Jangula

Jangula - Alejandro Tafurth from The Whistles

After catching Jangula on top of a Brooklyn rooftop and upping our alt ante a bit, we can assure you, dance rock is in good hands. Formed in the dorm rooms of Purchase College, the four-piece is simple but effective, with hooks aplenty and 80's ripping bass lines that can only be obliged by shuffling feet and bobbing heads.

Recalling the early work of fellow Brooklynites, The Bravery, Jangula displays raw pop sensibility, basked by the warm vocals of lead singer Johnny Campagna and his complimentary Q-chord, a handheld synth (think: keytar, but cooler). Take the sexually-frustrated “Genji Glove,” off the band’s self-titled EP, as an example. Opening with an angelic synth line, the song is overtaken by a ominously building bass before dissolving into a catchy chorus about a video game relic no less.

It’s an approach that breeds familiarity. “We Both Like Me” invites handclaps between repetitions of “We both like me, we both like you,” powered by a sappy guitar riff that’s right at home in a bar basement or on a rooftop framed by the city skyline. The question is whether Jangula is ready for a bigger stage. With the band currently in the studio recording their first full-length, it seems only a matter of time. - Francis Bea from treeswingers

This video perfectly visualizes how we hope our Christmas dinner will go, people! Happy Holidaze!!!
P.S. Jangula's website is here by the way... - The Deli Magazine

Jangula are one of those bands that you see once and are in an instant, hooked. I have seen them play live twice and they have been embedded in my head. One of the most promising bands in NYC Jangula have performed with the likes of The Postelles and YACHT, to name a few, and have an upcoming show at the Mercury Lounge with Fujiya and Miyagu. It all sounds very impressive but adding even more to the pile, their music is very, very good. Sometimes I get lost in fancy words when trying to describe something but i’m not going to beat around the bush with Jangula. They release some of the most satisfying, lush music out there. With a new EP on the way and having just released their video for ‘Hanging Gardens’ (directed by Thomas Bleek Ramsey), Jangula are the band with the wagon you want to hop on. So it was to my delight that they agreed on an interview for The Sour Mash Blog. Enjoy!

LLC-How long have you been a band? I see you attended Purchase, did you meet there?



Jangula-Barak our drummer attended Purchase, I (Johnny) had a girlfriend who lived next door to him, and we gravitated together. We started playing music together in 2005, but Jangula did not come about until 2008 I think. We had different line ups and monikers before then.

LLC-Your music is undoubtedly dance worthy. This shines through
perfectly at your live shows. Having had the pleasure of seeing you
live, you always have the audience completely enamored. Was that a
goal from the start of the band, to write music people could dance to?

Jangula-An appreciated compliment, but we do not set out to write dance music. If anything there is an amount of effort to not just make that Hyphy music, but it’s in our blood sometimes, and our live shows become danceable inevitably.

LLC-Between Twitter and Facebook there are many different outlets tointroduce people to your music. Do you feel that social networking has aided you in bringing your music to new people?

Jangula-It makes inviting people to show quite simple, when I am not sure how many carrier pigeons had to be hired in the olden days to tell people about a show. Besides a concert poster, I cannot imagine how
Rachmaninoff went about hyping his shows. I think it helps to be so
easily accesible for people, but I also feel people get inundated with
a ton of new music in this manner, and it can become very tiresome to
sort through everything for something you like.

LLC-You have played some really impressive shows, opening for acts such as Didi of Brazilian Girls, YACHT, The Postelles and you’re going to be opening for Fujiya and Miyagu at Mercury Lounge on January 21st. What have those experiences been like?

Jangula-We do what we can do when we can do it. I think when we played with Suicide in the Gutter rock festival in some Mos Eisley Cantina type spot, we learned that you have to be careful with the songs you play around certain european human beings.

LLC-You will be releasing a new EP. What has the writing and recording process been like? Where did you record it?

Jangula-We recorded with the esteemed Mr Jeremy Scott in his underground lair, and the recording process was much more easy going this time around. More time to do what we wanted, add the amount of layers that the project required, and not have to rush anything. The writing had been done over the past year, we are doing the writing for the new record now and have a few songs done.

LLC-Being a New York band you have a great advantage. A lot of cool venues, cool people but also a lot….a lot of cool bands. What sets
you apart from the others? Do you feel there is competition between
New York bands or is there a general sense of camaraderie?

Jangula-I think there is a lot of competition, but it is not direct so we
sense the brotherhood with most bands we play with. Most people we
have played with have been quite polite like Walter Cronkite. Vaz
Radna, Dances, Yellow Dogs and Life Size Maps are bands we have shows with often and that is because they are hardbody kings. We don’t have any problems setting ourselves apart between our sound, the Qchord, our songwriting and look, we are Jang.

LLC-How do you feel about the current music scene in NY/BKLYN? Do you like the direction its headed towards?

Jangula-It’s too huge and vague to give an all encompassing revue, but I like anything that is creative, original, honest and has some thrust to it.There are a lot of bands like that, and a lot of bands not like that,
and that’s probably how it has always been in NY.

LLC-What do you have up your sleeves for 2012?

Jangula-No shirt, an album, at least 5 more songs, big record deal, Japanese formation tour, Hong Man Choi dirt rock blues, Days of future passed symphony with drum machine, more Gods. - Leahlovecat from The Sour Mash Blog

Jangula have released a music video for “Hanging Gardens” a new song from the Brooklyn band that is going to appear on their upcoming EP. Seems like a pretty fun dinner party. Watch the video below. - Will Oliver from We All Want Someone To Shout For

Jangula are opening for Fujiya & Miyagi at The Mercury Lounge on January 21st. Tickets are now sold out, but we got two tickets to giveaway courtesy of the kind folks of Jangula.

Jangula is also giving away copies of their new Strange Child EP (check out a music video of a song from the EP right here)

To enter the contest leave a comment below letting me know what your favorite show of 2011 was, and most importantly, why. Best three answers get prizes. If you didn’t go to any shows in 2011, just name the best show you’ve seen in the past few years.

