Interview with Jazzykat
“Jazzykat’s world of music is infused with multi-genres, electronica, experimental, soul, chillout and synthpop. Her wide range of ‘eclectic moods’ come together to form the sound that we have been hearing for many months on WEATNU [OUR]. Along with her career as a solo musician, it was finally time to bring her words in text-form to the light here on #WEATNU DM.”
Corbin: First and foremost I would like to thank you for taking the time to let me interview you Kathryn.
Jazzy: It’s my pleasure.
Corbin: I understand you have a new album coming out. What is the name going to be?
Jazzy: World Upside Down
Corbin: I’ve grown accustomed to you innovative style. Is this album jumping these boundaries?
Jazzy: I made an album a while back named Eclectic Moods, and that pretty much sums up what to expect from me each time I release something new. Each song will always be different, I keep the music interesting that way.
Corbin: Since listening to your interview with Almark, I have been wondering when we may hear some Jazzy vocals?
Jazzy: If you mean will I ever sing on a song? No, I don’t foresee that happening.
I put so much thought and feeling in each song, I just don’t feel the need to sing. I can sing but even if I’m listening to Electronic music in private, I prefer instrumentals.
Corbin: Not even a little vocoder?
Jazzy: I’ve never used one. I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for the versatility of my songs. I will say that this new album has four new songs and six singles. I have wandered into some new territories in each song, such as, Nu Disco, New Wave, Electronica and Techno.
I do remember a song called Sunset Bay I made years ago, and I introduced the song in a sultry ladies DJ voice, resembling The Fog movie.
Corbin: If you could come across a link for that, what a treat to hear your voice!
Jazzy: I’ll get with Almark, see what we can do. Didn’t you hear me speaking in the interview with him?
Corbin: Of course! That’s what spawned the question.
Jazzy: Oh, you liked that hummm
I do have an Oklahoma accent.
Corbin: Accents help to build character across the microphone. Being from the South myself I often wonder if it comes across in my own vocals. Your voice is also quite unique.
Jazzy: In my younger days I played piano bars all over Tulsa, played at the Camelot Inn for several years, singing some of the songs that people requested, and I did enjoy singing.
Corbin: So what changed?
Jazzy: I found Electronic Music and fell in love because it came at a time when there was a lull in good music. I was burned out on classic rock and Synthpop had dissolved so when I first heard Moby, Dzihan and Kamien, The Dining Rooms, Thievery Corporation, I knew that I wanted to do what they were doing.
Actually, my son encouraged me because of my musical ability and although I was new to computers, I began to play around with Ableton. Learned it very easily and went on from there.
Corbin: The first time I heard Porcelian by Moby I was in awe! It really changed my outlook on the whole band scene. Since your last voice interview with WEATNU you have been quite busy and even started your own Chillout/Electronic group on Facebook. What started this ball rolling?
Jazzy: Because I know how it feels to have an all consuming fire inside to be really good at Electronic music, practice makes perfect and although I don’t need stardom, a few fans would be nice. I wanted Electronic musicians to feel important and I know how it feels to be totally ignored after you have spent months working on a project that you think is YOU. I can’t be someone else because of my deep seeded desire to make good music and besides, if I never make a dime, it’s a challenge and it’s fun to hear the end product.
Our motto in The Electronic/Chillout Musician’s Circle came from my heart to every musician that I have in my Circle “Everyone needs praise – it keeps us motivated.”
I belong to twelve musical groups and none of them do promotion like I do in the Circle. They need to want to be in the Circle and mostly they just want to be HEARD.
Corbin: Your member numbers are growing astronomically, care to comment on this feat?
Jazzy: I’ve noticed that too, I guess I would have to say “word of mouth,” some of the musicians, especially the ones in Europe must be trying to make the Circle a “household word,” that’s okay.
Corbin: Very much so! Does it encompass a lot of your time to oversee this group?
Jazzy: I have made an organized system so I can keep track of their names, the songs that person uploads, the albums, the videos and the links they have included so I can refer the public to their outside music.
Corbin: I often wonder what artists do for work, as it subconsciously fuels their creative essence. I am an auto technician by day, what is your livelihood?
