Buzz Blog

Checking back in with local music, rock-reggae act Jahnre kicked off their western US tour this past Thursday. With their new album out and a strong following, the band is on the road for the next few weeks, due back by month's end. I got a chance to chat with the group in advance before heading out, as well as the supporting acts for their kickoff show at Kilby Court, Heroes Of Fiction and Tamer Begum. ---

Tamer Begum

Gavin: Hey Tamer. First off, tell us a little about yourself.

Tamer: My name is Tamer Begum, I'm currently a sophomore at Westminster College studying music and medicine. I work at Snowbird ski resort, I love nature, and I have a passion for music.

Gavin: What got you interested in music, and who were some of your favorite acts and musical influences growing up?

Tamer: I think my mom got me into music from a young age, teaching me children songs. But my first memory of loving music wasn't until I was introduced to the music by Bob Marley, simply because my family and I used to love to sing his lyrics.

Gavin: How did you first get started performing around?

Tamer: I have to big-up my good friend Zach Moon on this one. We've been friends since junior high days, and he knew that I was into making music so he called me up with an opportunity to open for one of his shows. From then on I've been hooked.

Gavin: Why did you choose to go solo as opposed to forming a group or being in a band?

Tamer: Umm, it wasn't really a choice. I mean I love playing with a band don't get me wrong, but I've found it enjoyable to play to the beat of my own tempo. Looking for committed musicians who share the same style as mine hasn't been easy, but they will come.

Gavin: Being a solo act, do you prefer more intimate shows or larger crowds, and why?

Tamer: Bigger the better. I like sharing my music and voice with everybody.

Gavin: Are there any plans in the works for an album, or just playing gigs for now?

Tamer: Yes! I've been recording consistently for a few months now doing one man band recordings. Mixing in my own drum beats, bass and piano rifts to my existing guitar and vocal tracks. I'm planning on within the next few weeks on having it all recorded.

Gavin: A little state-wide, what are your thoughts on the local music scene, both good and bad?

Tamer: I think SLC has a good local music scene, with a lot of talent. But I've yet to discover another band that has the same complexity and good sound that Jahnre has. Big Ups to them.

Gavin: Is there anything you believe could be done to make it better?

Tamer: I feel that it's up to the musicians to make it better if they feel somethings wrong.

Gavin: Who are your favorite acts in the scene right now?

Tamer: Locally – Jahnre for sure, Solar Euphoria, there's a few more I just can't think of there names. More known I'd say Rebelution, and Slightly Stoopid.

Gavin: What do you think of the current trends in music that are getting radio play today?

Tamer: Sometimes I can't believe the shit that's being played on the radio now a days. But I mean I honestly feel that within the next year, reggae music and hip-hop will be on top.

Gavin: What can we expect from you the rest of the year?

Tamer: Album release, and a band of my own to tour with Jahnre.

Gavin: Is there anything you'd like to promote or plug?

Tamer: Keep a look out for my upcoming MySpace page, and more mellow music! One Love.


Heroes Of Fiction (Spy, Josh. Emylea, Shea and Wyatt)

http://www.myspace.com/heroesoffiction/

Gavin: Hey guys, first off, tell us a little about yourselves.

Josh: Well me... I just love music and hate the world, but wish to some day wish to have an impact on the world for the better.

Spy: I train with the black belts and I get black eyes every week, no but, uh, I have soul! I shouldn't have been drinking, I love music, I love life, and my family, without it or them I would be in a six foot grave.

Shea: I just want it to be known that I look good.

Emylea: Peace and love, mofo. No, but really.

Gavin: What got you interested in music, and who were some of your favorite acts and musical influences growing up?

Josh: Well, music has been my easiest form of expression. Sublime, Kurt Cobain and the rest of my heroes are fictional.

Spy: What go me into music is culture, how music brings people together. Anywhere from punk rock, reggae, and hip-hop.

Shea: Music is everywhere. Influences as listed above, and oh yeah, Elvis.

