UK indie pop outfit Jody and the Jerms have released their buoyant new single 'Started Something', the first taste of their forthcoming full-length album 'Wonder', out in April via their own JATJ Records imprint. Their third album to date, this new collection of 12 tracks was produced, mixed and mastered by RIDE frontman Mark Gardener at his OX4 Sound Studio in Oxfordshire. Loaded with a healthy dose of melodic chrystallised indie pop that is heartfelt and honest, they present endearing jangle-pop songs that are both evocative and relatable. Championed by the late Janice Long at BBC, among others, Jody and the Jerms is a collective revolving around Jody Jeger (vocals) and Niall Jeger (guitars and vocals) with other band members coming from The Anydays, who have graced the pages of NME, played with Radiohead and Supergrass, and were featured on Mark Radcliffe at BBC Radio 2.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Niall and Jody. First off, how did each of you end up making music and how did you end up doing it together as Jody and the Jerms?
Niall: Well I taught myself guitar when I was about 14 years old. The family had just moved to Texas from the UK, and an uncle gave me a copy of Give em’ Enough Rope by The Clash to ensure my English roots stuck and I didn't listen to too much country or heavy rock. I learnt to play that album basically and still have it and love it. When we came back to the UK, a few years later, I ended up playing bass in a couple of bands from Oxford. Fast forward a few decades to 2019, I finally started writing songs and decided to put a band together.
We were about to go into a studio together as a trio to demo, but the singer pulled out as he got a lead role in a musical in London's West End. So I asked Jody to have a go at singing. She had never been in a band before or sung (other than a school performance of Bugsy Malone). She was very nervous but sounded great - and a few weeks later our first single Never Going Home was out and being played on national radio in Spain and on BBC Introducing.
Jody: Back in 2019 I was completely new to this and it all felt very alien. But now I really enjoy writing these songs with Niall. Living together gave us the opportunity to write, sing, and get better, every day which has really helped us develop. Half the band we put together in 2020 were also very new to this, yet old friends, so it has given us all a real tight bond, renewed friendship and energy.
Niall: I was always the sort of guitarist who could come up with bits of songs or riffs, but working on these songs with Jody turned them into the finished tunes on three albums. Writing together has been amazing.
Who has inspired and helped you most along the way in your musical journey?
Jody: With 6 of us in the band, we all help and inspire each other really. Obviously we have met some amazing people along the way who have helped us in the studio, getting on the radio and press, and on the road. The legend Janice Long played us a lot and invited us to do a session shortly before she died. Rodney Bingenheimer in the US has played lots of our tracks which is lovely too, as has Frank Skinner in the UK. Support from DJs, producers and writers everywhere is amazing. We are also currently working with Shameless Promotion PR and they’ve ensured we’ve gotten press and radio coverage in a few dozen countries already.
Your latest release is 'Started Something', the lead track off your new 'Wonder' LP, produced by RIDE's very own Mark Gardener. Can you tell us about this album and its creation?
Jody: We wrote and recorded Wonder over the course of 8 months. Mainly with Mark at his OX4 Studio which was amazing, but also a few tracks with Mike Bannard at SafeHouse in Oxford, who had worked on our second album Flicker.
Working with Mark was great. He really helped me with any nerves I had, and definitely brought out the best in my singing. Also, as he's a 'singer', he totally gets what it's like to sing in a s studio, as well as sharing useful tips. Most importantly for me, he's just a really lovely person and great to be around especially when you're making art. His studio is also beautiful, which is extremely conducive to musical productivity.
Niall: Quite often Jody and I write the songs at home and demo with a phone recording, The first time the band comes together to play them is in the studio. Everyone then brings their own ideas for their parts - and it always seems to work. I guess that can appear quite chaotic sometimes but Mark managed all that so well.
What issues, and perhaps even social problems / causes, are you most passionate about? Would you say that these influence your music?
Jody: Having two daughters makes us very aware of the challenges kids face and how important support and nurturing is to children’s development. Also, feminism and how hard it still is for women in the music industry. Look at the recent Brit Awards for Best Artist category (supposedly gender neutral). Not one female made it to the shortlist, despite this Country having some absolutely fantastic female artists such as Florence and Charli XCX.
Mental health is so important too for all of us. Music has been very cathartic for me and helped me deal with a bunch of stuff.
Niall: A lot of our songs reflect what we see around us - be that a special relationship, bad people, or out of touch, selfish and pathetic so-called leaders (check out our song Contrition or Shiver on Flicker).
How do you deal with the challenge of handling everything as an independent music artist?
Niall: I enjoy the challenge. There is so much that independent artists can do proactively. And there is so much satisfaction when you meet new people at gigs, and when people buy your record.
It's always been that way. Back in the early 90s, indie music meant independent roots, and a lot of the bands from that period we love worked so hard and invested so much, before a big label came their way.
Jody: As I'm so new at this, I find it can be really hard work, even soul destroying at times. I guess Niall has tougher skin than me. I've taken on the 'Admin' side of things for the Band and so spend a lot of time applying for Gigs, Festivals etc. And organising 5 men in the band to rehearse altogether, and get dates where we are all free at the same time for a Gig, isn't the easiest!
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest musical trends?
We listen to our fans, they tell us how they listen to music and buy it, they tell us what they like, what we remind them of, and who we should check out. All the Jerms have very different musical influences that work most of the time, so we don't look to any trends really to influence what we are doing. Where we are lucky enough to get on the radio and be written about, we listen to the music by others that is also featured - there is so much good stuff out there. Also on tour last year we met some very cools bands and artists who were really inspiring.
What’s an average day like for you? Is music an integral part of it?
Niall. Up early. Plan the day ahead. Stick on the radio. Day job work with radio on or a playlist, breaks to drink coffee and play guitar and sing with Jody. Taking the dog for a long walk in the woods is a great way to come up with a song idea. Rehearsals or gigs a couple of times a week.
What has the response to your new single been like from radio, fans and the blogosphere?What is the interaction like with fans online versus at your live shows?
Started Something seems to be going down really well, We have released a lot of songs in the past three years with many getting really good radio and press and that continues across our back catalogue which is great.
Meeting people at shows is the best. We all love talking to people after a concert and usually drinking late into the night with them. Our online channels like Bandcamp, our socials and jodyandthejerms.com help us keep in touch with fans Worldwide who can't make it to shows.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to become a musician or music producer in this current climate?
Jody: Be bold. Challenge yourself, and create music with passion.
Niall: Don't forget it's supposed to be fun, and for friendship. Anything else is a bonus!
Are you touring this year? Where and when? What else does 2023 hold for Jody and the Jerms?
Yes - we have lots of UK dates between now and the end of the year with many more to be announced jodyandthejerms.com/live We hope to get to Spain in September and maybe a couple of US shows where we have some amazing fans. Steve, our drummer, is in Chicago right now looking into a few things. Come find us at jodyandthejerms.bandcamp.com/album/wonder
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL LINKS:
www.facebook.com/jodyandthejerms
www.instagram.com/jodyandthejerms
www.youtube.com/channel/UCWdNErJj9w2V3-1FXdkRGRw