The Dojo

Every once in a while, I’ll be struck by a particular sound, a sound that moves my spirit as well as my body. This is exactly what Atlanta-based band Jack Preston & The Dojo have done with their debut LP In The Land Of Wanderers. Sonically enticing, Wanderers feels like a journey into a space of light and everlasting funk. And the instrumentation is just sick! Vocals, keys, guitars, horns, percussion, and strings, every sound is heartfelt, emitting the energy of an eclectic collective. On the track “Find A Way,” the vocalists combine their voices into almost a choral presentation, evoking the spirit of gospel and soul, backed by the fused instrumentation of rock and funk.

The Dojo describes Wanderers as “a melange of sound and genre coming together to dance upon the ear, stimulate the mind, and comfort the soul.” Agreed. The album is worthy of at least one, thorough listen. But please believe, once you’ve experienced the sound, one time won’t nearly be enough. - Audio Gumbo

Among the myriad happenings going on around Atlanta this weekend, multi-instrumentalist M.C., and producer Jack Preston and the Dojo Collective are celebrating the release of their debut album, In The Land of Wanderers at the SoundTable tonight (Fri, June 29).
With In The Land of Wanderers Preston and Co. make good on their soul-infused hybrid of funk, rock, and hip-hop tendencies while avoiding the clichés that often hang on genre hybrids such as this. The secret of their success? There's no pomp, and nothing too flashy or presumptuous about any of the album's seven songs, just an emphasis on crafting solid rhythms and melodies. - Creative Loafing

Although the dojo was traditionally an add-on to Japanese temples, they are used today as primary sanctuaries for all forms of training. The same could be said for its lack of use, as its purpose hardly included actual training (students did most, if not all, work outdoors). However, the upkeep was just as sacred as the performance from its housing students. Jack Preston x The Dojo, an up-to-10-piece band who blends hip-hop, funk and rock, do as students of a dojo do – perform outside their training ground. From progressing through Black music using various traditional American sounds to hosting monthly sessions at The Sound Table’s Space2 in Atlanta, JPxTD are a force that the baddest black belt couldn’t reckon with. Jack Preston took some time out to explain The Dojo, their newest album In The Land Of Wanderers, and music’s traditional progression.

SoulTrain.com: Why and how did you guys choose The Dojo Collective as the band name?

Jack Preston: As some may know, “dojo” is a term that describes the training place for various types of martial arts. As slang, our crew began to use the term to describe times when we were working on anything productive. Eventually, our actual training grounds became “The Dojo.” The Dojo Collective actually represents the entire creative collective which includes artists that are not in the core band. The musical band goes by Jack Preston x The Dojo.

ST: On the topic of how The Dojo formed, what really did it for you guys to create In The Land of Wanderers?

JP: As we performed, we really began to form our identity, even as big as our music and artistic community is. But, we wanted to really assert ourselves in putting together this project. We really wanted to show our creative direction. In The Land of Wanderers shows that we are not just wandering around but we do know our journey and our path.

ST: So it elaborates a little bit on you guys as “Wanderers,” so to speak? Does this project give your take on what it means to be a wanderer?

JP: I wouldn’t say that. We say the opposite. We’re not wanderers because we know what we’re doing and what direction we’re heading. We’re exploring the sound of blues and traditional American music but in a progress way.

ST: You touched on your inspirations slightly. Can you elaborate a little more on other musical influences?

JP: I can’t speak for everybody, but I can say that there are modern and more traditional, older influences. We are the generation of the iPod, where our influences come from practically everywhere. Like, you can hear hip-hop and soul, but you can also hear The Beatles, classic rock and Motown in our music.

ST: I would like to get your opinion on how you feel about traditional music like Americana, funk and the original blues being easily accessible, especially since we are in the age where we have digital music as opposed to the time of vinyl when that music came out. How do you feel about the accessibility of older music and how musicians like you guys can take it and make it your own while keeping it from losing its roots?

JP: I know there are people with opposing opinions because they feel like it’s not good for culture, especially if music is free and so easily accessible. Most people think that the less exclusive something is, the less it has value. However, it totally has value and to many it has great value. Throughout my personal career, I loved digging for records and finding a hook or a loop. But, I won’t just press play or take what I hear. I may not know that person’s real name at that time but I’ll learn more about that artist in many ways, from going to different record stores to looking them up on YouTube. In terms of our music, this generation will always have what came from our past generations. We have folks who constantly push the boundaries of sound but will still have music coming from what molded our generation. We’re a compilation of what came before, or each person’s interpretation of what came before. - Soul Train