Wyatt: The Eagles... that got me into music.

Emylea: My bro Josh, uh, influences... Fergie?

Gavin: How did you all get together to form Heroes Of Fiction?

Wyatt: Well me and Josh jammed out for awhile just the two of us. It was like, four years. Josh was playing with a few bands and me and him really only played together every so often. Well some bands broke up and some shit happened, long story blah blah blah. So we decided to form a band. Me and Josh eventually got Spy to come in and start playing drums. And Shea came in about five months later when Spy said he'd have someone to maybe play keyboard for us. But Shea actually ended up playing second guitar and from there it just kind of took off. Emylea came in about just six months ago, her and josh wrote a song together and now shes just apart of everything. HOF at two years strong still going on.

Gavin: What was it like for you recording the demo you've had out for a while?

Wyatt: It was fun. A great experience. We all learned a lot from it. We got the funding for it by winning third place at a battle of the bands, at the next big thing and went to Rock Solid Studios. Thanks Eric! Can't wait to get back in there.

Gavin: How did the opportunity come about to record the live show at New Song?

Shea: Well I set up a show for us and this band Sprockets who was touring from Vegas at New Song Underground. Then things went crazy and they ended up not playing. So us, CruciFixation, and Sandapile had a lot longer set times than planned. I talked to the sound guy at New Song, and he offered up a live, unedited recording for tens bucks so we jumped on the offer. It was sick! So local bands go check it out.. great offer.

Gavin: Was there any preparing for it before recording it, and what do you think of the finished product?

Shea: We just practiced a few times, went to the show, had a few drinks and played one hell of a show. Considering Spy had a broken foot at the time, we are all way impressed with the final project. I mean, drums like that, with a broken foot... he's got skill.

Gavin: Do you guys prefer the DIY approach to doing things?

Wyatt: Yeah for sure, we prefer not to do it any other way. and we don't have the funds. Haha!

Gavin: Are there any plans in the works for an album, or just mainly playing for now?

Wyatt: Yeah there is, but for now we've been busy just playing.

Gavin: A little state-wide, what are your thoughts on the local music scene, both good and bad?

Josh: I think that metal in Utah is thriving but everything else is getting drowned because of all the metal.

Spy: I think people are to caught up in their stage presence rather than how they sound. I'm hoping reggae music will start coming back. I hope were helping.

Shea: I'm just going to plug some bands. CruciFixation, Sandapile, Sean Oyler and Problem Daughter.

Emylea: I think that people put enough heart and soul into their music.

Wyatt: Yeah, I would defiantly like to see something other than metal come out of Utah.

Gavin: Is there anything you believe could be done to make it better?

Josh: I think if community participated more it would grow like wild fire and catch the hearts of every young persons heart.

Spy: I believe it could be better if people had more of an open mind and try to concentrate on keeping more diversity in the show and stop trying to keep just one style of music at a show. I like shows with multiple styles.

Shea: Better venues, less narrowed minded uneducated douche-bags and more hot babes.

Wyatt: I agree with Shea.

Emylea: Yeah, just mix it up.

Gavin: Who are your favorite acts in the scene right now?

Josh: JAHNRE!

Spy: Yeah JAHNRE.. but Sandapile's gotta be up there too. Of course CruciFixation.

Shea: Sandapile cause they look so good, and yeah CruciFixation.

Emylea: Devine Write, even though they broke up.

Wyatt: Band of Annuals.

Gavin: What do you think of the current trends in music that are getting radio play today?

Wyatt: This could take a while! Ha! We think a lot of talented artist are being overlooked and ignored because they don't have the corporation support and their lack of faith in the music. Thanks for keepin' it real KRCL!

Gavin: What's your take on file sharing these days and how it affects you as a musician?

Shea: Well, as poor musicians, with poor friends, we try to play as many free shows as we can. Yeah we charge for shirts and shit, but we like to try and do a lot of free stuff. So... we don't mind.

