Larry had a chat with Laneway Festival and Sydney Festival bound artist Nite Jewel to talk about what we can expect from the shows, what’s coming next and much much more…
Where about are you at the moment?
Just at home!
How’s the weather this time of year, you’re based in LA aren’t you?
Yeah, it’s pretty nice!
I was just talking to someone in New York, where it’s the complete opposite.
Yeah, we’re pretty spoiled over here.
Well, we’re obviously here to talk about the fact that you’re about to come down to Australia. This is your first time down here?
Yes!
Are we looking forward to the trip?
Very much so, we are coming in early to Sydney, about 5 days early to check it out and it’s right on my birthday too, so were celebrating over there.
Good one! And right before Laneway you’re going to be doing Sydney Festival as well, I understand?
Yes! I’ve been doing a cover set of Kraftwerk’s Computer World. It started last summer, and I started doing it in a very small fashion for a local newspaper, where people play your favourite album sort of thing. Then we just kind of got swept up by other organisations to do it in a bigger venue with Peanut Butter Wolf, of Stone Throw records, as well as some other special guests and it went over so well that we were asked to play it a few other times in New York and now Sydney. It’s a really special performance.
Well that should be great, you’re doing it in this amazing Spiegeltent.
Yeah, it’s similar to actually what we performed in LA, in somewhat of a tent, an amphitheatre on top of a hill and it translated really well in that environment. So I’m glad that it’s going to be so much similar and not just a dance club or something.
Now, when it comes to the shows you’re going to be doing with Laneway, what can we expect from those? You’ve got an album to promote of course down here…
Yeah, I released an album last March, but we’re still promoting it and I have a full band I cultivated to play these mostly electronic songs. It’s a four piece, guitar, drums, samples, electronics and it’s kind of a more of a dance, rhythmic orientated set, not full-on disco or anything but like a rhythmic set that you can move your body to and I definitely move a lot on stage!
I was just about to ask how that translates on stage… it sounds like a high energy show?
It somewhat is actually, even though Nite Jewel hasn’t always been highly energetic across the albums… it actually tends to be somewhat narcotic, but it doesn’t work to do that narcotic vibe, I get kind of sleepy almost. I need to step it up for the live shows. I love my band, I love my drummer and we just get a little crazy and have a little fun on stage, that’s what it’s all about.
Definitely! Well, we’re looking forward to seeing all that and when it comes to 2013, other than the Australian tour of course, what have you got in store?
I’ve actually been, for the past year, recording a lot of new material. I’m actually in the throes of recording a lot right now, that’s why I missed this call at first, I’m a little bit distracted. I’m just really in a very positive mode of creation at the moment, I’m feeling super-duper inspired and I can’t really turn myself away from the studio right now. It’s just luckily and happily been my focus for the past couple of weeks and will be for the next few months.
Well it sounds like it’s going to be an exciting year for you. One thing you’re known for and obviously we were talking about Kraftwerk before, you’re also known for remixes and covers. Is there anything you been working on in that regard lately?
Well yeah, I don’t know if Australia have heard about it, but I released a cover of Michael Jackson’s “PYT” for this compilation for the Rolling Stone, and I have some sort of obsession with doing covers of African American male funk stars slash rock stars. I don’t know why exactly but I think it’s wanting to live vicariously through their amazing talent. There is another cover that we will be performing live but I’m not going to give it away!
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Nite Jewel will appear as part of Laneway Festival. Dates and details:
http://www.lanewayfestival.com.au/
Check out more about the Sydney Festival show here: http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2013/Music/Kraftwerks-Computer-World-performed-by-Nite-Jewel-Peanut-Butter-Wolf/
Additional Shows:
SYDNEY: THURSDAY JANUARY 31 @ Goodgod Small Club w/- Holy Balm + Buzz Kull + Astral DJs. Tickets on sale now from Moshtix.
MELBOURNE: MONDAY FEBRUARY 4 @ Workers Club w/- Fox + Sui + LA Nites DJs. Presented by Mistletone + LA Nights. Tickets on sale now from the venue. Doors open 7:30pm.