Here’s how it will go down:

1st prize: album + 2 tickets
2nd prize: album + t-shirt
3rd prize: album

Good luck everyone! I’ll notify the winners asap. - Will Oliver from We All Want Someone To Shout For

Over here on the East Coast, it’s been a relatively mild winter for NYC so far, until the wee hours of last Saturday morning when prayers were answered. It’s almost February and not a lick of snow! My morning commutes have been so ice-free and I haven’t once slipped and broken my ass or had a passing bus spray me with foul brown toxic slush! With the Giants doing so well, people have run out of things to complain about until we finally got a nice layer of clean white snow that was properly turned into said foul brown toxic slush by early Saturday evening.


Still, fans of Fujiya & Miyagi had a reason (well, three reasons, not two as the band name suggests) to force themselves out from under their electric blankets, eat a bowl of chili and wobble their way to the Mercury Lounge for an intimate sold out show. Brooklyn based Dinowalrus warmed up the room and were probably well received because everyone was itching for F&M’s stripped down electronic layers and they were able to satiate the hungry just enough with their upbeat, krautrock jams.

Also hailing from Brooklyn, young party rockers Jangula followed Dinowalrus and turned that lil’ back room venue into a hot, sweaty mess. Lead singer Johnny Campagna employs an instrument that at first glance looks like a cross between an amputated guitar and a video game controller and sounds sorta like a synthesized toy piano. And the way you gotta hold the thing, it gives a sort of T-Rex like demeanor on stage. A nice fusion of surf rock and chill wave, a handful of their songs sound like if the Beach Boys took acid (duh, but wait for it), left the beach and went on a long, epic mountain journey into the Himalayas, picked up a man in a donkey mask and returned, victorious. With the rest of the band bouncing around with such energy, wearing neon tights and everyone in the front just slangin’ their sweaty hair around and dancing like wild, the result of the entire experience was really pretty magical. They’re aiming for a unique sound and they’re a band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously. And, really, how could you when you’re having so much fun?

The welcomed heat in the room was palpable and tensions were high when F&M finally took the stage. You know what cures the colds faster than a bowl of chili? SEX. And that is just what F&M delivered. On first glance, you wouldn’t guess these guys were capable of inciting such desire, what with their silvery hair and quiet demeanor but these guys know how to make music that just oozes it. After putting out four full albums, they’re seasoned vets and obviously confident musicians. They just wanna take it slow, honey. Put on something more comfortable and let the music do the work. At any point during the show, you could spot at least one couple making serious get downs in the crowd. Their sound is anchored in repetitive beats and riffs that slowly build on each other, growing, gaining momentum until you’re eyes are rolling back in your head and … just… can’t… take it anymore. Top that with David Best’s deep, whispery vocals and well, no, I can keep taking it. It’s easy to get a dreaded case of the blue balls, though, as the band is wont to stay on one level of intensity and never quite reaches the spectacular climax you hope is coming. Still, the devoted crowd was quite satiated with Best, Lewis, Hainsby and new addition on drums Adams as after the show they streamed out into the fierce winds, cheeks flushed and hot enough to make it back home to the respite of those electric blankets. And maybe it’s those blue balls that keeps you listening, leaves you wanting more. And in turn, sells tickets.



The band was kind enough to exchange a few words with me before their show:

CS: You guys have been compared to a lot of 70’s krautrock bands. How do you decide what to take from them and how to make it your own?

Best: I think when we started out our influence was a bit more obvious, like you could tell that we liked Neu and Can. But now I think our songs are just what happens when the four of us get together. I think you definitely could spot that we liked certain records before but its not deliberate on our part anymore. We’ve been going for a while and you want to be your own thing. Also a lot of that music is our favorite music, so I’d rather people compare us to stuff we like than stuff I didn’t.

Hainsby: Sometimes when you start out as a band you get tagged, and then you start thinking, ‘Well why are they tagging us like that?’ so then we think we have to try and change, but then we realize, ‘Why did we change away from the reason people liked us in the first place?’ And people still say you’re doing it anyway, so you might as well just do it.

CS: How did you strive to make this album different from the previous three?

Best: Well we worked with a producer for the first time, and it was really great, really quite different just to get someone else’s viewpoint and expertise. We got to use lots of synthesizers we haven’t used before. And Lee was on the drums.

Hainsby: Which added some soul.



Lewis: And the time schedule for recording was quite strict. Normally we take our time recording when were at home. But we were in studio in Sacramento and Thom (Monahan) was kind of dictating the time schedule.

Best: Plus all the songs are different. The words are different. So, it was all different (Laughs).

CS: What’s the meaning behind the title?

Best: We’ll its ‘Ventriloquizzing’ (pronounced Ven-tril-oh-kwize-ing) with an extra ‘zed’ so it sound more snappy. On the cover and in the video we use ventriloquist dummies so there is that kind of literal meaning, and also a lot of the songs are about not having much control and being on stage; you feel a bit of a puppet sometimes in as much as people are looking at you.

Hainsby: And you’re essentially up there doing the same thing every night, not that it’s a bad thing. And people have perceptions of you that maybe aren’t true.

Best: It was actually for us, quite well thought out.

CS: You’re songs have been features in a Jaguar commercial, a Miller Lite commercial and on an episode of Breaking Bad. How did that different kind of exposure affect you?

FM: Well, with the Jaguar one it enabled us to leave our jobs and focus on the band full time, so even though it was a corporation and some bands aren’t happy using their music on advertisements, I wasn’t that happy working in an office. I get some random texts from people who watch Breaking Bad and are excited when they hear our song, so that’s nice to hear from friends.



Lewis: It’s probably better to be on a good TV program than an advert from a ‘cool’ point of view but from a financial point of view, adverts are helpful. No one buys records now, so that’s the way we’ve got to do it.

Best: And just do gigs, forever.

CS: Two of you had kids?

Best: Yeah, do you wanna see a picture?

CS: Yes! Awww. How do you balance it all?

Best: Personally I haven’t written a song since he was born and he’s 14 months now.

Lewis: Yeah, my daughter is a bit of a handful actually.