Wyatt: That's gay.

Gavin: What can we expect from you the rest of the year?

Wyatt: More shows... new songs coming up. Potential shows with big names... and hopefully recording.

Gavin: Is there anything you'd like to promote or plug?

Josh: The Venus Project... Look it up.

Spy: Fuck Cancer!

Shea: Summer Of Death 09' September 19 WOOHOOOOOO!!! New Song show on October 26^th Free if you dress up!!! And Sandapile.

Emylea: Tom shoes... word!

Wyatt: Venus Project will fail.


Jahnre (John Pruitt, Dan Dowsett, Zach Moon and Buzz Stringham)

http://www.myspace.com/jahnre

Gavin: Hey guys, first off, tell us a little about yourselves.

Jahnre: Well, John Pruitt plays bass at and is an intern who currently works at Mayor, Ralph Becker's office and is trying to lower the drinking age to 18. Buzz Stringham plays lead guitar and contrary to popular belief, is not strung out on heroin but is in fact an insomniac. Zach Moon, lead singer and rhythm guitar player, loves singing songs about things he doesn't know about and road raging around the Salt Lake Valley. Dan Dowsett enjoys sweating, eating tuna fish from Blue Plate, the color plaid, and playing drums.

Gavin: What got you interested in music, and who were some of your favorite acts and musical influences growing up?

Jahnre: We all have similar interests in bands and artists, such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime, Bob Marley, and many other genres of music that combine elements of rock, reggae, funk, and fusion. On an individual basis, Buzz Stringham was influenced to play music by the Red Bennies and Dispatch. Zach Moon listened to a lot of Dave Matthews Band and Grateful Dead when he was younger and was influenced to start playing guitar and song writing by his father who plays in Pittsburgh. Dan Dowsett was dosed with copious amounts of Jimmy Buffet as a child, and cites his main musical inspiration from Tower of Power and I Mother Earth. John Pruitt started playing bass after listening to Bill Haley and the Comits, and enjoys listening to Parliament.

Gavin: How did you all get together to form Jahnre?

Jahnre: John and Zach met in 8^th Grade through our mutual friend Sean Monaco at a bonfire in his backyard. He said he played bass and I said I played some guitar, so we went into his house and jammed for a couple hours. The rest was kind of history. We played a lot with Sean and were introduced to a good friend and drummer, Ashton Aragon. We knew we had to come up with a name so we came up with "Jahnre" and played a couple shows. However, we knew we needed a lead guitar player and we happened to stumble upon Buzz Stringham when we found him sun bathing on top of a roof in the avenues. He said he played guitar, and it turns out we had some mutual friends through school. We tried him out a few days later and knew it was a great fit. In our most recent year, we went through changes in drummers due to school and opportunities that a rose for Ashton and the band. We now have Dan Dowsett as our talented and original banger of drums and have played with him since last summer. We have also parted ways with our great and unbelievably versatile friend, Sean Monaco, who is working on a solo project and will have an album out in the coming months.

Gavin: What was it like for you guys to develop your sound into a more rock version of the traditional reggae sounds?

Jahnre: It was a pretty natural progression for us to create the sounds that are heard in our self titled album. However, there were definitely times where the songs and sounds we were looking for were on different levels emotionally and musically, and we couldn't reach them. We are constantly searching for our next move in musicality, song writing, lyricism, and anything else that will make us progress and continue to be satisfied with what we are playing. Also, we feel that the positive and interactive communication between us as band mates contributes to our development of original, yet versatile music.

Gavin: How was it for you recording the self-titled album?

Jahnre: It was definitely a learning experience. We worked with Herc Oppenheimer recording this record. He provided sound musical production advice, and always gave it with a take it or leave it attitude. We laid down all the tracks in a live setting with a scratch vocal, so it was a lot like playing a show. We were broke (and are still broke) so the mixing processes took a little longer then we had hoped.

