Jazica

Jazica, hailing from southern England, is a quartet that does not fit nicely into any given category. Electropop but with a traditional lineup (Nick Haverly (bass), Kev Jones (drums), Frankie Murdoch (vocals, guitar, synths), and Chris Smallwood (guitars, synths, electro beats)), indie sound but not the same old prepackaged feigned angst, the best way to describe their music is sagacious. Here are some comparisons that may help: inviting like Friendly Fires, sexy as Metric, distinct as Guillemots, and yet savvier than the average band cause they can generate a unique sound (like the aforementioned bands). In the proverbial nutshell, this is music that will perk your ears up a bit and grabs your attention.



Supporting bands like Chew Lips and Delphic and being finalists in the Road to V Competition in 2009, Jazica are now achieving radio play on BBC Radio. On 16 January 2010, Jazica released a four-track EP titled “Cut Shapes.” “Sugarcane” is the opening track, starting with a mysterious air and ushering in affected vocals, there is this perfect mix between digital and analogue sounds. Followed by “Laid Back,” the mood changes into more of their “punkish” influences; keeping their singular pop sensibility, the song is the most guitar and drum driven on the collection. “Start,” my favorite, has that Banshees’ “Kiss in the Dream House” quality. Outside of their regular comfort zone, experimental in arrangement and mixing without being inaccessible, though it is a song that anyone can really appreciate, it is truly a song for true music lovers. The collection completely changes pace for the final track, “Follow the Rhythm” – upbeat, quirky, and truly 80s in its heart, this is amazingly playful song that breaks with the current trends of what 80s references bands are making. But that is the thing about the “Cut Shapes” EP and Jazica in general, the references are wider and more idiosyncratic than most of the bands out there; add that with their own sense of pop sensibility and how to approach music, you have an EP worth adding to your collection and a band you need to check out and support. - Slow Dive Blog

There's something about the electro-indie-pop generation that's disappointing. The synths, the twangy guitars, the tongue-in-cheek disco drum beats - it all adds up to a sea of diluted mediocrity. Fortunately - to extend the metaphor further - seas often hide small patches of treasure and give way to hidden coves of paradise. Jazica drown all stereotype in that sea: whilst indie, electro and pop in equal measure, they are not disappointing. Far from it. They're actually quite impressive...




'Boy' sounds like a collaboration between Pacman and Lily Allen, the opening arpeggios reminiscent of a wasted youth in video arcades. Another equally chart friendly yet still adventurous track 'Flash Flash' proves that hooks don't have to be annoying. 'Illusions' and 'Arp Attack' bring a much harder breed of song. Although they conform with their overall sonic image, the production and controlled agression show an incredibly mature side to the band.

The most striking feature of all the songs is the ability to juxtapose the hypnotic sing-song swooning of Frankie's vocals with the hard, crashing guitars and buzz-saw synths that perforate the sound every so often. On paper, the combination sounds horrific: imagine a project with KT Tunstall and Brian Eno. It shouldn't work at all. But it does.

Jazica seem to cover every angle you could want from a band - they are controlled, stylish, smart, adventurous, slick and just...cool. Good, old-fashioned cool. This is a group worth saving from the wreckage in the sea.

Review written by LF - This Window

JAZICA - SOUTHSEA FEST 2009

mINtSOUTH: Tell me a bit about yourselves.
Chris: “We’re Jazica, we’ve been together about three years. We started off sounding all seasidey but now we’ve started going a bit darker and poppier.”
Frankie: “And dancier, and more fun onstage. Our aim is to finish a show with sweat from head to toe.”
Nick: “And we don’t even care whose sweat it is.”

mINtSOUTH: The Road To V competition – has that helped in any way?
Frankie: “For that we had to cram a set into 15 minutes, so we had to jump around, we had to get to that sweaty point in 15 minutes.”
Nick: “It’s opened a lot of doors actually, hasn’t it? Having the name out there now.”
Chris: “Our drummer was recognised in a cinema the other day. That’s quite exciting. Exciting this fame thing isn’t it?”
Nick: “I want to be recognised in Waitrose in Sheffield. Then I’ll know I’ve made it. That’s the goal.”

mINtSOUTH: Southsea Fest – discuss.
Frankie: “Really looking forward to [playing at Southsea Social Club]. It’s right next to the VIP lounge, so free booze all round. It’s a really cute little venue as well, it’s got a lost of space but it’s quite cosy still. The rest of the festival has been pretty good so far, seen a couple of random bands – the showcase winner (Ribbon) who was interesting, very theatrical. I can’t believe the weather, it’s amazing isn’t it?”
Chris: “To quote the guy we saw onstage earlier on, he said ‘The weather has come out.’ That was quote of the day so far.”

mINtSOUTH: Any bands you’re looking forward to seeing?
Jazica: “Blakfish and Tubelord. Joy Formidable. Thomas Tantrum, James Yuill, Band of Skulls, and Official Secrets Act, who are amazing.”
Frankie: “Fresh Legs I’d like to see, but I have seen them twice in the last week!”

mINtSOUTH: Which band member would you eat first on a desert island?
Chris: “We could eat Kev and still do gigs, because we’ve got an electric drum machine.”
Frankie: “That’s a really a disturbing question!”
Nick: “I’m seriously thinking about which bit I’d eat first, which is really worrying me.”