Best: So we the next album will be out in 2022 (Laughs). No, it’s fantastic, it’s brilliant and really changes your viewpoint on a lot of things and makes you work harder, get up earlier and go to bed later. We’ll work it out but it is a big adjustment. - Courtney Dudley from China Shop Magazine

“holy shit.” that was the first thought i had when i saw brooklyn’s jangula open for fujiya & miyagi a few weeks ago at the mercury lounge. at initial glance i thought for sure by their aesthetic that it was going to be a grimey southern rock revival sound, but alas i was wrong and the thing is…i was relieved. jangula’s front man johnny jewel plays the strangest looking instrument reminiscent of a stylophone called a Q chord. the energy these guys had and the comradery between them on stage was enough to make anyone feel overwhelmingly happy. their sound is unique which personally is hard to come by these days. it’s genuine and pure and tightly orchestrated. below stream their newest EP strange child as well as their video for the track “hanging gardens.”

on march 23rd they are having their EP release party at new york’s webster hall. go. you will not be sorry. - Aimee Monko from MagicArrows

Jangula is a Brooklyn based foursome that have been around in some form for years and have become one of the most well-known bands in the Brooklyn concert circuit. Making punk influenced DIY indie pop music, the quartet is inspired by everything from the clean pop music of Brian Wilson and the Beach boys to the sounds of Joy Division and has played venues from the Knitting Factory to Mercury Lounge to warehouse parties and have opened for bands such as The Postelles and YACHT. They released an EP in 2010 and are currently working on their full length album including the track “Light Left Hand”. They will be bringing their crazy and raucous live show to Mercury Lounge on January 21 in support of Fuijya and Miyagi.

How did you guys get together? Are you all from NYC and what are your musical backgrounds?

Three of us are from NYC, Cody is from California. I (Johnny) was bornin the Bronx and lived in Pelham Gardens for a bit, then moved to Ossining where I grew up. I played in a few bands with friends inschool and DJed but had no formal musical training despite my Dadbeing in the famous Haitian band Tabou Combo. Barak was born in Israeland lived in Bayside Queens and Hungary in his childhood. Barak was atrained jazz drummer and played since he was a wee pup. Daniel was born and raised on the Upper West Side. He had been playing guitarsince he was a teen and had been in a few bands with friends at school. Cody grew up in Carlsbad California. He had 0 bass aptitude when wemet him, but a fervor for Jangula and originally joined as our manager. He was a shit manager, but he decided he could learn the bass, and he taught himself how to play as well as make basses. I met Barak at Purchase college. He was living next to my girlfriend at thetime, and I started hanging around with him and playing music. Weincorporated a few other Purchase students and formed a band andplayed house shows for about a year using the name Kid Harlem and theSamurai Vipers. Eventually we just went back to me and Barak and I got a q-chord (the instrument I play, and he stayed with me for amonth. We wrote and recorded about a hundred songs. We were known asThe Young Lords at that time. We added a bass player for about ayear, then he left and we met Daniel through Barak's girlfriend at thetime. This is when we became Jangula. Cody joined the band sixmonths later, after Barak met him at his job. We have been playing with this line up for about 2 years.

What are some of the bands you listen to and that inspire you to write music?

Some influences: The scene in Blade Runner when Zhora falls throughthe glass after being shot, Bernard Herrmann's soundtrack to Taxi Driver, origami cranes, Equus, Wa halla loo lay, Wa halla loo lah, Keeny wok a poo lah.

You often play at warehouse and rooftop parties. What makes these places so awesome to play? where are your favorite places to play in NYC/Brooklyn?

The rooftop parties are loose uninhibited affairs, bacchanal occursand Dionysian festivals take place. Usually people are imbibing, wecan play a gutter rock set. For a bigger venue i'd say we preferWebster Hall, for a more intimate setting we prefer playing in a teepee.

You recently filmed a new music video. What is the concept of the video and what can we expect from the new Jangula music?

Not into concept videos, but the description of roof top parties I gave is apt for our Hanging Gardens video, scenes reminiscent ofCaligula. Our new EP Strange Child is a vexing ambient skeletal hazewith sharp interior and waves of thought. Melody, harmony, harshnessas well. A lot more layer and production than our other studio recordings.

You guys have played NYC for a while, what are your favorite parts of being an NYC based band?

The fact we can go on tour and never leave NYC, and that once we make it here, it is said we can make it....anywhere?

What's your favorite NYC deli sandwich? (curious...)
Johnny: Lobster Parmigiano Italian Boy with Dressing
Barak: Honey Turkey, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Salt, Pepper,Mayo, and Mustard on a Roll
Daniel: Knuckle Sandwich
Cody: Turkey Club with Turkey Bacon - Amanda Dissinger from The Deli Magazine

Last night Northside was sweaty and marvelous at GigMaven’s showcase at Spike Hill feauturing Phantom Power, This Frontier Needs Heroes, Ravens and Chimes, MiniBoone, Life Size Maps, Jangula, and oddlogic.









Phantom Power opened the night at Spike Hill is the absolutely sleekest way, playing with a full band that spread out the minimalist instrumental approach Eric Littman takes. Phantom Power is so great because their music carries on seemingly without beggining of end, in an an air vaccum of good vibes and electronic resonance. Wonderful.






Later in the night I returned to see Jangula rock the house down and stripping while doing so. These guys are so up-and-coming and talked about, it’s great to both see and feature them in a showcase before they get much bigger. Pretty electronic overtones, a post-rock base, a delicate voice that still has bravado, and heavy percussion makes for a really unique sound. These guys wowed the crowd as always with their frantic and amiable energy, creating a love-mosh pit and surprising everyone with free tee-shirts following the performance.





oddlogic finished off the showcase in glitch-hop fashion, playing lots of original tunes and really impressing the crowd. He is the perfect party DJ it seems, his originals channelling someone like Gold Panda‘s psychadelic and dubstep tendencies in a way that is totally unique to Alex Goheral. Not to mention his remixes are dope and go down easy- my favorite is Fleet Foxes’ White Winter Hymnal. He’s playing lots of summer shows, be sure to check him out. - GigMaven

Had a photo shoot with Bushwick, Brooklyn’s Jangula today. The guys were great to shoot. The photos are posted in the Music Portraits section:

http://www.tearntan.com/PORTRAITS2011/MUSIC/ARTISTS.html

Aside from crazy, yet loving poses on the Williamsburg waterfront, and a prospective product endorsement shot for AriZona Ice Tea, an opportunity arose for these lads to use their interpersonal skills and interview people at the Brooklyn Flea. From vendors to bystatnders, the band asked people various questions from describing their fashion style to revealing their favorite all time 70s films or albums. I believe there was even a special guest appearance from Lady Liberty herself, though I don’t remember her being German.

