THIS WEEK: JAY STANSFIELD
Jay Stansfield is a singer/musician from Lancashire making lovely left of centre music that seems to be neither pop, folk or rock but a little of each (and that’s a good thing in my book). I was meant to see him play last month at one of Battery In Your Leg‘s fine gigs alongside The Big I Am and Port Isla but life wouldn’t let me. Hopefully I will get to see him live soon.
Recordingwise Jay has a 60s style to his songwriting with an early 70s singer-songwriter underbelly if you listen a little closer. Not easy to pin down but in my opinion (and no doubt in Jay’s opinion too) all the better for not being too tightly pigeonholed.
Photo by Christoph Voy
So what do we get with Mr S?
Great pop sensibilities, great tone of voice and some tasty lo-fi leanings – though these are neither cheap nor thrown together quickly (as some critics seem fond of describing the lo-fi among us). There are curly-wurly swirling guitar shapes that come across like Graham Coxon after a visit to Syd Barrett’s kitchen parlour. This is a man of dapper tastes with a certain sartorial eloquence – check his Hunter-S-Thompson-goes-Lancashire look above – which hasn’t gone unnoticed around these parts.
Jay has a fine album out at the moment called ‘Lovism’ on White Label Records. If you like your music with a dash of sixtiesness, a splash of extra terrestrialness and full of character & floaty soundscapes flipped into an almost prog like trance then this is the gear for you. And that’s only describing a song or two. Phew, Mother pass me a wet flannel will ya. You’ll find some weird and wonderful eclectic pieces on his Soundcloud page, like this one:
Jay Stansfield comes across as a really nice fella (always a bonus in this unthankful world) and I really like what he does. Rush out and try this music – its good stuff. Give it time and hopefully you’ll be rewarded too – you can find Jay via his website, Facebook, Souncloud and Twitter pages.
1. What are you up to at the moment?
Currently touring and promoting my album LOVISM which has been released by White Label music. It’s been an intense tour with over 20 dates across the UK but really fun. Met some great people, played to some awesome crowds and slept in some weird places- one of which was The Adelphi in Hull where I slept, quite possibly, in the same seat as where Stephen Malkmus and Jarvis Cocker sat their musical bum cheeks.
2. Favourite childhood memory?
Watching my friend vomit back about eight Ferrero Roche’s in 1984 onto the pavement outside my home on Clifford Street. Not sure if the vomit contributed to the entire street being demolished and forcing my family out of our home though, I think that may be just a coincidence…
3. Hero?
Wayne Coyne because he’s awesome and doesn’t give a toss about what anyone thinks and breaks convention.
4. Villain?
Mum-Ra the Ever Living from Thundercats
5. What/who makes you laugh?
My daughter Maisy has been making me laugh since she was inside the womb
6. Describe what you do?
I facilitate a stream of songs that seem to want to constantly appear from my body and then record them with my producer Rob so people can hear them all around the planet. I also do a bit of mixed martial arts.
7. Whose hair would you like to have for just one day?
Kojak
8. Best musical experience to date
Supporting Mike and the Mechanics at the Villa Marina on the Isle of Man
9. What artist inspires you?
There a quite few inspirations out there for me personally so it’s difficult to say. I’ve always been inspired by artists who push boundaries or defy convention like Aphex Twin, Lightning Bolt or Steve Reich. I don’t try to emulate those artists but they always inspire a sense of freedom to not care what people might think of my songs.
10. What does Fresh On The Net mean to you?
Fresh On The Net is like a backbone for emerging artists and it means a lot not only to be supported by it but also to know that music is getting the exposure it deserves in this modern, over saturated internet music meat market.
