An interview with Jersey Budd

After the release of his first album "Wonderland" in 2009 and a good year 2010 touring Europe with his songs and guitare, the Leicester lad is ready to kick 2011 with his new songs.  He's currently working on his 2nd album after writing almost 30 songs and gave a hint to the lucky ones who could come see him live just before last Christmas. He kindly agreed to answer to some (a lot) questions for me.

-First of all, for the few people around me who doesn't know you, can you introduce yourself?

Im Jersey Budd a singer/songwriter from Leicester in England

-Your first album "Wonderland" has been financed by your "fans" on Bandstocks. Why did you choose this kind of "production" and not "a run after several majors" who will fight to have you?

Well I decided to go through the bandstocks route because it gave me a massive connection with the fans and maybe equally as important was that i was in charge of my music and decisions 

 

-Are you the only artist who became "famous" thanx to Bandstocks?

There was only myself and Patrick Wolf to have there albums funded through bandstocks. He is shit so id have to say yes to that question

 
-You already know that my fave song in "Wonderland" is "Shotgun Times", do you have a fave one and why?

Yeah id probably say Shotgun Times too.Simply because it took me 20 mins to write it and as soon as i did i new it was a winner!

 

-You're currently working on your 2nd album, in last September, you wrote on your facebook page that you have wrote 30 songs! Does it means we will have a special bonus edition or some extra B-sides? ;)

I hope so. A lot of songs get left behind but im hoping to get about 12/13 songs on the album then release a little EP of the B sides because i think there all great songs

 
-Does the "sound" of this new album will be like the "Wonderland' one?
Its gonna be more rawer and edgy. Im going in the studio with a top producer so its gonna be a whole different 'sound' to Wonderlands

-When do you think this new album could be released?

It will be later this year i think. I just cant wait to get back out playing it on tour thats the fun part of the job for me

 

-Will you still have the same kind of cover, with the same artist?

Maybe the same artist and something that ties it in with the 1st album but each album is different and i want to reflect that

 

-The 1st album has been released in UK of course but more recently in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, do you think the 2nd will have a bigger release? 

Again i hope so. Ive no idea why it wasnt released in more countries but i imagine it would be down to money and the fact that you need to tour places before you release it there

 
-You've played in several other countries when you were support artist, what are your biggest memories? 

Ive been to a load of great places but i remember the European tour with The Rifles fondly. It was just a magic time and everything about the tour was great. I also got to support Kasabian for 2 nights while in Germany and you're always gonna have a great night with those lads 

 -You've been support act for John Martyn, Amy Macdonald, Kasabian, The Twang, The Riffles, ..... Is there an artist you would love to support? And would you like to support someone in a stadium (I mean big stadium like Wembley or Stade de France.) 

My ideal gig would be for a 'Live Aid' style gig at Wembley and the acts would be Bob Dylan,Bruce Springsteen,Oasis,Kasabian plus many more.Id gladly be the support artist on that gig

 -On the other side, would you like to have someone special as your own support act? 

There are so many great artists i love that have passed but id have to say John Lennon

-Is there an artist with who you would love to record a duet?

Id love to do a duet with someone like Paloma Faith or Adele because i think they are both on fire at the minute and i love there new records

-You're half-Irish/half-English, do this difference of background have an influence in your music?

 It has had a big influence on me. I still listen to irish music from time to time and absolutely buzz off it. Some of it is so simple but the energy and the feeling in some of those records are outstanding

 
-Which artist is a big influence for you?

 I go through stages of listening to different artists. But i still listen to bands like the Beatles etc they are a massive influence on me still to this day

-How did you decided to learn how to play the guitare one day?

 It was at college when i was taught to play by a friend of mine called Danny Archer. We used to play every lunchtime and think we were Oasis or The Beatles

-How many guitars do you have and can you play another instruments?

 I can play a little piano and harmonica but the guitar is my main instrument. I have 4 guitars at the minute but im always looking out for more

-Where does come from this passion for the music? Why did you finally choose to live thanks to your music instead of being a plumber?

 Well i hated plumbing from the start and always dreamed about being a musician. But i guess the passion came from listening to my parents old records and when i started playing guitar it felt completely natural to me and that just fuelled the fire

 
-You were in a band when you were younger. Were you the singer? What kind of music were you playing?

 Oh yeah a few bands when i was younger. I was in a band called Invagold with Adem from the Lysergic Suite and John Meighan which is Toms brother. I look back now with fond memories and pure innocence 

 
-How do you find the inspiration to write a song?

 Everywhere really, I get songs which seem to linger around my head or melodies that come up every now and again and its just a case of capturing them when you put music and words to it

 
-Could you sing in another language?

Non

   

-Do you have a message for the youngs who would like to work in the music industry?

Just to work hard keep your feet on the floor and get big!

 

-You have recently recorded the anthem tune for the LCFC and even more recently, been on a training with the team, is Football really important for you?

Ha Ha yeah that was great fun to do and an absolute honour for me as a big Leicester City fan.

  
-Could you have choosen Football instead of music?

No never because i was never that good at football plus i like a drink so i cant say im an athlete

 
-What other team (apart from the LCFC) do you support?

England and Blaby Utd

 

-What do you think about the french football?

Its a great new era for France after the world cup fiasco but im sure your on the way up with some great players in the team

Some randoms questions:

-What was the job you wanted to do when you were a child?

Footballer or Fireman

 
-What will you do if music, football and cinema were banned from our life?

Id become a monk

-Could you live in another country than yours?

Of course

 
-What was the 1st ever record (cd or vinyl) have you bought?

 Micheal Jackson 'Bad' album

-Is there in your ipod a song you could be ashame to have?

 There are a load of them! god knows why i brought them at all the worst is Take That 'Back for good'

 

-Are you addicted to an album/song?