If you took Spanish in high school, you’re also in luck, as one of our interviewees only spoke in Spanish. Barak Kemeny took on that task and showed true professionalism throughout the interview…even when he forgot how to say the word “question” in Spanish. No worries, he got the job done.

Enjoy the video and remember, no downloading or reposting. Use the link instead… - Tear-N-Tan

Processed Meat Fashion Blog had a chance to talk to Johnny Campagna from Brooklyn (Bushwick to be exact) band, Jangula. Over by the Williamsburg Waterfront on this glorious and toe burning day, we chatted to Johnny and asked him to describe his style, his shirt, and his influences. Yes ladies, Han Solo is an influence. Hey, remember when he ALMOST hooked up with Princess Leia in the Empire Strikes Back? Sigh… - Processed Meat

I’m trying to help out Not Blood Paint, Jangula and Yellow Dogs a bit with the promotion of their show at The Knitting Factory this Saturday. It’s a great lineup, and I hope you guys can make it out. Tickets are available to buy online now for only $9, head here to pick some up. Find more info at the facebook page here.


I dug deep into the minds of the bands, in enlightening interviews that showed us a little bit about their spirits. Check out my interview with Jangula’s lead sinnger and Q-Chord extraordinaire:


1. Will: How did you decide on playing a Q-Chord? It’s a very interesting choice!

Johnny: I had visited a friend’s apartment in about 2006 and they had an old omnichord that was once their grandmother’s. I was messing about with it and was so entranced by it’s sounds I called Barak and played it for him over the phone, showing him the future sounds. I bought a qchord, which is a modern version of the omnichord, a few months later. It had the ethereal zelda symphony quality I wanted in an instrument.

2. W: What bands are influences to Jangula?

J: There are too many bands to narrow it down, I would say Jangula is influenced by our entire life experiences, street bravado, family
members, little kids, Mcdonald’s, ATWA, 1950's football coaches and railroads mainly.

3. W: The humble beginnings of Jangula grew out of your time at SUNY Purchase. How did the experience of going to school at that school in particular (very heavy on the arts) influence the band?

J: Barak went to SUNY Purchase and I met him through my girlfriend. We played there quite a bit and had many adventures. I think the school’s arts leaning didn’t influence the band much, but our heavy handed beast journeys there helped form our bond.

4. W: What should one expect from the Jangula live concert experience?

J: High culture, Caveman elation, vietnam helicopter reenactment,sound of sound.

5. W: Favorite Alcoholic Beverage?

J: I don’t drink, but the other boys love some Meisterbrau.

For more on Jangula head to their website, facebook, follow them on twitter, and listen to their debut EP.
- Will Oliver from We All Want Someone to Shout For

Brooklyn-based Jangula released their first EP last year, and are returning to the studio to record a full-length album, featuring the single “Light Left Hand.”
The quartet started out of several incarnations at Purchase College, playing basement shows and campus festivals. Bandmembers consist of Johnny Campagna (vocals and Q-Chord, a handheld synthesizer), Daniel Bachrach (vocals and guitar), Cody Gordon (bass), and Barak Kemeny (drums). - Insomnia Radio

Not Blood Paint, Jangula, and Yellow Dogs came together at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn this past Saturday night for a fun night full of great talent.



Iran’s Yellow Dogs delighted me with edgy rock that did the trick live. The band favors dark guitar sounds that are enhanced by reverb and effects that reminded me a bit of Arctic Monkeys during the Favourite Worst Nightmare era. In other words, it’s right up my ally. I wasn’t very familiar with their material beforehand, but I had a great time nevertheless. If they are playing a show near you, go watch these guys rock. You won’t regret it.




Jangula have already proven to me that they have live chops, and Saturday night’s effort was no different. The band played a set that included songs off their wonderful debut EP as well as songs off of a new EP that lead singer Johnny told me would be released in a few weeks. The old songs sounded even tighter than last time, running well with the new ones. The band once again owned their cover of The Ronettes classic “Be My Baby” but they also threw in a rapturous cover of Joy Division’s “Disorder”. My friends and I lost it at that point. Overall, the band sounded great. I’m looking forward to the next show already.



Last, but certainly not least were Not Blood Paint. A band whose live reputation has been reported to be a spectacle of sorts. It seemed like something you just had to experience live. It certainly is. The band made a dramatic entrance from the crowd carrying a large head that would later be placed on stage as a loyal prop. The band were uniformly dressed up, and even stripped down mid set while fans in the crowd (who came to the show painted) painted them with white paint.

It was a balanced set that didn’t stick to one genre. When these guys shred, they shred. Some songs hit like the bottom end of a gun. Other songs dazzle on a sticky psychedelic territory. Not Blood Paint are one part performers, one part musicians. Both are healthy parts that add up to a fucking great live experience. - Will Oliver from We All Want Someone to Shout For

There's an interesting selection of rising Brooklyn bands a the House of Yes on Sat night, within the "Viva Vuvuzela" fest.
U SAY USA, coming off their recent residency at the Trash Bar and appearance at the Northside music festival will be one of the highlights of the night with their indie pop-rock . Also on the line up is Jangula, an excellent BK based band who made our "Best of 2010" list and has been building up their resume with lots of press. Event details here. - The Deli Magazine

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Jangula creates an ethereal, spacey mood with beats that are like liquid crack, a deadly combination in anything besides music. Pulling off
a music conundrum, just listen to “Genji Glove” and “Pachinko” both of
which mix a frantic backbeat with dainty synth pinche - The Deli Magazine

Like a knife cutting through a fluffy dream, this outfit takes lo-fi garage punk and uses it to slice through otherwise ethereal harp-like jingling accompaniment. They are certainly interesting, for they can rock out, go electronic, garage or slow things down to a crawl with manic, gleefully sloppy verve. With The Great American Novel, The Bailen Brothers Band, Oh! My Blackbird, Ghost Pal and Rich Uncle Skeleton. - Metromix

Jangula have quickly become one of my most listened to new acts. Their songs are true, honest, displays of sharply executed rock. Their live mindset is dedicated to feel good jams that will have everyone dancing. That’s just what they did last night at Pianos.