mINtSOUTH: Gorilla versus bear – who would win in a fight?
Nick: “I thought it said Godzilla versus bear! I thought that was a bit one-sided.”
Chris: “I recently saw a film called ‘Mega Shark versus Giant Octopus’. Not that you’ve asked me that question, but I’m going to tell you anyway. Really bad special effects, brilliant acting. A shark bites a plane from mid-flight. It’s definitely worth a watch… A gorilla would win I reckon.”
Nick: “It depends what sort of bear it is. Polar bears are quite tough.”
Chris: “I don’t know where we’re going with this.”
Frankie: “I think you should just say that sharks will win.”
Chris: “The shark was better. The octopus they hardly showed because you have to do more special effects with an octopus.”
Frankie: “Anyway…”

mINtSOUTH: How did you choose the name of your band?
Frankie: “I went to India and played a gig in a beach bar, and the guys there called me Jessica. They put it on the poster but they spelt it wrong and I kept the stage name.”
Chris: “We need to make up a new story don’t we?”
Frankie: “There was this massive shark, and it tried to bite this plane, and they called it Jaws but that had already been done before so they called it Jaz, and the plane was called Atlantica…”
Chris: “…It had Jaz tattooed on the side of its head, so when it bit the plane, put together it said Jazica.”
Nick: “Music with a bite.”

Shoutbox –
Jazica: “We’re supporting Delphic at the Joiners at the end of October – they’re amazing, a sea of sounds and hypnotic beats that just get you moving. Keep checking our MySpace, we’ve got a lot of new songs that we’re recording at the moment and there are some good ‘uns.” - http://suzysims.blogspot.com/2010/01/interview-jazica.html

The visiting outfit on the night were Jazica, who formed at Southampton University, but mostly come from the Coventry area. Fronted by Frankie, this indie foursome have a quirky, breezy and different sound with a pleasing and uplifting summery frothiness on top. There was plenty of room, though, for some decent FX guitar work. I've heard plenty of positive mutterings about Jazica over the last week, so I reckon we'll be seeing this lot again soon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2008/07/04/music_blog_040708_feature.shtml?page=2 - BBC Hereford and Worcester

Jazica love their synths, guitars, drums and best of all they love writing great pop songs. The people love Jazica too and have so far voted them into the final six of the “Road To V”.

Music from their excellent mini-album ‘Illusions’ which veers from tracks that could grace TV commercials to songs that should fill the darkest of clubs.

They were great live. Slick and energetic. A real treat." - Xan Phillips

In the Post #41: Jazica – Illusions

By Phil Singer on Wednesday, 25th November 2009 at 12:00 pm

Jazica (side)I first came across Jazica when they opened for Delphic and Two Door Cinema Club last month, and now have managed to bag a copy of their maiden EP, Illusions.

Formed originally way back in 2007, they were originally a duo doing mainly acoustic based music, before discovering a MicroKorg and changing to a more electro sound with “Boy”. Now they’ve fully embraced synths and keys with tracks like “Arp Attack” being very reminiscent of Crystal Castles (but without crazy Alice). Sounding like a mish-mash of many great artists – CSS + Klaxons on “Illusions and “Boy”, Laura Marling on “Dreamer”, Massive Attack on “Flash Flash” – it’s like an eclectic mixing pot of aceness to my ears.

One of the strongest points about the EP is lead singer’s Frankie’s voice – vulnerable and full of the wide-eyed wonderment – like Jose Vanders, or Cassie from Skins if she was in a band. “Come, come, come stay over” she implores on opening track “Illusions”, and you can’t help but sit up and pay attention. However, it’s not all about Frankie – Chris Smallwood’s electro beats are a constantly changing smish-smash of sounds and feelings, taking you from midnight rave to 5am blues perfectly.

If you’re yearning for a bit of summer, Jazica’s maiden EP could be what you’re waiting for to tide you over ’till festival season 2010. Take a listen to “Boy” below. - There Goes The Fear

LIVE - JAZICA (Frankie +)

With Frankie's great vocals, stage presence and song writing skills combined with the wild guitar playing and synth doodling of Chris, along with the thumping drums and humming bass of Kev and Nick respectively, Jazica are the latest unsigned group from Southampton who have garnered some respectable quotes.

From Mintsouth's "Colourful hyperactivity" to Phil Jackson at BBC South Live declaring: “A fantastically hooky piece of quirky electro pop that never fails to get my head bobbing up and down in a fashion that's unseemly for a man of my age"

You might know this already but Jazica started as an acoustic act so we are delighted to hear them at their roots level this Monday during Demo Cellar in the Soul Cellar. - Listed

These inspiring locals will generate their soulful electronica based pop on their home ground this month. Since their formation from Solent Uni almost 4 years ago, these guys are their own writers, recorders and producers who are rapidly becoming more acknowledge on a national scale. They've previously been featured on BBC Radio 2 with Steve Lemacq and also on BBC 6 Music with Tom Robinson, as well as supporting established acts such as Fight like Apes, Esser and The Spinto Band. their wide varieties of musical influences are noticeably reflected in their work, with a selection of the inspirations being Massive Attack, Bloc Party and Bjork. Their flavour of electronica indie pop is accentuated by the unique smooth vocals from singer Frankie Murdoch, which are supported well by edgy electro vibes and powerful synths. - Joiners, Southampton

The visiting outfit on the night were Jazica, who formed at Southampton University, but mostly come from the Coventry area. Fronted by Frankie, this indie foursome have a quirky, breezy and different sound with a pleasing and uplifting summery frothiness on top. There was plenty of room, though, for some decent FX guitar work. I've heard plenty of positive mutterings about Jazica over the last week, so I reckon we'll be seeing this lot again soon. - BBC Hereford