 Bob Dylans Blonde on Blonde

 

-Final question, do you have a message for your fans/supporters?

 Thank you so much for all your support. Stay with me and see you very soon 

All picture by Neil Plumb

Great news about Operator Six!

SuperEvolver new!

SuperEvolver have just announced who is their new drummer (as Jimi has left the band for personal reasons.)

Welcome to John Kenna Junior

The song The Lysergic Suite could cover: CAN - SPOON (1971)

A word with Gren Spencer of The Lysergic Suite (cos the others were sleeping! aah)

The Lysergic Suite are the new "band from Leicester" who will see their name getting famous this year thanx to their psychedelic music, their red/green psychedelic live light and their amazing guests on several songs! They said "yes" to answer to some questions, well only one of them finally answer and you'll know why!

First of all, the questions that everybody is asking you: Can you introduce the band?

        Yeah, im Gren, Im from The Lysergic Suite, Adem and Custic are in bed....

How did you all 3 met and where does come the idea to create this band?

         ive known Custic (the drummer) for quite a while, he helped me to put it all together in the begining, I had a lot of recorded stuff that i didnt know what to do with, always thought that id end up playing it live, but he sorted out my head for me and got the ball rolling...
  Liam, ive been passing Liam in the road for years, we live in the same town, and i used to go and watch his old band play, but we never quite met until last year, now i cant get enough of the boy  haha,  The best lads ever..




I know that "Lysergic Suite" is the name of one of the room of the old shoes factory that is now your studio,  why have you choose this name for the band? 

                 Yeah, well its just the studio that we record in, it could be anywhere really, but at the moment, its in an old shoe factory, that we share with Kasabian. The name just fits perfectly what we do.

You're at the moment, in the studio, recording the album, can you give us some hints?

           Well, its fucking mental, im buzzing about it at the moment... Its going to be out later in the year.

Your EP "Ghost on crusade" has been release last year, my favorite song is "in the morning, do you have a fave one among the song of this EP?

            I havent got a favorite, i have a few favorites off the album, but its always interesting to hear what other peoples are.

Are you all you 3 writing the songs together?                    

Yeah, in some cases, but we are mostly recording the stuff that ive been locked away writing for a few years.

 

Where do you find the inspiration for the songs?

        From anywhere really...  Were all into different things, different sounds, and it all comes together...  its hard to put any of it into words really.

Why did you "choose" this kind of music to be "your" music?

                I dont think that we have consciously "chose" what we were going to sound like, it just happens, you know?  and it evolves over time too, which is great.

Are you fan of cinema? And would you like to write the music for a movie?

  Yeah, would love to, A lot of people tell me that our music is quite cinematic, so it would seen a natural thing to do.
 

what kind of movie (sci-fi, action, comedy?) would you like it to be?

            haha,  dont know, SciFi would be interesting...  something a bit dark though, im not into Hollywood blockbuster rubbish.

In your song "Earth and Water", we can hear something about Aliens. Do you believe in a life outside of earth? Where you fan of show like Doctor Who when you were younger?

        If you watch our video to Earth And Water, you can see how big the Universe really is....  To think that we are the only life out here would be very nieve...   

 

You have collaborated with Tom Meighan, Shane Devany (aka Dodger de Tune), Jay Melher, Kav Blaggers, Tim Holmes. Is there someone else with who you would love to collaborate?

Yeah, theres lots...  But you will have to wait and see ;)

 
Gren, you have been on tour with Kav in the states during the summer 2009, was it a great experience?  
                America is an amazing place, California was one of those places that, when you get there, you just go.. "right, i could move here tomorrow"..  its fantastic, and the people are really into their music too, there not as reserved as we are over here.

I know that Adem and Liam have been musicians for Jersey Budd on tour, Adem also recorded the drums part on the album, Gren, you have produced this album and played additional  drums on it. Was it a "family" affair?

       Leicester is that way really, were all one big disfunctional family..haha..
   Jerseys a good lad, and i wish him all the best in the future, i met him when i sold him a guitar.

What is your biggest dream for the band?

      We constantly hit all our targets, we're just doing exactly what we want really, so im not sure we have an ultamate goal or anything. As long as we can keep doing this, then we will be happy.

Would you like to be famous enought one day to play the pyramid stage at Glasto?

            I think anyone would...  Glastonbury is the big one isnt it? You would be mad not to want to.

If you could give one of your song for a charity, which song will you choose (or could you write a special song) and what charity would you choose?

  It would be Cancer research, something thats close to my heart, and im not sure about the song

Well, you know Im french, would you like to come here and play gigs all over France? Or even colaborate with a french artist?

  Yeah, its been a few years since i toured france...  Beautiful place, loved "Nice" and "Cannes"...
   What happened to "Air" are they still around?  acually, it would be "Daft Punk"

Gren, could you sing in another language?

            Nope.

What's your occupation apart from the band now? And do you have a personnal dream? (like writing a book, being an actor...)

           This is all we are doing now, theres not time to do anything else!..  would like to be in a film one day, but theres more important things right now

Do you have an album, you will never stop listening to?

    Dark Side Of The Moon, Pink Floyd.




I am from the persons who prefer buying the cd and/or the vinyl, but your first EP has been released only on digital, what your opinion on this "market"?
    Yeah, well, its different...  i prefer vinyl too, but the internet allows everyone to do it i guess, you dont need thousands of pounds to release something... But the album will be on all formats.

If you could make a cover, which song would you choose and why?

        A band called "Can" and the songs called "spoon"...  Rubbish name, great song.

Do you have a message for your "fans"?

           Please Stay Calm.  



Thanx to Delphine Van Brackel for the pictures.

The Black Dove Experiment, Bull and Gate, Kentish Town, London 04 02 11