Jagara is London-based producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist, Jane. Building on a sonic world with her producer sisters, Cat & Ruth, their sound fuses powerful harmonised vocals, eclectic beats, deep basslines and emotive synths with new wave elements. Citing influences including Kate Bush, The Knife and Björk, their electric new single features in the new 2022 season of Netflix’s series, Elite. Having previously played alongside Bastille and Nilüfer Yanya, Jagara will be back soon with their dynamic, multi-instrumental live show and a full-length album.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Jagara. What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
Hey! I think my ability to pretend I don't know certain rules, so that I can create freely, but an acknowledgement that I also genuinely don't know all the rules and am always learning/un-learning and collaborating in order to develop, if that makes sense? Aside from that, I have a hugely eclectic taste in music (Boards of Canada, Radiohead, Sia, Rosalía, Aphex Twin, DjRUM, Durutti Column, Andy Stott, Sevdaliza, Trentemoller, Melanie de Basio, Sudan Archives, Sault, Curtis Mayfield, El Michels Affair, Altın Gün, Tirzah, Coby Sey, Puma Blue, Kadhja Bonet, Gabor Szabo, Khruangbin, Henry Mancini, Mahler, Bach (to name a few) and can also be inspired in a number of ways, sometimes from a place outside of music.
What is your dream project?
That is a big question, so I'll just go with a dream project that came up in conversation recently, which would be to do an A/V show, featuring choreography at Somerset House (dreaming is free). I've taken some dance classes with two choreographers - one based in Berlin and one based in London. I would like to give more time to this, as movement is really essential for Jagara's music going forward and I think visual aspects can be so powerful for the music. It's also great to bring other collaborators into this, so that it becomes a conversational experience.
Your latest track is 'Into the Night'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
I see Into the Night as a transitional song for Jagara because it went through quite a slow development process to end up where it is. I began it in 2018 while based in London where the first versions were created. When I started working with Damjan Blazun, a producer in Berlin, it was in its next phase of production with the proper fleshing out of drums and new synth ideas. Safe to say it was an adrenalin-fuelled studio experience. I spent time on other tracks before returning to the production in late 2020 while I was living in Berlin and the final mix and master was done by Curtis Selvidge in the summer of this year.
What makes you angry?
If we're talking more broadly, I get angry when people litter (naturally), I get angry at people who don't allow themselves or anyone else to be emotional, even when it's justified (in fact, that usually makes me more sad than angry), I get angry when cafes in London charge you a lot for a dry sandwich (I don't think it's that hard to make something tasty), I get angry at scamming (I definitely had my confidentiality compromised this past year!), I get angry at the assuming of gender roles without a willingness to adapt, I get angry at politicians who apologise but make the same mistakes again, I get angry at myself when I have missed a key detail or failed to grow, although that happens less now (the answer is, do less and you'll do better). I think I'll stop there.
What is the most surprising fact you’ve learnt about yourself?
I am more resilient than I thought and more questioning of authority than I used to be. I am also way more interested in different types of politics (moreso in the history behind it) and sexual dynamics/expectations. I have also noticed that I really do run on adrenalin and am basically still a child at heart - the surprising thing is I have now accepted it, as I used to feel bad about that.
What do you dislike about your work?
I dislike the fact that I don't seem to have enough time for it and also that I could still be more experimental with it, but that will take more time. I always have crticisms, which is useful to a point and I think it's only natural to be that way so that you try out something new or something you assume wouldn't work when it actually does. I believe in the slow-cook theory as I am a late bloomer but I dislike the fact that I can't be as productive as I was just three years ago - definitely a result of the pandemic and what it did to our sense of time, as well our body memory.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Stay connected, even when you need time to yourself. Move in some way every day and never go a day without some sort of musical, rhythmic, comedic or creative inspiration. Even if it's just a one-liner. It's a bit like the Oblique Strategies cards...one of those can set the tone or provide the question or answer for the day, if you are unsure of how to set the tone or ask/answer for yourself.
Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it?
It was during the pandemic but previous to that, I really enjoyed working alone while I was still learning a lot about the fundamentals of production. Now, I tend to work more collaboratively and see it as a healthy way of working and it makes the solitary time refreshing - right now I am working alone again and enjoying it. I would say I have enough outside interests not to get lonely - martial arts class, jogs in the open air, coffee mornings, dinners at friends' houses, MUBI watching (my idea of heaven) and community experiences.
What do you think is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen or experienced?
The most recent example I can think of was a hot air balloon ride at 6am in Tuscany while I was on a family holiday. I heard some gushing wind noise right outside the villa as my room looked out onto the main vista, so I stepped out before making coffee and saw two balloons passing by over the hills. It was so quiet at that time in the morning and I was completely transfixed. I filmed it, of course. But you know, it could actually be as simple as having a tasty cup of coffee in a good sun spot, reading a book and knowing that you have the next two hours like this.
What are your plans for the future?
Specific and open-ended. We will keep working as much as possible to fund Jagara and will also look for funding opportunities. The plan is to release an album next year but we are currently planning the next single release, along with a music video. We will go back to live performances in Feb, so stay tuned...