The Brooklyn 4 piece absolutely bring it live. They have the sound and confidence of a band that’s been at it for years. Jangula’s energy hit you square in the face and you better start dancing, or you’re gonna feel real stupid. Big fat bass lines, sharp guitars, fast controlled drumming and the eclectic sounds of the QChord combine to make Jangula’s insane live arsenal.

For a band that’s at a relatively early stage of the career, they have a rock solid following. A lot of the crowd were singing the songs right back and dancing to them proudly. They’ve been in on the Jangula secret for a while, and they’re proud to let you know it.

All the songs from Jangula’s impressive debut 4 song EP shined live. They played some new songs, as well as a rockin’ cover of The Ronettes classic “Be My Baby” (video of that posted below). The band really should consider covering their version of it. It was a fresh take on the song that was most importantly, a lot of fun, just like the bands show. It’s a welcoming experience that will make your night that much better. Whether the songs are new or familiar to you, you’ll have a good time.

Jangula should be a band that you’re watching intently over the next few months. Something about them has really caught my attention, and they shouldn’t go unnoticed. They will be back in NYC on May 25th to play a free show at Brooklyn Bowl. Mark your calenders. - Will Oliver from We All Want Someone To Shout For

Here’s a video I shot of New York band Jangula performing at the Brooklyn Bowl on Wednesday, 25 May 2011. (Just found out the song is called “Chinese Tea”, temporary title though). While watching this song, I could not help but notice the non-stop motion of snugly fit, white denim-covered legs pumping over and over to the beat of this unknown song. I can’t remember if I was mesmerized or astounded. I just knew I had to capture the constant fluttering seen below. - Tear-N-Tan

Jangula - Kristen Kim from The Morning After Pills

Allowing the Brooklyn based four piece outfit, Jangula, into your life is like having a hush-hush tryst with the well mannered gorgeous date that you’re antsy to spring onto your mother. The cool peppered instrumentals and sprangs of metallic make a compelling statement for the post-punk Franz Ferdinand, infused with a hint of Incubus. But in the eyes of Johnny Campagna-Singer, singer and keyboardist, Jangula embodies a “dystopian Blade Runner gutter Hemingway concerto allure.” They have a self created perception of a desire to be an intimidating force harking back to the good old cheesy slasher movies vs. a conflicting nostalgia to be a classical movement that kindles explosions of grandeur under their musical hands – and here I am, reacting to their mysterious “Gengi Glove” and “We Both Like Me,” head arched back and finger snapping my way through their tracks as though I’m in a different era altogether.

Musebox talked to Jangula about their formation, their self perceptions and reach for a guise of mystery, the creation of their newest music video, and their EP to be recorded in June.

Musebox: What does Jangula mean?

Johnny: Jangula is the name of a Japanese associate of mine. The name represents the band, the band’s collective image is Jangula.

MB: Who are the members of the band?

J: Johnny Campagna – Singer/Keys, Barak Kemeny – Drums, Daniel Bachrach – Singer/Guitar, Cody Gordon – Bass.

MB: How long has Jangula existed ( after initially forming in 2005 as Kid Harlem and the Samurai Vipers) and how has the music evolved over time?

J: 2006/2007 Barak and I started making recordings with the
Qchord. We made about 100 recordings where I was singing and playing the Qchord, and he was drumming. We used several different names but that was the formation of what became Jangula. Originally we were making very spare electronic pieces with drum machines and synths, and over time we added bass and eventually guitar to the setup. I think we will go back to using more electronics and lush orchestration in future recordings.

MB: In an interview you mentioned that you initially formed as Kid Harlem and the Samurai Vipers, which was your father’s band name. How much of your decision to pursue music is because of your father?

J: My Dad played in a Haitian band called Tabou Combo when I was
growing up and both of my parents were incredibly influential
musically to me, but I did not start playing in bands till I was about
18 and was never conventionally trained in music. I was only an avid
listener until I started singing in bands, and it developed naturally
for me, so family was not a large factor besides intrinsic influence
from childhood and support for my creativity growing up.

M: What did you typically look for when looking for a band member?

J: Cody was our last member that joined, and he did not know how
to play the bass when we first met him. He was originally our manager,
but basically didn’t do anything besides hang about with us, so he started teaching himself bass. We wanted to have him in the band just
because he was simpatico with everyone and that can be harder to find
looking for a band member than someone with the technical chops. He
just wanted to play bass in Jangula, and we already had our songwriters, so it was perfect fit. We didn’t want too many cooks in the kitchen.

MB: What’s the story behind the names of your tracks like “Genji Glove,” “Pachinko” and “Lesser Masks”?

J: Our song titles hopefully are evocative and conjure up some
kind of mysterious image, which is what we look for. They usually come
naturally from the writing process, or our general thought process. I
think titles are an important part of modern living.

MB: What are your day jobs do you hold? If music was your full time job, what would you pursue as a hobby?

J: All of us have worked at the Working Families Party in
downtown Brooklyn before, Barak and Cody still work there. If we were
making enough money with Jangula that we didn’t have to work, I would spend more time reading, playing baseball and basketball, and the other boys would build a sailboat and play jolly rodger or some
nonsense.

MB: When you think of Jangula, what’s the ideal image that you have of the band? Where do you envision yourselves headlining?

J: Jangula is dystopian Blade Runner gutter Hemingway concerto
allure. We would love to headline Madison Square Garden, which is our
home turf, and the Budokan because of it’s mythic Jang status.

