Through my volunteering as a stage hand for North by Northeast I not only got to see around 27 free shows but even managed to score an interview with the Ohio musician John Jagos, alias Brothertiger. Opening the soundwave Thursday night [June 16th] at the memorable El Mocambo, Brothertiger played his first Canadian show and left to explore the busy city of Toronto.
It's hard to classify and categorize his music as it tucks in between and borrows from a multitude of genres including new wave, electronic, and pop. Listening to his music, one can definitely see why he cites Prince, Tears for Fears and Talking Heads as influences. There is an overwhelming presence of nostalgia which is expressed through influences of the synth-laden decade of the 80's. This retro feel is comparable to that of Arial Pink's Haunted Graffiti, though where Pink's vocals are stable and weighty Brothertiger has a translucent voice and the overall combination adds to a dreamy blend of soft synth sounds against a backdrop of constant pop rhythms. Songs such as "Feel" have a city vibe, a constant steady rhythmic pattern which he never ceases unless making a purposeful and precise pause for effect. As a result of the steady rhythm, his music can be a soundtrack to a moving train and the the view of the world outside, steadily but calmly passing by.
So how does he fit into today's music and culture scene? His pop, electro, indie-synth blend equals catchy tunes with a real goal of paying attention to life and recognizing happiness. It's a more peaceful approach to looking at life; plugging into to a deeper level of observing and participating within the world and plugging out of the mundane buzzing distractions we find in our lives.
After his set at the Elmo, we stepped outside to better hear one another through the waves of instrumental rock psychedelia happening inside, and I was able to ask a few questions:
How do you classify your style of music?
New disco and dream pop, though it's been called anything from low-fi to chillwave. Actually according to Pitchfork, I'm the new Prince of chillwave.
Where do your ideas start from and what are your inspirations?
I don't think people appreciate youth, or whichever age they find themselves in. People don't appreciate life enough. I find inspiration in daily life.
Do you find it easier to write from a positive event or from negative emotions?
Definitely positive. It's easier for me to write music fueled by happy events about happy things. My music is positive and I try to make music people can enjoy and which makes them happy.
That's very interesting as most people find darker emotions easier to write about. So do you write music for other people then or for yourself?
Other people. It's fun to make songs, upload them and see how quickly the number of people who like it increases in such a short time. It starts off with something personal in my life but then listeners take from it what they will.
There is a pulse to your music which is sort of like a heartbeat or the throb of a city, was that a conscious decision?
Yes! The city definitely has a pulse to it, it's why I want to move to Brooklyn, NY. I love writing about the city, the feel of the living city and the nightlife.
Where do you picture your music being played?
Places where you can dance and enjoy the music. People have told me that it's played in dance clubs, even in Amsterdam.
There are lots of benefits to playing in a church such as the echoey, haunting reverb effect. Would you ever consider playing in one?
Definitely. I love the idea. Atlas Sound played in a church for Northside and it was great. If the opportunity ever comes up, yes!
Random Fact: Photo from Point of View is of a park in New York and was taken by Jagos by a Minolta camera he found in NY for $2.
Lookout for his new album, to be released in September.
It's hard to classify and categorize his music as it tucks in between and borrows from a multitude of genres including new wave, electronic, and pop. Listening to his music, one can definitely see why he cites Prince, Tears for Fears and Talking Heads as influences. There is an overwhelming presence of nostalgia which is expressed through influences of the synth-laden decade of the 80's. This retro feel is comparable to that of Arial Pink's Haunted Graffiti, though where Pink's vocals are stable and weighty Brothertiger has a translucent voice and the overall combination adds to a dreamy blend of soft synth sounds against a backdrop of constant pop rhythms. Songs such as "Feel" have a city vibe, a constant steady rhythmic pattern which he never ceases unless making a purposeful and precise pause for effect. As a result of the steady rhythm, his music can be a soundtrack to a moving train and the the view of the world outside, steadily but calmly passing by.
So how does he fit into today's music and culture scene? His pop, electro, indie-synth blend equals catchy tunes with a real goal of paying attention to life and recognizing happiness. It's a more peaceful approach to looking at life; plugging into to a deeper level of observing and participating within the world and plugging out of the mundane buzzing distractions we find in our lives.
After his set at the Elmo, we stepped outside to better hear one another through the waves of instrumental rock psychedelia happening inside, and I was able to ask a few questions:
How do you classify your style of music?
New disco and dream pop, though it's been called anything from low-fi to chillwave. Actually according to Pitchfork, I'm the new Prince of chillwave.
Where do your ideas start from and what are your inspirations?
I don't think people appreciate youth, or whichever age they find themselves in. People don't appreciate life enough. I find inspiration in daily life.
Do you find it easier to write from a positive event or from negative emotions?
Definitely positive. It's easier for me to write music fueled by happy events about happy things. My music is positive and I try to make music people can enjoy and which makes them happy.
That's very interesting as most people find darker emotions easier to write about. So do you write music for other people then or for yourself?
Other people. It's fun to make songs, upload them and see how quickly the number of people who like it increases in such a short time. It starts off with something personal in my life but then listeners take from it what they will.
There is a pulse to your music which is sort of like a heartbeat or the throb of a city, was that a conscious decision?
Yes! The city definitely has a pulse to it, it's why I want to move to Brooklyn, NY. I love writing about the city, the feel of the living city and the nightlife.
Where do you picture your music being played?
Places where you can dance and enjoy the music. People have told me that it's played in dance clubs, even in Amsterdam.
There are lots of benefits to playing in a church such as the echoey, haunting reverb effect. Would you ever consider playing in one?
Definitely. I love the idea. Atlas Sound played in a church for Northside and it was great. If the opportunity ever comes up, yes!
Lookout for his new album, to be released in September.
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