What are your names?
Jaime April & Jason Moon (APRIL MOON)
What is your genre of music?
Starting out with the most difficult question! Well, all our songs start with a folk feel because we usually first write and jam the songs playing acoustic guitars. When we move into the studio however, Jason sits at the drums and I plug in my guitar so the song might evolve into either rock, funk or even country depending on what mood we’re in. That’s why on both of our albums, you end up with quite a mix of styles. We made up our own genre to describe what we do – it’s called ‘cosmic pub rock’ 🙂
For those who don’t know you, give us a little bio about you as a duo and individuals.
We’re both come from a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada which is one of the most scenically beautifully areas on earth but cold in winter and devoid of much of a music scene. While we were touring England with a band called the Magic Trees we really fell in love with the Northwest. The two of us were friends for years while playing in different bands but didn’t hook up romantically until 2012. That’s the point where we decided that we wanted to develop our own project and move to the Northwest of England permanently to build a life revolving around recording and playing live. Are you signed? So far, we’ve always done everything ourselves because it fits into the way that we like to live our lives. We enjoy both sides of the music industry – going out to play in the evenings and taking care of the business side of April Moon (bookings, promo, etc) during the day. Besides recording and producing our own albums, we also create our own videos and sometimes work with other artists. Although if a record company turned up with a wheelbarrow full of money, we’d definitely invite them in!
We last chatted when ‘ The Sun,The Moon and The Truth’ was coming out , how was that for you?
That album was really good introduction to April Moon for people and sold really well! In fact, we still sell copies at nearly every gig we play even with the new album taking up most of the spotlight. The Sun, the Moon and the Truth is a snapshot of 2013 for us – we had just arrived in this country and everything was new, exciting and sometimes overwhelming. When you listen to that album, you definitely get a sense of being a foreigner. There are songs about the people we encountered, the places that we experienced and also a lot about two people needing to rely on each other.
You are releasing your new album ‘ The Bus Takes The Sad People Away’. What is the meaning behind the album name?
We’d like to leave that open to interpretation- we’ve heard many theories already and it’s interesting to hear how it changes from person to person, sometimes based on mood and surroundings. One thing we find fascinating is how people divide up into those who find the title happy and those who find it disturbing. I guess it depends on whether or not you consider yourself one of the sad people!
What was the writing process like?
We wrote even more independently this time around than with our last project. Only one song on the album was co-written by the two of us (Wild Green Yonder) although we help each other out with the arrangements all the time. Usually the songs start on our phone’s voice recorder even if it’s just a few notes hummed while on the train! A couple of songs on this album we actually started playing live with the band before they were recorded such as Original Face and Take You Down so they were partially shaped by that process.
Describe each track in two words.
Wild Green Yonder- 70’s Groovy
Days Go By- Happy-go-lucky
Smile- Very personal
Bloody Suzy- Beautifully grotesque
Original Face- Zen Rock
Poets and Martyrs- Revolt Together
7th Avenue- Looking back
When You’re Alone- Consciousness spiral
Tonight Everything Is Alright- Country Ballad
Here I’ll Stand- Nature Groove
I Like This Game- Life analysis
Take You Down- Psychedelic Lullaby
Will you be touring this year?
Just like Bob Dylan, we’re on the tour that never stops 🙂 Seriously, did you know he’s been on tour almost constantly since 1988? I think that’s kind of our thing – we have this love of playing for people so we just want to do it all the time.
If so, where will you be heading?
We play 4-5 nights a week, usually within the confines of a triangle that consists of Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool. This year we’ll venture out to Europe and Canada briefly to promote this album but mostly we’ll be playing in the UK.
What made you go into music?
Jason started playing drums in a band in school that would play variety nights and as soon as he realized that musicians attract girls, he was hooked for life. I started music as many kids do – piano lessons and the school band, but didn’t really fall in love with it until Jason gave me my first guitar lesson at age 19 and introduced me to the world of strings 🙂
Do you play any instruments?
Jason plays everything including most of the drums, bass and guitar on the album. I mainly play guitar although I recorded some pretty awesome Pete Seeger-esque knee slaps in the song Bloody Suzy.
Where do you see yourself in 5 Years?
We hope that we will still be able to make a living writing and performing music since it is the best job in the world. As to where we’ll be, who knows! It’s probably better not to know
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
We are both movie and tv addicts and love binge watching series. We also love cooking and going on long rambles through the English countryside (although they’re always better when there’s a pub at the end) Just a few weeks ago we did the Bronte walk in Yorkshire, nearly got lost in the woods and survived!
If you could collaborate with one UK Artist or Band who would it be?
The ultimate dream would be to play with Mick Fleetwood and John McVie! Having those two guys on drums and bass would be so trippy
If you could collaborate with one US Artist or Band who would it be?
Dolly Parton – and why not, she’s awesome
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more into the music scene?
I wanted to be a rock star ever since I discovered No Doubt’s ‘Tragic Kingdom’ album. Gwen Stefani was my idol! Jason’s first musical love was ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’. He saw a movie that had that song in it when he was 10 years old and wanted to be Ringo.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Jason was told that ‘every single person that you meet is the star of their own life. They’re fighting a long hard battle and there is a fascinating story there if you can take the time to learn it.’ I find eternal wisdom in ‘Don’t eat yellow snow’.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians, not about the industry but just as an artist?
Always finish everything. The same advice Neil Young gives songwriters. Always finish what you’re working on. When you get an idea, follow it all the way to the end
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Live for what’s beautiful
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
1. Beer money!
2. Always clip your nails (or you can’t play a C chord)
3. Stay in the moment because you and the audience are creating it together
4. Learn the names of the people working behind the bar
5. And don’t forget to bring a towel!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes we do! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/April-Moon/482195788485547 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aprilmoonband Our website has links to upcoming gigs, pictures, videos and where you can buy our new album – www.aprilmoonband.com