MB: You were probably in grade school in the 80s, so why return to the 80s “new wave” with your music? What influences you?

J: I don’t feel our sound is new wave but we do enjoy that era
of music. We do not set out to make new wave tracks though, at least
not intentionally. Our influences range from Grass Hymns to Bewildered Hurricane Talk.

MB: Is there anything about contemporary trend of techno-infused pop or hip hop that turns you off?

J: We are not turned off by any current music trends, as we can
simply turn them off.

MB: Who wrote “We Both Like Me?” and is there a hint of narcissism or am I interpreting the lyrics incorrectly? Or would you claim it to be confidence?

J: I wrote We Both Like Me. There is narcissism evident in every
Jangula song I think, it is hard to separate the self from the writing
process. In We Both Like Me the lyrics are more about perception and
ideas of self in relations between people, not specifically me. Our
song lyrics are not narrow in scope in general.

MB: You just launched your music for Pachinko. Who came up with the concept behind the music video’s theme. What I’m seeing are mash ups of movies with expired copyrights, occasionally interjected with flashes of Chinese characters, which I guess can be, to an extent, relates to the verse “at the center of the world is a TV set.” What’s the story that you’re trying to tell with the music video?

J: The video is clips our manager Eugine Kang felt captured the
aesthetic of the band, with some of our ideas thrown in as well. He
made it quite quickly, and it doesn’t have a particular narrative more
than a feeling it is supposed to evoke.

MB: How did you fund the music video. Do you find that a music video is a necessary investment today considering that most artists are relatively broke?

J: The music video, and most of the press we have done, was free
and the labor of love of our manager. Our friends and collaborators
help us film shows and video, and take pictures for the band. Kei
Kreutler, Thomas Blake Ramsey, Nathalie Rodriguez, Benjamin Wlody and Perry Kerr have helped us with media in the past. Music videos are
definitely something that is important to us, they are a great way to
get your music and image out to people, and we have been lucky enough to do everything on a low budget.

MB: Is there anything that you’re working on that you’d like to tell your fans about? Any tour plans?

J: We are recording a four song EP in June and continuing our
residency tour of Manhattan and Brooklyn. We will be posting the EP on
our website Jangula.org when it is recorded, along with our upcoming
shows. We hope to go around the country and world once we feel it is
economically viable.

MB: Do you have an advice for aspiring musicians?

J: Don’t be discouraged and always do what you want when it
comes to your music and image. Jang on. - Francis Bea from Musebox

This show at Brooklyn Bowl could have very well been part of our NYC B.E.A.F. - Miniboone and Jangula were included in ourlatest Best of NYC Emerging Artists list (at #71 and #93) and Mainland (pictured, previously Mainland Fever) is a really good local act we covered a couple of times - they also made it into the L Mag's "8 NY Bands You Need to Hear" issue this year. unfoprtunately you'll all be busy attending our two official B.E.A.F. shows at The Knit and Glasslands though!!! - The Deli Magazine

We don't know what they're putting in the water in that there Brooklyn, but the rate at which the New York borough is churning out exciting new bands is remarkable. Jangula are one such group, a four-piece who came together at Purchase College and have set about gaining themselves a reputation around town as a name to be noted.

The band are still very much at the beginning of their career, so it's no surprise that their new video for the track Pachinko is made up of old film footage that's well out of copyright and is therefore free for all to use. The mashed-up clips - most of which seem to feature Clark Gable - clearly don't provide much in the way of a linear plot, but a vague sense of uneasiness and an edge of hysteria unites most of them and lends itself well to the song, especially when it reaches its final repeated refrain: "the centre of the world is a TV set."

Keep an eye on these boys, they're onto something good. - ilikemusic

Some shots from last night’s show at Brooklyn Bowl. - Tear-N-Tan

Jangula - Mathias Menzl from 78s

Today, we’ve got not one but TWO music videos from Brooklyn’s indie pop outfit Jangula. Can I get a *HUMP DAY TREAT*? Woot, woot!

“We Both Like Me” takes footage from their live show without an audio dub from the original track. Interesting move for an official music video, boys. Kind of like saying “bitches, we’re so good live that we don’t need none of that dubbing bullshit.” Maybe. These guys would never say that, especially not the way I just phrased it, but it’s true: they are amazing live. Thus we like how the vid captures the liveliness of their shows while teasing with glimpses of how equally wild they are off stage. Bonus: I also make a brief cameo appearance from when I attended their show, but I can assure you that this won’t be the start of my career as a video ho.

“Pachinko” is a little more serious, black and white, Japanese characters, old movie footage. Here I make no cameo appearance but that’s okay. I can’t just be in every Jangula video, sigh. Enjoy!

Make sure to catch these guys on May 25th at BROOKLYN BOWL. It’s a free show, which means you have NO excuse not to come out. - Kristen Kim from The Morning After Pills

Jangula has released a music video for “Pachinko”. Check that out below:
Jangula also released a music video for “We Both Like Me” that was shot at their Cake Shop show. It does a good job capturing the fun energy that Jangula bring to their live performances. Check it out:
They will be playing for free at Brooklyn Bowl on May 25th. There’s no excuse not to be there. They really bring it live, I hope to see you there. - Will Oliver from We All Want Someone To Shout For

Jangula go the more traditional route of live performance video. The Q-chord pioneers’ video for “We Both Like Me” features shots from the red planet of Cake Shop, spliced in with band commentary, rehearsal footage, and general goofiness. You can download the track on Jangula’s website. - Amanda Farah from BushwickBK

We keep exposing the bands and artists that made our latest Best of NYC Emerging Artists Poll - Jangula placed 93rd.
Jangula creates an ethereal, spacey mood with beats that are like liquid crack, a deadly combination in anything besides music. Pulling off a music conundrum, just listen to “Genji Glove” and “Pachinko” both of which mix a frantic backbeat with dainty synth pinches. This fresh band released their first EP in 2010 and is currently working on their next effort, which includes the new single “Light Left Hand.” Having had opened for Yacht and The Postelles, you may want catch this band when they play next at Brooklyn Bowl on May 25. - Michele McManmon - Michele McManmon from The Deli Magazine

Jangula are a Brooklyn band who make dance ready rock with big bass grooves that give off an undeniable Joy Division murkiness. Their song “Genji Glove” is just one of their early songs that have got my feet tapping. “Genji” is inspired by 80s new wave, with danceable music backing up deep confident vocals. This is the type of band that would rock your world late at night in a small intimate venue.

