What are your names?
Danny Collins (Guitar and Vox)
Aaron Forde (Bass and Vox)
What is the bands name?
JW Paris
How did you come up with the band’s name?
Well the name comes from a story about one of the world’s most cursed diamonds, which originated as The Black Orlov. It’s a black diamond, also known as the Eye of Brahma Diamond. In the early 19th century this diamond was stolen from a statue of the Hindu god which according to legend, this theft caused the diamond to be cursed. In 1932, diamond dealer JW Paris is said to have taken the diamond to the United States and soon after committed suicide by jumping from a skyscraper in New York City. Later owners included two Russian princesses with both women allegedly jumping to their deaths in the 1940s. The diamond was then split into three pieces in order to break the curse and now sits within the Museum of Natural History in New York City.
What is your genre of music?
thrashy guitar-driven indie
Give us a little bio about you.
JW PARIS have supported the likes of Pretty Vicious, Slaves, The Amazons and Yonaka to name just a few. Taking influences ranging from Smashing Pumpkins, The DandynWarhols, Nirvana, FIDLAR, Blur and Suede has given them a raw anglo-american, alt-rock swagger that wouldn’t sound out of place in the brit-pop heyday. The duo are currently on the hunt for a permanent drummer.
JW PARIS have been described as a ‘Band to watch in 2019’ (Fred Perry SubCulture) and have gained coverage across GigSlutz, Some Might Say and Indie Underground. JW PARIS have a string of stand out singles under their belt including ‘Darker Side of Paradise’,‘Rapture’ and ‘Radio’, all mixed by Hugo Nicolson (Grammy award-winning: Primal Scream, Radiohead and Bjork) and mastered by John Davis at Metropolis (U2/Noel Gallagher). New single ‘Favourite Thing’ features brass lines/hooks courtesy of (feral) Child from Longy and The Gospel Trash.
What made you go into music?
We’ve been developing our love for music from birth, with Aaron (Vocals/Bass) and Danny (Vocals/Guitar) knowing each other like brothers, as their dads were in the band Choke throughout the 90’s and they had a dalliance with EMI. It was hard for both of us not to be surrounded by guitar-based music, which in turn influenced everything we’ve done today.
Your set to release your new single ‘Favourite Thing’, tell us more about the single.
It was created in the middle of the Joshua Tree desert in October 2018, away from phones, screens and the pressure of social media. We created a song that represented our frustrations with getting our voices heard, not only in our music creativeness but the constant pressure that is put on you to achieve someone’s prefabricated idea of success. We want this song to inspire and influence anyone that feels like they can’t get their voice heard or feel they are powerless to change their current situation. Favourite Thing is an anthem to help you fight back against the generic and mundane.” So far, it’s had airplay from: BBC 6 Music, Steve Lamacq; Chris Hawkins; Jaguar Bingham, BBC Introducing Beds, Herts, Bucks; Janice Long, BBC Radio Wales; Hailsham FM; Diverse FM; Kool Rock Radio (Playlisting) (Peru); Banks Radio, Valley 89.5 FM (Australia), Rodney Bingenheimer, Sirius XM (America), Student Radio Association (Playlisting), Xtreme Radio, Swansea.
Describe the track in two words.
Soundscape Guitars
What was the writing process like?
We saved up for a whole year to take a road trip across California, in the quest to write the next EP worth of songs. This took us to Santa Monica beach where we wrote (Royalty, our 2nd single) to San Francisco, then a house party in Bakersfield to getting lost in the Joshua Tree desert. That’s wherein the desert we started to write ‘Favourite Thing’ on a beat-up old guitar we got from a second-hand store. Also, we decided to shoot a music video for our track Radio whilst out there, which features us smashing the very guitar we wrote ‘Favourite Thing’ on.
What was the recording process like?
For this single we worked with JB Pilon at Buffalo Studios, we instantly dug his 60’s/70’s vintage packed studio in East London. We wanted this recording to be as creative as possible and not be protective about its arrangement, we wanted to completely rip it up in the studio and get another input. JB is an analogue genius and gave us that input, even had us screaming through old soviet microphones plugged through vintage guitar amps. Also, for ‘Favourite Thing’ you’ll hear some amazing ambient guitar sounds throughout the record, this was input from another producer MATTA (Luis) who has worked with the likes of Jamie T and Mick Jagger to name a few.
Who did you work with on the single?
As mentioned above we worked with JB Pilon (Producer), MATTA (Luis)and had it mastered by John Davies (Metropolis) !
Will we see a music video?
The music video is set to be launched a week after our single launch date on the 6th December, the video features Ellie Duckles from the Netflix show (The A List)
Will we see an EP or Album anytime soon and if so what can we expect?
We have our second single ‘Royalty’ which should be coming out in February – if we could make an EP it would be great to get that for the middle of next year.
Do you have any shows coming up?
Favourite Thing Release Show – 10th December – Werkhaus (Brick Lane)
2020 February Tour – TBA
What else can we expect in 2019/Early 2020?
We are just finishing the shows of 2019 for Favourite Thing, the video release and then we plan to head out on tour for February 2020 with the release of our next single ‘Royalty.’
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
Yes – like our current records, we think collaborating with people makes songs a hell of a lot better.
Do you play any instruments?
Guitar, Bass, Piano.
Who are your influences?
Everyone from Bowie, Iggy, Lennon to more contemporary artists like BRMC, Dandy Warhols, FIDLAR, Jack White and Gary Clark Jnr.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
From life experiences, boredom and frustration.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
In the ideal world, headlining the first festival we ever went to, Reading…
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Both slug it away in marketing 9-5 roles
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more into the music scene?
BRMC – Whatever happened to my rock and roll
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Make music that you want to play and listen to, don’t give a fuck if it’s only you that enjoy it, at least you’re doing what makes you happy and not anyone else’s preference.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
The above, always make music you want to make and try. It’s better to try then to have always wondered what if.
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
The George II pub – that’s like a second home for us when we are back in Luton.
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first?
to the studio
2/ Who do you see first?
Tescos
3/What do you eat first?
Everything
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Beer
Hairspray
Batteries
Instruments
Chelsea Boots
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
TW / IG / FB
