Interview

EP - Who do we have the pleasure of speaking with today?

R - Hi I’m Robert and I play guitar and sing in Jonezetta.

EP - What is the origin of the name “Jonezetta”?

R – We just made it out of nothing really. We just wanted people to think specifically about our band and no other band. I just wanted people to think of what we’ve done so far and try to be creative with it, having a name that stands for “just you four guys, the music that you make” and things like that

EP – What was the inspiration for the bulk of your freshman debut, “Popularity”?

R – The idea of pop-culture has always influenced me a lot and watching trends go in and out of style, what’s cool now and why. I like to listen to what people like, what’s popular. I always go to Best Buy and buy the brand new CDs, like all of them; I just like to see why people are into certain things. It’s fascinating to me. So the CD was written in that genre of music that’s going on today and our twist on it to try and make it interesting and original and to stand out with what’s going on right now.

EP – Is it supposed to be satirical or an attempt to fit in and improve upon “what’s going on now”?

R – I don’t know if we are trying to fit in, I don’t think we really sound like it or look like it. I just wanted to spring of that idea of popularity and what computers and internet and all that is doing for bands now. I didn’t want to come out being bland, so a lot of the songs are straight forward like “Hot Machete”, “Backstabber” “Popularity”, they all have the one word that grabs you and it’s not blurred. When listeners go to listen to our record, it’s a kind of “hit you all at one time” type CD and that is how we wrote it. And that’s how I think Popularity comes and hits you all at once. That’s just our take on this. In the second record (which we already started writing) it’s completely different. The fans that we get off this CD will be very interested in what we do next. We plan on constantly changing.

EP – You said the second album is totally different; what is the aim of the band with that one? Any message you will be trying to get across?

R – I don’t know yet. I just want it to be a lot different. I feel like we will have an audience and you know how they say that you are trying to convince the audience to date you with your first record. It’s kind of like “Please go out with me, I’m cool”. You start all the songs with vocals and get right to the point every time. But with the second record, you are kind of dating your audience so you can do longer intros, leave more space…what are you laughing at? Have you never heard this before?

EP – (Definitely laughing) No! This makes GREAT sense, which is why I’m laughing!

R – OK (laughing) well, you don’t have to spend so much time trying to convince them you’re cool by coming straight off with loud songs and all that stuff all the time! I am thinking more words, lots more words, not as much attitude, and longer choruses. It will be more about length than straight to the point.

EP – Is there more of a focus on the live show or studio performance?

R – I guess we do the live show a lot different than the CD, it’s a lot heavier, a lot more Rock n’ Roll and that’s what we’ve always wanted to come across as, a rock n’ roll band, not a dance band or a pop band. Rock n’ Roll bands seem to last more and you can move around within a genre. We concentrate more on the live setting. I mean, our last record was really polished and that’s how we wanted it. Man, I talk too much, but we were listening to a bunch of 90s singles and really just singles of records and I got really into that. The whole CD was really set up like that. Wow, I forget what the question even was (laughs)!

EP – Do you feel more at home or in the studio?

R – On the road most definitely. Our band was developed to hit the road as soon as possible. The studio is just a pain.

EP – Does this mean you write better on the road than at home?

R – Yeah, yeah, we actually moved from home to write the record, it just wasn’t getting done there. It was a hard time, I don’t know why; maybe it will be different on the next record. Where we were at the points in our lives, home wasn’t where we needed to be to get things done.

EP – Is there a common goal you as a band wish to reach or a common message you wish to present?

R – I think it’s the idea of not taking yourself or your music too seriously. For us right now it’s a big deal. If you watch our live setting, a lot of people have said things along the lines of how we are passionate about doing what we do. We aren’t too concerned if you are into it or not. And it’s not that we don’t care, we just want you to have a good time and not take yourself too seriously.

EP – Did you ever think you were going to do something else other than music?

R – Yeah (laughs) all the time! I still think of this! That’s actually what the whole record is all about – how far you can take this music thing these days. Are people really caring about a band’s second records? I was just wondering lately how far you can take it, with the internet and all and how everyone wants to know the new, cool band. Everyone wants to be in on the new and cool band. It’s a hard time right now for bands.

EP – What do you feel the key to longevity is than?

R – Constantly recreating yourself. Constantly giving you audience and fans new reasons to love you as a band.

EP – Is there anyone band that comes to mind that does that in your opinion?

R – I think I got this whole idea on this Bob Dylan documentary. He just constantly talked about changing himself. He said that people always hated it whenever he did something new. Like the electric stuff, how people weren’t into it to begin with but they wound up loving it later on. He said that is how he made it so long, by constantly recreating himself.

EP – Who would you say your music most appeals to? I know you want to avoid labeling, but do you think there is a particular crowd you might appeal to the most?

R – Like high-school and college people I guess I would say. Our moms at home like it. I don’t know, maybe an older lady crowd and college and high school?

EP – (Laughing pretty hard)

R – We want the moms to like our band. We will write songs for older women if it comes down to it.

EP – I am going to switch it up here with an off-topic question because I don’t think I really want to stay “On-Topic” much longer (laughing). With being signed to Tooth and Nail, is there an emphasis on being considered a Christian band or does that not affect you too much?

R – We don’t really worry about it too much; I don’t think people really care about that too much anymore. I always give this analogy about the NFL and how I know a lot of Christians who play in the NFL, but they don’t play “Christian” football last time I heard. It’s not the NCFL, the National Christian Football League. It just doesn’t make any sense to tag a label to music like that. We think that as members that if there is nothing to believe in, it’s kind of a dull world and with dull aspects so Christianity is it for us and we’re cool if it’s not for anybody else. It’s just that with nothing to believe in, it’s kind of hard to get up everyday.

EP – Do you have a favorite quote?

R – I suck at this kind of stuff. We always say “Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’” from “The Shawshank Redemption”.

EP – Worst movie you’ve ever seen?

R – My worst is kind of my best sometimes, you see, I love Paul Walker. Paul Walker is the best. Ever seen the movie “8 Below”? By far the WORST movie ever. But I love Paul Walker; he is the worst actor ever. But he is very fun to watch on TV because it’s hilarious. He makes me laugh hard. Comedy or not, I love Paul Walker. However, the worst movie I have to say is...umm… “Waterworld”(this was said unanimously with Jonezetta’s tour manager, Alex, by the way).

EP – Would you rather be in a 60’s Hippy Band, a 70’s Acid Rock Band, 80’s New Wave, or 90’s Grunge?

R – Definitely 90’s Grunge. They were cool. They wore big clothes, not tight ones. They looked cool.