If your in NYC Monday April 18th, go catch the band at Pianos. They will play “Genji Glove” along with the rest of the songs that are available for free download from their s/t debut EP, at their soundcloud page. They may even play some new songs. - Will Oliver from We All Want Someone To Shout For

Jangula, them crazy kids! This Brooklyn-based foursome delivers danceable indie rock, complete with homemade-sounding but precise percussion, Teutonic new wave basslines and vocals that float serenely above the fray. They tend to play the outer borough house party/industrial park circuit, where everybody still smokes and pogoes. Basically, they embody that label I so wish would be retired: hipster — but they bring new life to the label, and at their shows you're sure to find twenty-something Brooklynites climbing the walls and dancing mad as hatters. See for yourself. - Melissa Regan from BeaconPass

I stepped out really quick during the Poofy set and bumped into a boy named Johnny. After some music chatting it came up that he was the lead singer of the next band up, Jangula. Jangula sounded so familiar to me, then it hit me. They've played my all time favorite, PERSONALITY CRISIS. A many, if not all, PERSONALITY CRISIS' are spent drunk. Thus, leaving me with hazy recollections of the bands that played. Although hazy, I do remember Jangula's set being very fun and enjoyable. So I was beyond eager to see them live. Being my state tonight were more sober than drunk.


Jangula did not disappoint! Johnny played a fancy little doodad of an instrument, my brain is drawing a complete blank as to what the name of it is. You'll need to remind me again Johnny. There was this completely dance feel, with roaring guitars and heavy percussion. You could spot some die hards upfront dawning the same face paint on the bands face's on theirs. Face paint, war paint, which ever you prefer. By now the place was filled a good amount and kids everywhere were dancing. The set finished up to kids asking for more - Kimmy Santos from Weakend Warriors

Ayer llego a mi una agrupación de Brooklyn que hizo alarmar a 2 de mis 5 sentidos. El primero de ellos fue el oído, al deleitarse con una sonido bastante melódico pero a la vez agresivo, el siguente fue la vista, al ver su energía y su puesta en el escenario noto algo bastante interesante, por último se unió todo mi cuerpo que al ritmo de cada canción no paro de bailar.

Los causantes de esta gozadora experiencia fueron los 4 jóvenes que integran Jangula, una banda que lleva solamente 6 meses de nacimiento, pero que ya ha participado en "gigs" junto a Free Blood, The Postelles y pronto le abrirán a Didi Gutman el teclista de la banda Brazilian Girls.

Jangula se puede describir como la combinación de ritmos de conducción del esqueleto (Joy Division), armonías coloridas (Brian Eno) y letras imaginativas (David Bowie), produciendo con un estilo dinámico y creativo a lo largo sus shows que el público baile y grite sin parar.

Si es de su agrado esta nueva propuesta pueden ingresar a su myspace donde podrán adquirir de forma gratuita su primer EP.
- Alejandro Tafurth from The Whistles

There are a lot bands doing the late ’80s/early ’90s synth pop revival, but Jangula do it particularly well because they embrace the pop aspect of it. Yes, “Genji Glove” has some pitch perfect replication of that period when New Wave became radio friendly, and but for obscure references it’s a very accessible tune. Jangula use their keys as more than just atmospheric filler, but to carry a pretty melody. They know when to amp up the bass to create an energetic, danceable moment during the bridge. Plus it’s easy to sing along to the lyrics about sublimating sexual urges by playing Final Fantasy games. And if that makes you feel too geeky, you can pretend a Genji Glove is something more lacivious.

You can find “Genji Glove” on Jangula’s self-titled EP. The band have upcoming shows at Silent Barn and Party Xpo during CMJ. - Amanda Farah from BushwickBK

The other day I got an email asking me when the next Brooklyn Ski Club show is and if I'd be interested in booking this band for it. I never heard of Jangula before but the email claimed they've been playing the house party circuit and since some of the best bands start out there I gave it a listen. It's pretty good stuff and while I have yet to see them in action they seem like they would be lotsa fun in a party setting. Brooklyn Ski Club won't be having any shows anytime soon but maybe you can book them for your next rager.
- Matt Kerestesy fromBrooklyn Ski Club

Once a month the band SHAPES throws a party called Personality Crisis at Shea Stadium, which is a DIY venue hidden away in the Williamsburg Industrial Park. Fanelli, who is the singer for SHAPES and the promoter of the party, invited us to out. We love SHAPES and I've been wanting to see Jangula (also on the bill) so we made a point to stop by. Plus Fanelli cooked up a batch of homemade Four Loko and there was no way I was missing out on that (Fanelli's Four Loko recipe coming soon to BSC).

Shea Stadium is in my neighborhood so we all met up at Lady Jay's, the best bar in Brooklyn, for a few drinks before the show. After a couple of cans we hiked up Grand and through the desolate blocks of the industrial park to Shea.

When we got to the show some band called Night Eyes (I think) were about to go on. We went over to the home brew table and Fanelli hooked us up with a sample. It wasn't so bad but I'm pretty sure it was at least semi-poisonous, I guess all booze is to some extent. Night Eyes got started while I was sippin' on my bathtub Loko. They played some sort of dark techno synth music. Not my cup of tea but the kids were dancing around like crazy so hey, that's cool.

Did I mention the kids? Personality Crisis brings in an extremely young crowd. If you're over 25 they probably think you're a
NARC or a drug dealer. That said, they're still in that pre-jaded stage of life and lose their shit when the bands play. As an old DIY punk show dude, it's refreshing to see young kids dancing around and jumping off of shit.

