After spending the last few months building and developing their sound, emerging Paris-based outfit JAXL have now unveiled their fun and catchy two-track collection 'Rise'.
Featuring the fresh and energetic offerings 'Dance With Me' and 'Run Away', these new releases make for an upbeat enjoyable introduction to their sound. Filled with killer rhythms and toe-tapping hooks, these guys are certainly here to get the party started.
So with the new collection available now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and influences over the years.
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What was the first instrument you learned to play?
Mike: the piano, but that thing wasn’t made for me, I turned to the acoustic guitar mainly to be able to sing any songs… that’s how I met Thom, on a student s’ birthday party where we ended up in a room playing together with 10 people stuck in it…
Thom : I started playing the guitar in High school and then learned the piano. In JAXL I play bass and produce drums even if it’s the great drummer Olivier Baldissera who plays on the record.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Mike: Aha Hunting High and Low in mid 80’s.
Thom : I remember listening to my whole parents´ record collection who owned lots of Beatles, Supertramp and Stones albums but the first record I remember owning was Michael Jackson’s Bad. It was mighty!
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
Mike: I formed Moop and then HyPE with Thom back in our mid 20’s to late 30’s… it sounded… younger.
Thom : I played in various bands such as Loft, Panic Station, The Jokers or Hype in which Mike was the lead singer. There always has been a special artistic chemistry between us and I knew that someday we would do music again. When the lock down came I took the opportunity to compose a bunch of songs and thought immediately that Mike would be the perfect singer!
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
Mike: There are zillions, but if I have to cut them down to three, I’d say Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, Grace by Jeff Buckley and The Pretender by the Foos.
Thom : I listen to a lot of music every day and like Mike there are a lot of songs that I wish I had written. I think Under the Bridge and wonderwall are among them but I’m amazed by Yesterday too. The melody is so powerfull and timeless.
What has been the most thrilling moment about creating your own music?
Mike: Creating songs that not only pleased me but actually also thrilled other people!
Thom : When you play chords on your guitar, humming some kind of giberish melody and then inspiration hits you : it works you know you have something. It’s like in a puzzle, everything fits right, like magic!
And what about the most frustrating part?
Mike: Having other people thrilled by our songs but not being able to make a living out of it.
Thom : When you know you’re about to find something but inspiration is not there and you drop it
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
Mike: Definitely the Foos.
Thom: I think Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys or why not Red Hot Chili Peppers!
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Mike: Alive & Kicking, wherever I may roam.
Thom: Still making music for sure!!
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JAXL's new release 'Rise' is available to stream now. Check out both of the new singles below.
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