Following on from a string of highly-praised releases already this year, including 'Mommy Long Legs' and 'Jennifer Lawrence Of Arabia', LA-based indie-poppers The Jamóns are now back with their third single of 2020, 'Foolio'.
With its fresh and uplifting direction, 'Foolio' is a brass-filled dose of sunshine that we all need in our lives right now. Described as "a mixture of 70's AM radio pop and 80s sounds", their newest delight is the perfect soundtrack for heading off on a long road trip with a group of close friends (if that was something we could still do these days).
So with the band proving to be a hugely prolific addition to the new music landscape, we sat down with them to find out more about their earliest influences and what has inspired them over the years.
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What were the first instruments you fell in love with?
NICK: Growing up, my dad played a lot of jazz around the house and I would always be sucked into the grooves of those drummers. Always loved that big, live drum sound on those early recordings.
KENNEDY: The skin flute. I began playing it around 13 and haven't put it down since.
CHRIS: I started playing the piano at a very young age, but got bored of it after a few years, mainly because I had to sit in one place the whole time and play classical music. Then when I was 9, my mom turned me on to Kenny G, Dave Koz, and the smooth jazz scene. I was hooked on the saxophone.
BRANDT: When I was 12 I was listening to a lot of Guns N' Roses and I fell in love with Slash's guitar tone. Then I read that after GnR concerts the band members would arrive at their hotel to find the lobby packed with ladies and they would choose which ones they wanted to come up to their rooms. Naturally, I immediately decided to start playing guitar.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
KENNEDY: Women and God.
What kind of music did you love as teenagers?
BRANDT: The Jamóns began as a teenage ska punk band in the mid 1990s. So definitely punk rock and ska were big influences. If I could read about it in Maximum Rocknroll, buy a 7”record through the mail, or go see it live at a seedy club in Hollywood, then I was happy.
KENNEDY: I love UK bands like The Smiths, The Cure, and The Pogues as well as a lot of classic rock and DC punk / Discord bands like Fugazi.
NICK: I kinda listened to everything, but definitely loved 90s britpop, new wave, ska, and punk bands. Some faves would be INXS, The English Beat, PULP, and Fugazi.
CHRIS: I obsessively went through a ton of different phases. Anything from 90s hip hop & alternative, to jam bands, britpop & classic British rock, Fugazi, 60s jazz, African juju... I was always on the hunt for new stuff.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
KENNEDY: When I was 8 years old my parents got drunk and accidentally left me in a Charlie Brown's steakhouse. I was in there for hours playing checkers and listening to Jonie Mitchell's“Ladies Of The Canyon”on repeat until the Ventura County Sheriff's Department came and drove me home. Now every time I hear“Big Yellow Taxi”I compulsively wash my hands.
BRANDT: This question makes me think of the time when I was really into my cassette tape of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. I was listening to their song called Good Vibrations, and I excitedly told my dad he had to come hear it. I played it for him and he told me“It's not as good as The Beach Boys' Good Vibrations.” I was like “WHAT.”
NICK: ‘Need You Tonight’ by INXS. The perfect amount of sex, swagger, guitar and beat.
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
KENNEDY: Joni Mitchell.
NICK: It would vary from day to day, but I'm very much into discovering all kinds of new music. There is a great DJ here in LA, José Galván from KCRW, who has a daily playlist called“Music for Your Morning.”This guy exposes me to great new stuff everyday.
CHRIS: Something I've never heard before. Or Juana Molina. She's one of the few artists I can listen to pretty much anytime, anywhere, and be okay with it.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
BRANDT: You know, it's a mix. Some of our songs are about real people in our life — for example“Mommy Long Legs”was inspired by a wonderful ex-girlfriend of Kennedy's, and“Ska Pirate”is about a fascinating pirate we once befriended on an intercontinental voyage — but our songs also have a rich fantasy life, filled with humour and surrealism.
What have been the most memorable moments in your career so far?
KENNEDY: A few years ago I wrote and produced a song for an artist who is widely recognized as the R. Kelly of indie music. The song was named after my mom's address and I recently had a gold record made for her. She finally congratulated me for dropping out of college.
NICK: We once played a pretty big show opening for Reel Big Fish, and I got so stoned before the show that I forgot how to play drums for a song.
CHRIS: Performing on a medium-budget remake of“The Gong Show”and not winning.
BRANDT: When we were young we opened for The Aquabats at a roller rink on the central coast of California. You might say we peaked early.
Outside of music, what are your biggest passions?
BRANDT: We have an intense shared passion for the movie The Cable Guy.
If you weren't musicians, what other path do you think you might have taken?
KENNEDY: Professional floor guard at a roller rink, a dream I have brought to life. I'd also like to work at a plant nursery.
CHRIS: Fixing or building things.
BRANDT: Writing, making movies, baking cookies.
And what advice would you give to those looking to start a career in music?
BRANDT: Stay true to yourself, focus on what is uniquely you, and work harder than everyone else. Obviously we have not followed this advice, so take it with a grain of salt.
KENNEDY: All of my success came from short moments I put the least effort into. So I try to enjoy the massive amounts of free time in between.
NICK: Get a laptop and have a good song.
CHRIS: Spend the time to get really good at something, but don't take yourself or what you're doing too seriously. Branch out, explore a lot, and have fun.
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The Jamóns' latest single 'Foolio' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.