Backstage Pass - Piqued Jacks - Interview

ATP

What is the title of your new CD? How did you come up with the name?

PIQUED JACKS

The LP's title is "Climb LIke Ivy Does", a phrase which was in the draft lyrics for "Reign of Clouds" (the first song) but wasn't included in the final version. E-King remembered of it and everybody immediately felt its conncetion with all the songs in the album and the messages we wanted to send.

ATP

Is this your first CD and if not, how is this one different from the others?

PIQUED JACKS

Yes and no. We've worked on three EPs before this CD, but this is our very first full-length album. We've never worked with such passion and commitment on something, we consider every aspect of this album as the result of all the experiences we've had so far. The music itself is different, our sound continued evolving naturally with us. Funk isn't our main direction anymore (we're a bit more into alternative and pop), but we've not parted ways with it. We're still addicted to the groove.

ATP

Did you write all the songs before going into the studio or did you write them as you were recording?

PIQUED JACKS

We did all the pre-production between the rehearsal room and our home studio, except for some choirs and digital effects. The recording studio can have a very inspiring ambiance, but we if we're doing everything by ourselves (as we did this time), we prefer making music at home.

ATP

Walk us thru the process of writing your music?

PIQUED JACKS

That's not easy, because there isn't a "how to", it just happens. It's so simple that is complex to explain, let's say that the next time we start working on a new song you're invited (you're always invited by the way).

ATP

Where did you record and why?

PIQUED JACKS

When we finished writing the album we were in Texas, but we decided to come back to Italy to do the recordings and finishing the pre-production. For our first LP we thought we would have needed a special place, so we chose the "Musical Dream Recordings" near our hometown, a friendly, warm and higly professional place where we also recorded our first demo ever.

ATP

How did you pay for your recording?

PIQUED JACKS

We didn't, that's why we'll come back to the US soon! Just kidding. We all have some some savings and we all do some kind of "side-jobs", which helped us a lot with the expenses. Still, our families support us financially and we feel so lucky to have such special parents.

ATP

Did you have a producer or did you self-produce? If so, what kind of input did the producer have. If your self-produced, why?

PIQUED JACKS

Brian Lanese produced our EP "Just a Machine" in 2012-2013 in Los Angeles, but this time we decided to self-produce our new record. That's not because we didn't want to work with Brian, but only because it was too complicated to do it. We were coming back to Italy and he now lives in New York, so it wouldn't have been be easy nor "peaceful" if we had worked that way. However, because of the many lessons we learned from him, sometimes it was truly like having him with us in the studio.

ATP

Did you try to capture your "live sound" or did you go for something else?

PIQUED JACKS

We always want that what you hear on the record can be reproduced live, we love to sound genuine. That doesn't mean we had fun in the studio adding extra sounds or effects, but we'll try to play live as many of them as possible. ThEd0g is already dealing with a live station, they'll be good friends.

ATP

Did your record label have any input into the music you recorded?

PIQUED JACKS

Unfortunately we haven't a record label, but many friends of ours who are also musicians gave us much support following each step of the album's birth.

ATP

Are you pleased with the final product?

PIQUED JACKS

Absolutely, we've never been so pleased.

ATP

Where will we be able to pick up a copy?

PIQUED JACKS

If you like it physical (and we love physical) you can pick it up at our concerts or order it shooting us an email at piquedjacks@gmail.com. Our online shop on www.piquedjacks.com will be ready soon!

ATP

Will you be touring to promote your CD?

PIQUED JACKS

Yes, and that's the thing we're most excited about. We're coming back to Texas for the US leg of our "Atlas Tour", which will kick off in March and will end in June. We'll play during SXSW in Austin, then around the Lone Star State and in April we'll move to as many neighboring states as our wrecked green van can bring us to.

ATP

Would rather be recording or playing live shows?

PIQUED JACKS

Maybe playing live shows, because we know that out there it's full of lovely people we can be friends with. We must say that it's also a pleasure to hide in the studio after months of gigs. And there's coffee in the studio.

ATP

Anything you would like to say to your fans?

PIQUED JACKS

Just take a moment to listen to our new album and, if you have the chance, come see us live. We're working really hard to do this new release and tour in the best way possible. We'll see you soon!