Gavin: What was the public reaction like to it once it was released, and how did you take it?

Jahnre: From what we hear, people are digging it. We are constantly trying to find new ways to market the CD, but it's a slow process. We are fairly confident that if we do get a label, or get a new fan base on our tour, that the young music listeners will go ape shit over our licks. If not, thats a bummer.

Gavin: You're unsigned at the moment. Are you looking for a label or planning to stay more of a DIY band?

Jahnre: If we get signed to a label that's down to let us do what we want, with distribution and representation that is satisfactory, then we would be thrilled. Otherwise, we'd love to try and handle it ourselves, but this latest CD production took a tole on our pockets.

Gavin: Tell us a bit about the tour your headed on ands when you'll be back.

Jahnre: It's not a huge tour, but we took what we can get. We are starting with two shows in Vegas, and moving on to Santa Barbara, OC Tavern in San Clemente, and ending with a show on Sunset Strip at Rainbow Bar and Grill. Three of us go to the U of U, and we get back the day before school starts.

Gavin: A little state-wide, what are your thoughts on the local music scene, both good and bad?

Jahnre: Music in SLC is under attended, under-appreciated, under-payed, and 10 years behind places like Austin and Portland. We wish some venues would appreciate the music a little more. We've been kicked off bills, been asked to pre-sale tickets that don't exist, and have been asked to play unrealistic set times--but needless to say it could be a lot worse. Some places in Utah don't have a music scene at all, and we a proud and excited to start our careers here. The family and fans that come to every show and support us no matter what the cost truly make the Salt Lake Valley a unique place to play music.

Gavin: Is there anything you believe could be done to make it better?

Jahnre: The big venues in the city like The Depot, The Avalon, In The Venue, and Salt Air are venues that have great sound and are of high quality. These venues usually don't have a lot of local showcases, and when they do, the emphasis seems more on making money rather than promoting good local music. We would suggest having weekly or monthly reggae or funk nights, and jams sessions with local and touring acts among these venues. Some of these events could even be day long festival type shows that attract more fans from out of state to see a band they like, and meanwhile expose them to Utah's local music scene. Also, we really dig (among with the entire city) the Thursday night Twilight Series concerts at the Gallivan Center. It would be prime to see a Twilight Concert Series possibly in the fall or in the spring that promotes local bands.

Gavin: Who are your favorite acts in the scene right now?

Jahnre: We dig Periodic Table Of Funk, God's Revolver, SpearIt, the Red Bennies, and the Lionelle. DJ Ilberto is also a good friend and talented chap.

Gavin: What do you think of the current trends in music that are getting radio play today?

Jahnre: We are all big fans of THE local radio station KRCL 90.9 FM, and dig a lot of the music played on that station. KRCL is a great way to discover good local music. As for other radio stations, it takes the wind out of my sail when I turn on the radio and have to listen to the exact same songs just with different lyrics that are completely emotionless, pointless, repetitive and meant for little tingling twelve year-old girls. I mean I love jamming at a party with my friends to Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus, but I think it is time we can turn on the radio and have some more variety and talent.

Gavin: What's your take on file sharing these days and how it affects you as a musician?

Jahnre: Now a days it is pretty impossible to tell people they can't illegally download music they love. If people are into us and really want our music then do what you please. However, it is a hard business and if we love the music and the people that are making it, then we will buy there album and support the arts. I suggest the public to think about it a little bit.

Gavin: What can we expect from you the rest of the year?

Jahnre: We are going on this tour and we will be constantly promoting and looking for shows all over the valley and the Western U.S. We are expecting to book weekend gigs in the Denver/ Boulder area, Northern California, Portland, and back to So Cal. Whatever we can get our hands on, we will be there.

Gavin: Is there anything you'd like to promote or plug?

Jahnre: Other than our CD of course, we want to emphasize that it is important to just get out and play with as many musicians as possible. We hope to meet as many musicians and talented people on the road and locally as possible.