JOTA - Struggling For Life ! (Post-Hardcore - Interview with Nici).
- Please introduce yourself and let me know how it all began with the band ?
Hello Fab, we are Jota, a post hc band - some of us would also call us screamo - based in Halle (Saale). We are Roman, Henne, Nici, Ralle and Hannes and we know each other through the music/concert and diy scene in eastern Germany. As always, we know each other because we've all played together in or with some of our other bands somewhere or visited concerts of bands we've played with. Ralle, Roman and Hannes played together in Varan, Hannes and Ralle play together in Fargo, Henne and Hannes once played together in Desteufels and I, Nici, once played together with Henne because he had helped out on drums with Chaver when I was on weekender with my band Wrest and them.
Henne and Ralle also played together in Farbenflucht and so on. Haha !
When I played with my other band Lynchen at the Reilfest 2022 in Halle, Henne and Ralle asked me if I would like to start a new project with them and 2 others more in the post HC direction and since I had always wanted to do a post HC/screamo project, we didn't hesitate for long. So we played together since july 2022 and founded Jota shortly after.
We played our first show on 28.04.2023 in a metal workshop of the Bermudadreieck Leipzig. So far we have played about 30 shows and all of them were really nice, we are so grateful for the funny things we have experienced on the road and the lovely people we could meet !
- Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
Our sound is like a wave that just comes over you and lets you dive into another world. Strong through a wall of drums, powerful riffs and screams but also fragile through quieter melodic parts. Our set invites you into an atmosphere where you can let your emotions run free, we do the same when we play our set. We often get goosebumps ourselves when we play because there is so much emotions and power in our music that it's infectious to feel your emotions and let them out.
We often stand in front of complete strangers while we play our set and we can see in their eyes how liberated and happy they are to be at this concert with us, which gives us energy to keep going and pushes us to give everything at this moment, because these people in front of us are going through their emotions with us. They feel, so they are real, right in front of us.
- Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences ? How important are the lyrics for you ? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics ?
We write songs about days in life when you feel empty and you think you're going to collapse, about times when you just don't want to get out of bed and the thoughts we sometimes have in our heads. Our lyrics describe feelings of helplessness where we are going through sometimes in life and are meant to show that we are not alone, not even in the worst hours, never. They are meant to inspire people and make their lives better by showing that feeling and dealing with feelings is right and important.
- About your latest or ... future release maybe ?
In the last few months we have been working on our album, our first album. This is really something special for us because we recorded it ourselves with the skills of Henne and Hühnerhanz in our small but nice rehearsal room in Halle between chips, plates, flip flops, bees' nests and used coffee cups with a vocal cabin construction made of a blanket stretched over 2 micro stands and fixed with a lot of gaffa. The mixing desk for the laptop (Hennes Studio) was assembled from 2 tables stacked on top of each other and there were the finest buns with humus and soda from the supermarket next door.
Jan from Hidden Planet Studios gave us the final touches and mixed and mastered our record. The beautiful artwork comes from Roman's creative hands and together we made the ultimate album that we are super proud of and will be released on the 6th of January. With the help of Zilp Zalp Records, Passion Mans Struggle and Dancing Rabbit Records. We can release it on a super nice vinyl, so stay tuned !
- Future plans ?
If you ask for our future, we're currently writing new songs and are looking forward to some really great shows that are already booked for 2025 !
- Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
The craziest dream with the band would be ... A rehearsal room with central heating. Hahaha!
- Next live-appearance(s) ?
21.12. 24 Halle - Hühnermanhattan w/Trigger, Joseph Neuys, Abjured, Planet-Z
27.01. 25 Dresden - Chemiefabrik w/ Dry Socket, Mole.
- Last word is yours..
Our last words go out to all self-managed centres and collectives that take a clear stand against racism, discrimination and nationalism and keep the scene alive by doing youth and educational work, workshops, shows and küfas in social centres and bringing people together. If you live near such a place go there and help or send your kids. There is always someone needed who support with creativity, cooking, organizing or anything else. Always better together!
Greetings to our friends and families who always support us and our friends in bands we enjoyed nice evenings with like Gift and Gyfth, Eat my Fear, Meißel, Neboas, Amen 81, Ancst, Ragana, ClearXCut, Birds in Row, Soastasphrenas, Cirque de la Merde, Welk and so on and of course all the nice people and places we met along the way till now. Also thank you Fab, for your nice zine and your interest in us and our music. (you're soooo welcome ! ed.)
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