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The countdown has begun on the region’s biggest indie music festival. The Singapore edition of Laneway 2015 happens next year on January 24 at The Meadow, Gardens By The Bay.
Organizers have assembled a stellar lineup of the hottest names in indie rock, pop and electronica, including Jungle, Royal Blood, St. Vincent, Lykke Li, FKA Twigs, Banks, Chet Faker, and Future Islands.
Other names on the bill include Angus and Julia Stone, Courtney Barnett, Eagulls, Little Dragon, Pond and Rustie. Singaporean and regional acts are also performing, including Enterprise and Pastel Lite from Malaysia, and .GIF and Hanging up the Moon from Singapore.
Rappler, which is the exclusive media partner of Laneway in the Philippines this year, will run a series of interviews with some of the artists playing in Singapore. First up is Josh Lloyd-Watson, who, along with cohort Tom McFarland, founded the seven-member modern funk-soul group Jungle.
Jungle’s busy earnin’
The British band plays a groovy mix of finger-snapping, headbanging dance pop music with an unmistakable urban, R&B edge. Imagine bell bottoms, flowery prints, platform shoes and Afros in a modern-day dance club, or the music of Outkast given a more disco vibe and transported to the mirrorball-ed parties of the 1970s.
They have such a unique, fun sound that critics and audiences alike have taken notice, barely a year since their formation. They’ve played to sold-out shows worldwide and their self-titled debut album was shortlisted for the 2014 Mercury Music Prize.
Rappler: Hey Josh. Where are you and tell us what you see in your area.
Josh Lloyd-Watson: I am in Texas, near Austin, and what I can see on the floor are spiders and beetles.
How did Jungle get together?
Well, Tom and I, we met when we were kids. We were neighbors. We played music all the time. It was about a year ago when we finished some songs, producing a few in the bedroom, basically just hanging out and having a good time. Then we started writing some more music. After that I guess we just called [the band] Jungle. We didn’t really expect much. We put a few songs up on Soundcloud, told a bunch of our friends. And here we are.
How’d you get the name Jungle?
I don’t really know. The name can mean anything. I think we liked the fact that Jungle can mean so much to so many different kinds of people. I guess with the type of music that we do, it seemed logical to name this project [after it]. At the end of the day, the music should kind of outweigh the name. And I think Jungle just felt right at the time.
You’re 7 in the band. What’s the dynamic like?
It’s like a big family. We’re all just friends and friends of friends. It’s so much fun so far. We’re just having a good time.
You guys just started last year, and already you’ve been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize. That must’ve been gratifying.
It’s so awesome just to be nominated. Unbelievable, really. It feels really special.
What do you think would you be doing if you didn’t pursue music?
(Chuckles). I don’t know. Something old-fashioned maybe. It’s nice to just be having fun. It’s not about money or fame. It’s about being happy. I’d like to be involved in something that has that [element].
You’re playing in Laneway next year. Have you been to this part of the world before?
Well we made it to Australia before. And Singapore once before, but not with Jungle. It’s very multi-cultural. We’re looking forward to coming over.
What can fans expect from a Jungle live show?
A lot of energy. We always try to put something extra [whenever we perform]. We’re quite fun to watch and quite fun to listen to. You know, just kind of bring The Heat. (laughs)
–Rappler.com
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