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- We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed Australian indie songwriter and producer Jesse Judies; greetings and salutations, Jesse! Before we meander down the Q&A musical pathway, how is the freshly-minted autumn of 2023 treating you?
I usually love Autumn but I live in Sydney and we are on the opposite side of things in terms of seasons. We are in the middle of Spring here and I will tell you, Spring has sprung.
- Major congratulations on the October 27 release of your brand-spankin’ new single I’ve Been There Before along with its beautiful companion music video! Starting at the tip-top, what inspired this gem of a tune?
I was introduced to Bossa Nova by my Portuguese neighbors when I was 11. I had no idea that the Gilberto/Getz record would have such a profound effect on my sense of harmony, but over time I just keep coming back to it when I am looking for something that effortlessly moves through key changes and interesting guitar voicings. Also, I just wanted to express the feeling of freedom and whimsy that riding my bike gives me.
- The new single is the follow-up single to your September release of Colors of Youth. What made I’ve Been There Before the perfect choice to follow Colors of Youth?
I wanted to show listeners another snapshot, or side of myself creatively speaking. I’ve Been There Before is a bit of a creative flex in that it really tested my ability to move through keys and sonic colors if you will. It mixes my different interests like early drum n bass and Bossa Nova. There’s a bit of a nod to Amon Tobin in the song, though I don’t have his beat making skills, so it’s more of a pop tune.
- The release of I’ve Been There Before is building up to your forthcoming full-length album Coup De Foudre. Can you give fans a hint or three as to what they can expect from the upcoming LP?
Absolutely, I think they can expect more color and variation. Change is a heavy theme of Coup De Foudre and I intend to keep things moving in different directions. I have also started working with a different mixing engineer in Sydney and the process has been really fun because we are trying to sign off on ideas the day they happen, rather than going back and forth with revisions. Specifically, there will be more beat oriented songs and references to 90’s aesthetics.
- You produced I’ve Been There Before with the able assistance of Ollie Brown on mixing and the succinct mastering of Josh Weaver. What are the pros to acting as your own producer? And what was it like collaborating with Ollie and Josh?
The pros are that I get to do a lot, and I mean a lot of pre-production at home. Writing, re-writing, transposing etc. Some songs have taken me 10 years to complete, but I know when I bring an idea to either Ollie or Josh, they will enhance whatever structures and sonics are there. In a perfect world, I’d be in the studio with them in LA or Nashville, but because of the separation, it just isn’t possible right now.
- In your humble opinion, what differentiates I’ve Been There Before from the Distinguished Competition on the 2023 music scene?
To me, I’ve Been There Before is a harmonic leap and none of it is “safe.” I put myself in the indie category but IBTB is also a kind of world music vibe too because of the Bossa Nova nylon guitars and rhythmic feel. I can’t say too much about the distinguished competition because I am not exactly sure where my music fits in, but I set out to make something fresh and I succeeded.
- Who inspires you musically?
Astrud Gilberto, Blonde Redhead, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Misch, Earth Wind & Fire, Magic City Hippies, Tim Atlas, Tom Jobim, Talking Heads
- Was working on the music video for I’ve Been There Before as much fun as it was for us to watch it?
Yes, the director, Dominic Bleijie and I collaborated on every aspect of the video. He has the rare combination of creative and organized and was always on the ready to try something new, or find a work around when we hit a dead end. The cast was also stellar and were game for all the twists and turns we threw at them.
- You count both San Francisco, CA and Australia as your musical homes. How do those seemingly disparate roots inform you as both an artist and as a person?
San Francisco has always given me this vast, anything is possible vibe. Coupled with a thriving creative community, San Francisco and the greater Bay Area still inform a lot of my creative choices and collaborative partnerships. Sydney is my physical home for the time being and it has afforded me the experience of having to begin again. Beginning again is also vast and fraught with failures and successes. Since being here, I have met and collaborated with some very talented people. I met Sasha March, Adam Knoflack and Ollie Brown here. Sasha sings on a lot of my new material and even toured the West Coast with me along with Adam Knoflack, who drums for Jesse Judies. Adam also did the remix for I’ve Been There Before. Consequently, Sasha introduced me to Ollie and the both of them have brought out the best in me and my music.
- On the heels of the release of I’ve Been There Before and the upcoming Coup De Foudre, can fans look forward to catching you on the touring/performing circuit?
Yes, I am planning on coming back to California in 2024. Ideally, I’ll hit up LA, Fresno, SF, Sonoma, Oakland and make a week or two out of it. I am not sure about touring in Australia. Sadly, everyone is just sooo busy at the moment. Fingers crossed!
- At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving I’ve Been There Before many-a-spin on their respective turn-tables?
I hope they engage and move their bodies, or let their minds go to a creative place. IBTB is really something to be experienced in different venues, like your car, home, riding your bike, or the bus with headphones. Thank you for the interview! These were great questions.
Music Video for “I’ve Been There Before” on Youtube
Listen on Spotify | Apple Music
