Dublin-based duo, JamLive, consisting of high school friends J on vocals, and Jacob on drums, have created an ethereal musical duo, influenced by Radiohead and U2, fused with acoustic and alternative. The duo’s musical cohesiveness is evident in their lyrics and musical style, and the duo’s vision focuses on the audio as well as the visual. The debut music video for their single “Stay,” features J and Jacob dressed up performing on a desolate land, with interspersing scenes showing the good and bad of a new relationship. Each scene flows smoothly with J’s voice as he sings the story so richly.
In our interview with J and Jacob, the duo chat about their music focused on the audio and visual components, and why they’re both so important, the writing, recording and filming for “Stay,” and what’s next.
You both attended high school together and went separate ways to schooling; what drew you both to pursue music as a duo?
J: Our friendship.
Your music focuses on the audio element along with the visual component. Why and how do you feel these are most important aspects with your music?
J: I think film can be just as important as music. When I write a song I visualize it. I imagine the message and feeling through the video and make a story – one that represents what it means. I then usually tell this to Jacob and we expand. For example, for our next single we planned a video of us running away from evil, finding a house and a key – It was a retelling of the Prodigal Son. I have other songs where I visualize capturing the feeling/emotion/experience of deep grief, loneliness, sadness and resolution visually. Jacob and I agree and expand upon these ideas together.
I absolutely love “Stay”; it’s emotive, lush, and dreamy. What is you guys’ writing and recording process like?
J: Thank you. It was actually a very stressful song. It was redone and took months of editing. We started working on the track in December and had a master in April. But I was very happy with how it turned out with Jacob, me (JamLive), and our producer Joe Egan.
Filming the video for “Stay” features both of you singing on bare land, with clips of a blossoming relationship falling to the wayside, then blooming again. Did you both have a lot of input with the trajectory of the video?
J: We both sat down and did some storyboards together. We worked with the AD, DOP and editor Patrick while filming and taking turns. We enjoyed the experience of directing our vision. The video was all our idea and we planned almost every aspect of it.
What’s next for you guys; a single, a video, a new album/EP, etc.?
J: Next up is a lyric video for our next single ‘Home’ over the following few weeks. A new album
is also in the works.
