Hello! I’m Jo-Jo from Jo-Jo & The Teeth, we are a Glam Rock’N’Roll band based in London.
Favourite moment of the year?
Not gonna lie, this year has been a rough one for us, we have been on a sort of hiatus for most of it… My favourite moment so far was probably getting back on stage this summer for the first time since Christmas.
What’s your dream festival & who would you love to perform with?
I think like most artists I’d love to play Glastonbury! I’m from Canada and it always seemed like such a dreamy festival to get to be a part of… I’ve never played it, and I have never been to it- so the verdict is still out!
What’s your take on AI and fake bands flooding streaming services?
Honestly, the world is such a weird place right now! The very concept of a fake AI band is f***ing ridiculous to me, but here we are. I don’t think AI can ever replace the experience of a real life band but I also still buy hard copy music so really, what do I know??
Physical vs Streaming. What’s your opinion on how they affect the music industry now & the future for both?
Like I said, I still buy physical music cause I know that’s going straight into the bands pockets. I know first hand- that’s how we fill up the tank to get to the next venue. I read a lot about how on the whole Spotify and streaming services like it are a “net positive” for artists, and how it’s the best time for independent artists to get their music out into the world, it doesn’t feel that way to me though, but maybe on the whole it is a great thing. To me it has felt like the end of musicians making money on actual music. Now the music appears to be but a byproduct of your career as a marketing and social media manager. I don’t have the answers, but navigating this has not been a great deal of fun for me, and how my brain works. You know, if I had the skills to be in marketing and pr, i’d be doing that you know, and getting paid for it! But I’m a singer, I’m a songwriter, I’m a performer, those are my skills. I personally feel way overstretched, and I can see how really talented and interesting artistic voices are drowning in the overwhelm of having to do it all. So as for the future… I’m a little concerned to be honest.
People are making noise complaints when moving into properties near live music venues. What would you do to keep both parties happy?
Hmm… well certainly when moving near a music venue you must be well aware of the culture and community you are moving into and expect music to be a part of your new reality to a certain extent?? I have never been in this situation but I would think a sound curfew is a fair compromise, as well as planned and organized loud vs. unplugged nights.
What’s your take on shows with mobile phones being banned? Is it good for concerts to be documented or are cameraphones too intrusive?
This is interesting, because my whole career there’s been phones aimed at me, so I just expect and understand that’s part of the experience and part of the job. However, I really do feel for older artists, that must have been such an uncomfortable and distracting transition when the camera phone came into their reality. As an audience member, I barely use my phone and love just living in that moment with the artist and enjoying the show. I personally don’t really like when artists tell their audience what to do hahaha… like when they try to control the audience’s experience – like when they shush the crowd, stuff like that – I can’t with that. I guess my stance for myself is that what the ticket purchasing audience does is none of my business… It’s my job to sing like hell and leave it all out on the stage, and what happens after that I can’t control.
What song do you wish you’d written and why?
Oh my God how could you even decide this…. so many. Like all of Fleetwood Mac lol, a lot of the Stevie Nicks songs really speak to me as a woman, she writes with such a balance of power and femininity. I think she captures the wild heart of womanhood so well.
What’s your favourite tour story?
I can’t think of one isolated tour story at this moment but my favourite part of touring is meeting amazing bands and cool humans. I’ve met a lot of really cool people on the road, people I’ve kept in touch with for years and have become great friends. That’s actually how Jo-Jo & The Teeth met… two different bands on tour, playing at the same gig in London – and the rest is history.
Any releases planned?
Our new single ‘Whiskey Dreams’ is being unleashed unto the world on September 12th! EVERYWHERE you eat your music!