Hands down one of the finest bands we’ve ever produced, Derry quartet Jetplane Landing are on the verge of releasing their highly-anticipated new album, Don’t Try. As part of their forthcoming schedule in getting their new material out there and into as many ears as possible, the guys are also set to play this year’s Glasgowbury – undoubtedly one of the most exciting prospects this year’s festival. Talking future plans, the aforementioned new album and all things Glasgowbury, we catch up with the band’s bassist Jamie Burchill to get the lowdown on Jetplane’s summer.
Hi Jamie. It’s safe to say that Jetplane Landing are a rejuvenated band. How are things going at the minute?
Jamie: Rejuvenated? No, we’re always pure tense even when we aren’t making records. It just feels like we are rejuvenated to anyone who doesn’t have to spend the long, patient years in between the records living with us.
You are set to release your fourth studio album, Don’t Try, in the summer. Can you tell us about both the songwriting and recording process? Was perfectionism involved at all?
Jamie: The album was written against all accepted logic. Right, take a deep breath, let me try to explain and give full credit to each and everyone involved. I’d been writing words since our last album, Backlash Cop, and had built up, what we jokingly referred to as: the motherload. Also Cahir had written the largest amount of riffs and musical ideas know to mankind during his protracted dealings with Atlantic records. I sent my lyric ideas to Andrew without knowing what he would use, what he would ditch, and on which songs he would use them.
Still, the melodies had to be written: Andrew and Cahir formed these. I was sending in suggestions from time to time on how each track might develop. Andrew then acted as conduit, organiser and leader of men so we could finish the writing process, bringing each and every disparate idea under control. Amazingly this was all mainly done between the three of us via email as I was living in France during the whole writing process. Even more amazingly it worked! Oh and I should say Andrew mainly wrote the lyrics for ‘Magnetic Sea’, the final track on the album.
Cahir, Andrew and Chris Cassidy recorded the album in Derry, in Smalltown America’s studio. Craig McKean of Fighting with Wire played drums. I just flew in and played my bass parts in a few days, like a make-believe rock star. Voila!
And yes, perfectionism is always involved.
You are, of course, playing this year’s Glasgowbury festival. How are the band feeling about getting out there and playing new material?
Jamie: It’s going to be interesting. How many new songs do you think we can get away with playing? I think we should do a perfectly cut down and rehearsed medley, just like Queen on Live Aid, where we just play all the good ones and a little bit of ‘Hammer to Fall’.
In a broader sense, how important do you think Glasgowbury is to Northern Irish music, in general?
Jamie: I’m pleased to be playing there because it does seem truly independent. Did you read Richard Hawley having a dig at Glastonbury and V festivals? He was talking about what he saw as audiences at corporate festivals paying for the privilege of being ‘trapped in a field and marketed to’. He just about nailed that one. Richard, come on pitch up at Glasgowbury next year, you know you’re going to love it.
In your estimation, what, if anything, sets it apart from other Northern Irish festivals?
Jamie: The view for one thing. Also, see my previous answer.
Outside of performing at Glasgowbury yourselves, who are you excited to catch live this year?
Jamie: I’m looking forward to label mates More than Conquerors and Axis Of and hopefully someone’s selling breakfast baps.
As a gig-goer yourself, do you have anything particular fond memories of Glasgowbury?
Jamie: Being asked to play it about six years ago, it was as flattering at the time as it is now.
Finally, what are the plans for Jetplane Landing over the next few months?
Jamie: Our new album will come out. I can’t wait for people to get a blast of it! Also we’re going on a UK tour in September. There, I’m going to try and get a nice cuddle every night, just like the old days, back in the Travelodge with Cahir.
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Tickets for Glasgowbury 2013 are available to buy here.
Small but MASSIVE.
