A Jumpstart: an interview with Raz

by Rebecca Clark

"This band is the project of our lives and we know that we can make it"

-Raz

What made you want to become a musician? Was there a defining moment?
When I was 16, I went to a Sepultura show. It was in July 1996, and I just remember the intensity blew me away. There was a sincere trade between the band and the crowd and at the end of the show I was like "I want to be a Sepultura too", haha...

What is the story behind your band's name?
There's nothing really special about it actually. We just wanted to avoid those stereotypical "the" names, like "the Jumpstart" or "the black smelly socks from my bedroom closet" lol. It's simple and can be meaningful to a lot of people at the same time...

How would you describe your music to people? Are there any bands that you have been compared to?
Well, the cool thing is that we're always compared to different bands, even if some names often come back. We've been told sometimes that we sound like a compromise between brit power rock and emo with French touch style synth. It sounds like a honnest description to me; we've been compared to Weezer, Muse, Lost Prophets, Placebo, etc... A friend of mine told me once that we sound like a punky Strokes on dope, I liked that haha !

Can you describe the music scene over in France? Is it hard for bands like you guys to get any attention over there?
Not really, French are really known out of their borders for electronica. About the rock scene, it's like everywhere, there are very good things, very bad stuff as well. Things have been pretty easy for us actually, since lots of magazines and radio DJs over here dug our first demo, there's been a buzz around our name. We've had our songs on samplers and tons of radio air play, which is rare for a French band singing in English over here.

How did you learn to play your instrument(s)? Did you take lessons or did you teach yourselves?
Well I took vocal lessons during one year and I am planning to take some more. Miko actually gives drums lessons, Avedik took guitar lessons during 6 months and Yoan didn't take any.

What are your goals as a band? Are you doing it just for fun or do you want to make it your career?
We definitely want to make it our career, this band is the project of our lives, and we know that we can make it !

How did your family react when you told them what you wanted to pursue music as a career?

They are very supportive and we thank them for this !

What are you currently doing while you are trying to get your band going? (any exciting jobs?) 
Well, Miko was a session drummer for other bands that toured a lot in France and in Europe, so he made a living off it. Avedik just finished his contract at the Virgin Megastore , and Yoan and I just finished our contracts in our shitty factories.

Do you usually play at a lot of clubs or are you still in a "garage band" phase?
No actually we've been touring for one month. We played a show right next to Lyon then we've had a seven tour UK tour scheduled; for some reasons we only could play five out of them.

Are there any bands you would like to tour with if you had the chance ?
We would love to tour with anyone ! We don't care about who we're playing with, we just wanna play !

How has people/fans responded to your demo that you recorded? Has there been any good feedback?
Definitely ! Everyone just loved it, from editors in chefs in magazines, to radio DJs, from record labels people, and the most important : fans ! We were really surprised about all this !

Have fans who supported your former bands been supporting your new band?
Yeah !

Are you still in the market for a label? Have there been any interests from anyone?
Yes we are in the market, we've had solicitations from some major labels though but it was before we started to tour.

Are you hoping to get a deal with a label over in France or here in the states?
Any label, we're opened to any proposition.

What kind of music are you personally listening to right now?
Miko just made me discover Fiona Apple, I love her voice, her song writing style and her lyrics ! I am also in love with Radiohead's OK Computer since I bought it... About heavier stuff, the latest Muse, Cave In and Blindside... Even if we enjoyed playing that kind of music, there is not a lot of heavy stuff that moved me lately.

Where do you hope to be in five years?
in stadiums !!!!!

What can fans do to help spread the word about your band?
Check out our Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/ajumpstart and go to our Web site (http://www.ajumpstart.com ) and subscribe to our newsletter ! or just spread our name around you !!!

Are there any last words you would like to add?
Thanks a lot for the interview !!