Little Fish

An Interview with Juju

by Rebecca Clark
Static Noise
http://www.staticnoise.net
 

Finding women that really know how to rock in the rock music genre isn't exactly the easiest thing to do in my opinion. A few of my favorite "rocker chicks" are Aimee Echo from theSTART, Lizzy Hale from Halestorm, Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, and now I have to add Juju from Little Fish to my list.

Little Fish is a rock duo with Juju on guitar and vocals, and joining Juju is her partner in crime Nez on drums and vocals. They are from Oxford/London UK and are gearing up for the release of their album Baffled and Beat, due out on August 16th, 2010.

Juju's passion for her music and her band shines through every note she sings. She is the type of songwriter whose lyrics are so real and raw that you simply can't not fall in love with her music. I can relate to her lyrics and feel a connection not only to the songs, but to the band.

It is hard to fit Little Fish's sound into one neat little box. I hear so many different bands that mix into the fabulous music known as Little Fish. I love that the guitar and drum riffs have a spice of classic rock; it adds so much character to their sound. All I can promise is that you will not be sorry for giving them a fair listen.

Thanks for your time and inspiration Juju!

Static Noise: What was it like opening for such amazing bands such as Blondie, Hole, Them Crooked Vultures and Alice in Chains?
Juju: I has been a complete and utter honor to open for such iconic and legendary bands. Opening for such great bands makes you learn so much about your craft, not only through what you experience yourself on stage but also through being able to watch the greatly successful artists at work.

SN: Being such a “little” band with just the two of you, how do you bring up the crowd’s energy at the bigger shows you have played? Is it more challenging than at club shows? I also see you have a third person touring with you…
Juju: We always play every stage, no matter what size it might be, with the same amount of energy, passion and commitment. I suppose playing to a smaller crowd can be easier in some sense as there is a closeness between you and the crowd that allows for direct, intimate communication which makes everything far more immediate and intense. This is something we really thrive on. I suppose we are only just starting to learn the craft of performing on a bigger stage, it is harder to get create that intensity, especially as a support act, but we have been doing pretty well – we have had some great responses to the extent that it is Debbie Harry herself who saw us open for Hole who then asked us to tour with Blondie as a result. I think ultimately, we are a hard working and highly energetic band who has always thrived on a challenge.
We started as a two piece band because we couldn’t find a third musician who wanted to play with us. So we always told ourselves that we would add that third member when and if that member came along. It just so happened that we played Hammond on our album and then met Ben. We like it when fate does its thing, we are strong believera in the saying ‘everything comes at the right time’. Now is the time for us to add Hammond to our sound. It has helped us open up our sound and allow us to play songs that we wouldn’t be able to play the way we would want if were only a two piece.

SN: I just read your last blog entry from yesterday (july 11th). Wow you canreally write! What inspired the blog? Blog found here
Juju: I haven’t had time to do much creative writing recently as we have been so busy with touring and so that morning, I had a few hours and I just sat, thinking about life and reflecting on what was happening to Little Fish and the things that I have learned over the last few years. I couldn’t really summarise what I wrote in one sentence but I would say that it was along the lines of ‘whatever we experience, the good and the bad, we have to just keep on moving. If you stop for too long, things become stale and you are left dancing on the same spot. I keep moving in the direction of my dreams because I believe that we should live for them’. I like to write.

SN: What advice do you have to give to your younger fans that have just graduated high school or college when it comes to finding themselves and following their dreams?
Juju: I asked the same question to Linda Perry, who signed us and produced our first album, and I think she answered that question better than I would. What she said also summarised my path to here. She said ‘Don’t have a plan B’. And within that plan B, she wasn’t just referring to the goal of what one wants to achieve or become, I think she was also alluding to the sacrifices and work commitment one has to make in order to priorities and be successful in following whatever that dream might be.

SN: What other passions do you have besides being a musician and writing music?
Juju: I am passionate about my sport. I used to play a lot of basketball, I even came to America twice when I was younger to train but now I don’t have the time to commit myself to a group sport because the band takes up all my time – what with shows and touring. Now, I swim. I swim most mornings, whether I am on tour or not. I find it helps me get away from everything, gives me time to myself, keeps me fit and fresh. I believe that the mind and body are strongly connected – healthy body, healthy mind.