Jazzy: I am a retired legal secretary and musician.
Corbin: So with the new album almost complete, aside from its promotion what is the next move for Jazzykat?
Jazzy: Let me offer you some information about my musical endeavors. I have made five albums and one EP through Weatnu and in answer to your question I will continue to make Electronic music and learn and use new genres in my albums and singles. On albums such as, Vanilla Crunch, and Think about your Future on Weatnu Records.
Corbin: Very good! Keep them coming. I read your article on Thom Yorke here in #WEATNU Digital Magazine. Are you going to be writing some more articles in the near future? How about any collaborations coming up?
Jazzy: Yes, indeed, I really enjoy doing those articles. I will be doing new articles about Electronic Pioneers and I have been debating about something new in the magazine, I think I will also start a new article regarding 80’s Synthpop Superstars, that should be interesting.
Since the ever popular Glory Be, we’ll call it, I haven’t given it much thought. With the Circle promotions and making new music I probably wouldn’t have time.
Corbin: Yes MDS is a super huge project!! Do you think the Chillout/Electronic group will get together for something like that venture?
Jazzy: We are so new, it’s really hard to say right now.
Corbin: I listen to everything WEATNU had to offer as a moderator for our soundcloud account. When I play your music at work, people instantly turn their heads, and yet there are vocals to speak of. What you bring to the WEATNU movement is quite unique. Do you feel that your music influences others or is it your persona? Or both?
Jazzy: All I do is pour out the beats I love, the percussion, which gives that song an edge of surprise, or whatever you indeed want the song to sound like. The chords you play, the sequences are very important while keeping it lively. The kick is a vital important asset today and the melodies are just as important. I really want people to enjoy my music and hopefully they feel that desire when they hear them…I hope so!
When I begin a new song, it must be different, in most respects, a catchy bass intro, merging with a good-sounding kick, maybe some fx and go from there, as they say, “it’s your thing….do what you wanna do.”
Corbin: Great reference! Your albums are such an “easy listen” not to be confused with the genre “easy listening”. I put on Bufinger‘s album and had an entire dashboard and heater core out of a vehicle in 2 hours. I’m listening to you now and taking my time with a rather large job I’m doing now. I don’t have to change the channel or turn it down as people come by trying to communicate with me. That is something very unique about your music, its flow and architecture. Care to elaborate?
Jazzy: I would really like to try something heavier, but so far the song Eccentric Minds is probably the heaviest I have done. In fact, I have included it in the new album.
In answer to your last question, I will say that has to do with Almark’s mastering. He’s very particular about the audio sound in the music he is working on.
Corbin: Your songs seem to cover a wide range of musical influences. Are there a couple of genres in particular that you feel have shaped the course of your music career?
Jazzy: In the sixties, R&B, Pop, Funk, Soul and Jazz. The seventies had Marvin Gaye, Huey Lewis, The GAP Band from Tulsa, James Brown, The Doobies and The Commodores. Jazz was still popular with Dave Brubeck and others. Hall & Oates, Led Zeppelin and Disco were popular, and there was a huge variety of genres to choose from. I liked all of these.
I guess my music has been influenced by all these genres and now they are mixed with Electronic, Experimental, Dance, Techno, and now NewWave, NuDisco and Electronica.
Corbin: Besides your DAW of choice, what other instruments do you use regularly in your recordings?
Jazzy: Along with Ableton, I use an Axiom Air MIDI Keyboard with Nexus software which gives me a wide variety of beats, pads and instruments, such as piano, bass and drum pads, mixed in with fx sounds. I am now composing new songs with more keyboard beats, and melodies. I also play the accordian and the ukelele, haha just kidding.
Corbin: I must say Kathryn it has been a real pleasure being able to get a better understanding on what makes your music so unique. Is there anything else you would care to comment on?
Jazzy: Please buy my new album. That’s It! Thanks Corbin for your support.
#WEATNU Digital Magazine – Interview by Corbin Roof
Intro by Almark
Pre-order Jazzykat’s latest album ‘World Upside Down’ On Weatnu Records.
4 Brand new songs appear on this album.