Next up was a filler band who played just to kill some time since one of the bands cancelled. They played a few 70's punk rock classics and called it a night after 15 minutes or so. I was outside for most of their set trying to escape the cloud of cigarette smoke inside. Air!

Jangula took the stage and I took a deep breath of crisp, cool industrial park air and headed back inside. The crowd seemed to have doubled since I went outside. Where did all these fuckers come from?

I've been waiting to see Jangula since August. Their recordings led me to believe that they would either be crazy party music or kinda mellow and boring live. Luckily it turns out they're god damn amazing live! How are all you hip blogger people not all over this band?

Within 30 seconds of Jangula's first set it was obvious things were going to get crazy. The crowd started out bopping up and down and after about three songs it was a full on riot - the fun kind. Kids were stage diving and crowd surfing and just getting crazy. It was one of my favorite sets I've seen in awhile and I can't wait to see Jangula again. Oh and have you ever seen the movie The Sasquatch Gang? Well, the singer of Jangula looks just like Justin Long's character in it and that's totally awesome.

After Jangula, the party masters themselves, SHAPES, took the stage. The first couple of songs were slightly marred by technical difficulties but once they got the sound sorted out it was a killer punk show. Even during the first couple of songs when the sound was screwy it had no effect on the reaction from the crowd. The kids were dancing, stage-diving and crowd surfing the whole set. Fanelli got in on the action at one point and jumped off the stage into the crowd.

Personality Crisis is one of the best montly parties in NYC and really captures what the DIY scene is all about. The next one is going to be the 2-year anniversary so make sure to attend. But to recap: Jangula & SHAPES killed it, as they always do, and we all had a hell of a good time but maybe I shouldn't have went back for seconds on the mock Loko.
- Matt Kerestesy from Brooklyn Ski Club

The weather was similarly horrible when Bushwick band Jangula played at the Studio at Webster Hall last week. It was cold outside and inside the club, especially considering how filled the room is.

Maybe the cold contributed to some of the energy. The band jumped around on stage, the audience danced around on the floor. But considering Jangula play bouncy, poppy, New Wave inspired rock, they didn’t need any climatic assistance to get anyone moving. They have rhythms from the dancier side of post-punk. And there is Johnny Campagna’s voice, clear and bold, impressively belted over the stutter shimmer.

Their outfits are New Wave inspired as well; the band opted for toned-down Adam Ant fashion instead of the flannel shirts and leather jackets favored by the other bands on the bill. Jangula’s style is just theatrical enough to be visually interesting without being distracting. Stripes of face paint and dangly feather earings are fun accents, rather than smacking of art students trying too hard to be kooky. None of that is too far out, though, as there are number of people in the crowd with the same stripes painted onto their cheeks.

Perhaps the only thing distracting about the set is Campagna’s QChord, a small, handheld instrument with decent synth sound that allows for a lot more dynamicism than a keyboard (and looks a lot cooler). Even if you don’t like New Wave, you have to admit that Jangula know how to make an impression. - Amanda Farah from BushwickBK

Whoa, Jangula. This Brooklyn-based quartet, birthed from warehouse parties and nursed from their reputation of throwing wild shows, gained a cult-like following over a very short period of time. We were surprised -- no, taken aback -- by what a pull they had (I felt like I was the only one who wasn’t singing along/didn’t know the words). And their popularity is understandable -- they make fun, dance-worthy music, have a distinctive band look, and are one of the sweetest group of people we’ve ever met (really!). They’ve got an undeniably catchy sound, backed by ace bass lines that are complemented by the saccharine sound of a QChord, played as the lead instrument by singer Johnny. They seem to have an innate understanding of what makes good pop. Go listen for yourself: stream/download their tracks here. We recorded a video of their hit “We Both Like Me,” which wasn’t the easiest task, due to the wildly excited group of people dancing in the first few rows. Also, don’t be alarmed by the horse shouting in Korean at the beginning of the vid; that’s just their awesome manager, Eugine Kang. Enjoy!! - Kristen Kim from The Morning After Pills

Last Saturday, I must have spent a good 9 or 10 hours in the company of Jangula and crew, a group of people not only sincerely caring but also wildly hilarious. They invited me over for dinner at their Bushwick pad (Korean BBQ, courtesy of manager Eugine) and poured me a couple glasses of much-needed wine before our chat. To other bands out there: I don’t believe in food bribery but TAKE NOTE! I appreciate home-cooked meals and a little love for the press (wink).

Anyway, brace yourselves for this crazy interview you are about to tune into, which captured only 15 minutes of the entire night. If someone had asked me to transcribe this interview, I wouldn’t even know how. Listen below to hear some ‘godzilla dick talk’ here, a little Hungarian there, and to find out why these guy didn’t name their band The Dairy Farmers. Only 18+ listeners please: - Kristen Kim from The Morning After Pills

'We Both Like Me' by Jangula

Other than its sonorous appeal, I've got no idea what Jangula means either; luckily it doesn't matter. The New York band make catchy, upbeat pop music - what more needs to be said?

You can visit the band by heading to http://www.myspace.com/jangulanyc - Hector Barley from The 405

New York based band Jangula recently sent us some new music that they’ve been working on as of late. The track is called “We Both Like Me” and is a sort of electro-pop song that’s really getting my head nodding in these early morning hours. The band has already toured and opened for some pretty big names in the NYC area and are working hard to make a name for themselves in the scene. Well listen up boys, ATH has taken notice and will stay tuned in the future. - Ryan Ray from Austin Town Hall

Jangula #222 - The Deli

For a band that we’ve never hear of before, New York band Jangula have a matured indie rock sound as evidenced on “Genji Glove.” With it’s driving beat, jangling guitars, thick melodies and bold vocals, the track seems to have all of the ingredients of a college radio hit. We know that band comparisons can be tricky, sometimes risky, but we think Jangular sounds a little like Spoon, and a bit more like the Editors. Combining Joy Division’s driving skeletal rhythms, Brian Eno’s colorful harmonics and Bowie’s imaginative lyrics, their dynamic, genre-bending style is powerful enough to get people dancing and singing along. - Indie Rock Cafe