time that you can spend reading, listening to albums etc. In each new city I like to hunt down a record shop, so I end up consuming quite a bit of new material when travelling. I guess that fuels the fire for output.
(f) You have mentioned that hype can be dangerous – how do you feel media outlets are contributing to music consumption? For better? For worse?
(JM) I think it’s all good and positive. Media outlets help communicate music to people. I think the danger I referred to is the internal affect on the artist. I guess it’s just important and maybe a bit more fun if all the overly positive or negative things said are kept at arms length… it’s easy to start second guessing yourself otherwise.
(f) What can those heading to Glastonbury expect from your performance?
(JM) Lost of union jacks and southern crosses being swung from various flags above the audience. Maybe a kangaroo jump suit.
—-
Jagwar Ma are set to release their debut album ‘Howlin’ on Friday 7 June 2013. They will be appearing on the John Peel stage at Glastonbury, England running from Friday 28 June to Sunday 30 June 2013.
