We truly enjoyed listening to ‘Thoughts’. Relevant and meaningful on both songwriting and sonic levels, the track finds its strong identity in sleazy 90s rock stylings, indie elegance and dreamy textures, developing into a hazy shoegaze offering – although the final result is pretty eclectic. Penned by British creative J.J. Chamberlain, the track delves into themes of mental health and personal struggles.
Written after a painful event in J.J.’s life, ‘Thoughts’ functions almost as a cathartic offering, sharing a slice of understanding and hope with the listeners. The single’s friendly melodies and strong emotional energy are a perfect match for Chamberlain’s nuanced songwriting, allowing him to craft a strong, elaborate single.
Intrigued by the York-based artist, we caught up with him to learn more about his artistry and future goals… interview below!
Hey J.J., how is it going? some of our readers might not be familiar with your project, how would you describe yourself, in a few words?
I’m a DIY musician, songwriter and producer. I write songs for 3 different bands, two of which I front, however, this is my first-ever solo project.
Your current work is the result of a long journey; What first drew you to making music?
I’ve been in love with music since day 0. My first instrument was the violin and I played in an orchestra as a child. Then one day my Dad came home with a copy of Nevermind by Nirvana and I was playing the guitar within weeks. I never looked back. Always wanted to write my own songs.
If you had the opportunity to pick any artists in the world for a collaboration, who would be your first choice? (and second choice, perhaps?)
I’d love to work with Tom Waits, his musical style is profoundly different from my own but I reckon together we’d come up with some crazy ideas. Otherwise, I’d have to say Stephen Malkmus of Pavement. I love the way he writes stream-of-consciousness lyrics and the crazy tuning (or lack of) in his guitar playing.
You have just released a mellow and evocative gem, ‘Thoughts’. Balanced between sleazy 90s rock stylings, indie elegance and dreamy textures, it’s incredibly vibrant and hazy. What does the song mean to you, on a lyrical level?
First of all, thank you, I take that analogy as a massive compliment. ‘Thoughts’ was written after a massive tragedy. I penned the lyrics in response to a great loss, so lyrically I feel that it displays the rawness that comes from being forced to cope with the loss of an important person in your life. I didn’t change any of the words along the way, attempting to maintain that raw emotion that I was (and to an extent still am) feeling.
We love the guitar tones in it; truly spacious and shoegaze-like. Is that a quality that you feel belongs to your project? You have mentioned Johnny Marr as one of your key influences, and we can easily notice that in your playing…
I guess it comes through yes. I think it’s natural that any guitarist would emulate their biggest influences and for me, people like Johnny Marr have that type of definition that I seek in my own playing. I’ve always been a fan of floaty guitar parts, that as a listener make you hone in on the spaces outside of the main rhythm. I also think that type of minimalism draws more attention than over-played guitar solos. While it’s impressive to hear someone really rip it, it’s definitely more of a visceral experience when the listener is made to search further for a melody.
Do you feel more confident writing music alone, or within a team?
Either. Probably more confident alone as there’s no one to compromise my ideas, however, that’s sometimes not such a bad thing. Music should be about collaboration.
Artistically speaking, what challenges have the last two years presented you with?
Finding the time to fit everything in. I’ve just finished playing Kendal Calling with Mich Dulce and Her Midnight Callers which was amazing, and I’ve lent myself to a lot of other projects, like an excited child. My idea was to have this solo album done by July but I’m still only 85% there. So in a nutshell, time has been the biggest challenge.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
I’ll be gigging these songs as far and wide as I can take them. I’m playing a few shows in Yorkshire over the coming months and I’ll be taking the show to London with a full band between now and the new year. I’ve also been asked to contribute a song to a collaboration album called Cross Atlantic Transmissions by some of my friends in Atlanta, GA. After that, the album will be out.