SN: What songs did you decide to cover? And what were you covering songs for? (I also read that you had to pick some out!)
Juju: Today, we are learning ‘Cut LikeA Buffalo’ by The Dead Weather. We decided to go for a song we love over a song that would be ultimately really popular to the masses because we wanted to stay true to ourselves and to the bands and artists we love. That is what all of our heroes did – they covered songs they loved. I think if you are always honest to yourself, then you can’t really go wrong. We’re doing it because we wanted to challenge ourselves as we have only ever done one cover before and that was for charity.                                               

SN: From a woman’s perspective, how has the music industry treated you? Do you feel like you have had to prove yourself more?
Juju: I’m not sure if I have had to prove myself more than anyone else. I wouldn’t say that I have and I suppose I wouldn’t know what being a man in the industry would be like. Maybe if I dolled myself up more things might have been easier, but I have always stayed myself and be true to myself. People can just take me as I am and then the issues they might have with me being a woman, I leave it with them. Maybe thinking about it more deeply, I have always wanted for a woman to produce our first album because I felt that in this hugely male dominated industry that a woman would understand me and the songs better. Working closely to Linda Perry as our label boss and producer, maybe I have felt the need to find some woman allegiance!

SN: How do you feel the digital age has changed the music industry? Do you feel like it is more a blessing or a curse?
Juju: I think it is a blessing – I just think that it is a shame that the music industry hasn’t embraced it as much as the people. There is a real negative sense about it with many labels as they really think that it is because of the digital era that music is no longer selling, whereas I would be more inclined to say that it is not selling because these labels are no longer offering people good music – gone are the days where money and time was put in to developing artists and that is a shame. Musicians need support and time and if the labels are not willing to give it, or have the foresight to understand that is what is needed, then to them their perils. We have been lucky that our label, Custard Records, believes in the music and understands the time if takes for artists to evolve.

SN: What has been your biggest achievement so far?
Juju: I think moving forward in this crazy industry is a pretty good feat. We are really excited about releasing our first album as this is a big thing for us. It has taken us years to get through the system as we started with nothing and knew nobody. We met, we formed a band, we made our demo, we played pubs and clubs and now, we have a deal, we have worked with an incredible producer Linda Perry and have supported some great bands and met so many wonderful people along the way. The greatest achievement is that we are still moving forward and every time we have stumbled or encountered hard times, we have got back up on our feet and carried on, worked through. The process to us is as important as the achievement.

SN: Do either of you have tattoos? If so pick one and does it have a meaning behind it?
Juju: Me and my best friend have a tattoo together; it’s sketched on the back of where the bone has fallen away. Knowing you have a beautiful friendship with someone makes us know that the sea will never be empty; that you can reclaim love when the mast is down.

SN: Who is your dream band to go out on tour with?
Juju: I love my band so it would definitely have to be the boys and to that, I would add Jack White and Allison Mosshart. I reckon Little Fish and The Dead Weather could do something pretty spectacular!

SN: How excited are you for your record release? Is there a certain message you are hoping to send to your fans and future fans through this album?
Juju: In this album, you will hear us who are ourselves. This is our first album and we are introducing ourselves. We intentionally made the album a direct reflection of us, our music and our life because this is all that we have. There is no magic; the sound of the album is raw and the tracks recorded are mostly live. We haven’t glossed over any imperfections because for us, it is these imperfections that define the world we live in and are what makes it beautiful. There is too much pressure on people to be perfect and I think this has also been reflected in the ‘prefect, big sounding albums’ in music. We don’t believe in this and think it is important to remember that we are all fallible and all human and that this is not such a bad thing. That’s why are album is a simple in sound; we let the songs and the instruments we play on it speak naturally and we hope that people can find peace within this natural sound of ‘Baffled & Beat’ rock n roll.

SN: What was the hardest track to record on this record and why?
Juju: We didn’t really have much time to think whilst we were recording the album as Linda was very much into “if you don’t get the take in the first three takes, then the track isn’t going on the album”. As a consequence, the album was recorded in about two weeks, with me even writing the song in the morning and recording it with the band in the afternoon. It was a very fun and yet challenging experience as a whole. I wouldn’t say any track was any harder or easier than another. All the songs are ones we enjoy playing and playing live is what we do and love the most.

SN: Is there a US tour in the works?
Juju: Definitely. We will surely be over in the Fall and we can’t wait. We really do enjoy playing to American audiences and we always have such a great time when we are there.

SN: When there are “fish references” like Little Fish is a “catch” at shows in show reviews, does it annoy you, or make you laugh?
Juju: It just makes me laugh. It is funny. You can’t always take yourself seriously and you have to let people be free to do what they want to do.

SN: What can fans do to help you spread the word about Little Fish?
Juju: Come to the shows and bring your friends and when the album comes out shout about it from the roof tops!

SN/: And finally a question everyone hates, but my journalism professor always told me to ask; Are there any last words you would like to add?
Juju: Words. Words. Words. Thanks so much for your support and we hope that you enjoy our album ‘Baffled & Beat’.

Flee the masquerade,
From racing minds,
And shield our eyes,
From the desert sand,
To where we wake,
One day,
Surely we will fly.

The end.

Bye XX

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