Let me introduce you to producer/artist ALLJOOK, real name Jo Osborne. Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa he moved to Bangor, Ireland when he was 14 and then to Brighton, England for a year to study music production and is back again in Bangor. I had a chance to ask ALLJOOK a few questions about his music and influences.
MH5: How did you get interested in music?
ALLJOOK: I got into making music through the technical side of it. I love the recording and shaping of sound when mixing and producing. I played a bit of guitar so I just ended up making my own music. Im pretty laid back about everything but when I decide that I want to actually do something I usually go all out. Which for making music means learning and exploring lots of instruments.
MH5: Very cool. Who has or are your influences in your music?
ALLJOOK: I love rich synths and take a lot inspiration from bands like Phoenix, Angus and Julia Stone for their acoustic awesomeness, The XX for their open sound and bands like the Postal Service for how they blend acoustic and electronic sounds.
MH5: I dig all those bands especially Angus Stone and all he has done. You have a unique name can you tell us what it means?
ALLJOOK: The name comes from.. well most people call me Jo and since my music so far is just me playing and producing everything its all me so.. All – JO – OK or ALLJOOK. Guitar, vocals and some percussion are the main instruments I record live and the rest I program in through my mac. All done in my attic studio.
MH5: It makes so much sense to me now. I was trying to guess but all I could think of was your music was ALL-JOOK(meaning danceable like a juke joint). Any touring planned?
ALLJOOK: I don’t have any touring planned. I struggle to organize my own day never mind organizing a tour. I would probably need some sort of manager for that. But it would be awesome to check out some different places. If I started making music with other people I would definitely appoint them to planning a tour.
MH5: I know what your saying about trying to organize your own day. My day never goes as planned. You will need a manager or someone to help out with that for sure. You have released an EP titled “Girls Can’t Catch Up” in 2010 and an album “Look With Your Hands” this past August. I’m always interested in how artists name themselves and their albums. How did you name your albums?
ALLJOOK: Both were named after the 4th track of each. The EP “Girls can’t catch up” was named after that track as I felt it explained my style as an artist best or at least the direction that I was going in at that time, also .. it was a bit of a cheeky name and I liked that. ”Look with your hands” was the first song I wrote for my first full length album and the song was the foundation of all the other tracks. It was also a nice blend of electronic and acoustic which is what I like. I chose to pick what I felt were quite strong tracks as the album titles as I think a lot of new listeners usually listen to the first track of an album and then jump to the title track. So I think these tracks need to express you well as an artist so that a listener will enjoy the rest of your music if you can capture them early on. This is what I like about being an independent artist, it means I can make all decisions like this myself.
MH5: I like. So what do you do when your not recording music? Do you have a job besides? Are you trying to make music your career?
ALLJOOK: I work as a cinema projectionist and I have some pretty fun situations with it, stuff can go really wrong which makes it awesome fun. Its also handy enough cause when things are working you have loads of time between films to either work on my own stuff or just go an sit in and watch a film. I’m not planning on making a career in the music scene. It’s tough for artists here but I’ll always be making music in some way because I love writing and the production side of it.
MH5: Cinema projectionist always sounded like a fun job to me as I love movies almost as much as music. Almost. Alright mate, last question. What are some artists you are currently listening to right now?
ALLJOOK: Bombay Bicycle Club, Kowalski are whats most played on the iPod at the moment and right now I am listening to Angus Stones new song “Broken Brights”. I also love the acoustic style of Benjamin Francis Leftwich, everything flows really nicely. Also enjoying the Glitch Mob. Their full album is a good listen through if your into electro. Some new artists that I like are Atlas Genius, Wilhelm Tell Me and also Eight Bit Tiger. They only have a couple of songs or ep’s out but they’re sounding good. Quite often I open up last.fm and just listen to unsigned artists or what is recommended to me through the music I listen to. Its great for that.
MH5: Nice picks. I love Bombay Bicycle Club and especially Angus Stone and all his work. Well I appreciate your time ALLJOOK and wish you the best as well as look forward to anything new from you. Thanks a ton!
Alright folks, there you have it. Check out tracks 2 and 5 off ”Look With Your Hands” below and then buy it here on his Bandcamp page and while your there download his EP for free. Stay in touch here on his Facebook page.
