Microcinema Magazine

Interview by: Steve Piper

MCM: Hi Jake, thanks for taking some time out to talk to us.  It's always good to get the ball rolling asking if you could tell us a little bit about yourself and your music for the sake of those readers who haven't come across you yet.

JAKE: Well, I'm originally from Boise, Idaho where I guess you could say I got my start musically.  I was very involved throughout my school career with singing and performing in choirs, theatre etc., but it's rock n' roll that I really enjoy playing with my band.  I spent some time in Seattle and then settled in New York City and have been there ever since.  I've met an amazing array of musicians over the years just from being on the music scene.  My music is all about melodies and hooks that keep people singing for days.  Some recent press has said: "Stigers is a singer/songwriter at heart, but he loves the full band and he does a damn fine job of combining both.   His songs are beyond catchy."

MCM: Last year you put out "Comin' Back Again", is this your first release? And how has it gone? You've had some great reviews.

JAKE: Yes it is my first release and it has gone quite well.  It's been received with rave reviews from press to radio, including yourself! Shut-Eye Records had this to say:  "Simply put, this album rocked my socks off.  Rarely do I get the pleasure of reviewing a CD that I enjoy flawlessly from start to finish.  Jake Stigers exemplifies the fun, buoyant spirit of pop/rock that we've all missed so dearly.  This is authentic rock n' roll - raucous guitars, snotty vocals and a hint of that good ol' vintage vitality. Jake Stigers proves that rock n' roll is truly Comin' Back Again."

MCM: The album's an interesting mix; a lot of American sounds, but a lot of British sounding stuff in there too; parts reminded me of The Who, Beatles and Rolling Stones; was British rock and roll an influence on you? What other artists have shaped you and your style?

JAKE: Yes, British rock and roll was definitely an influence.  I grew up listening from everything from XTC to The Cult to the Stone Roses.  I actually get a lot of comparisons to Mick Jagger, so I guess I would have to say that the Stones have been an influence as well.  Without a doubt I relate to the down and dirty rock and roll.  Any early, pre "Back in Black" AC/DC speaks to me as well.  The Band, Cheap Trick, Supertramp, have all influenced me.  Vocally, The Staple Singers, Curtis Mayfield and Al Green, I have a real sweet tooth for soul music.

MCM: What got you into music in the first place, have you always been strumming tunes on a guitar?

JAKE: I actually didn't start playing guitar until my early twenties at which point I knew that I had to learn a chordal instrument.  I got tired of relying on other people to put music to my lyrics. Everyone always wanted to make things more complicated than they needed to be & at that point I only knew how to play the drums.  My earliest influences were my older brother
Curtis and my mother.  We always had music around the house. Music has just always been a part of my life.

MCM: Any plans for a new album? And what can we expect?

JAKE: Definitely, I am actually in pre-production now and am hoping for a release early next spring. You can expect some similarities to my first record in that I'm always trying to keep rock n' roll dangerous.

MCM: You seem to be gigging constantly, do you prefer the live side over slaving in the studio?

JAKE: Actually, I like both.  They're two completely different animals.  In the studio you are just trying to capture sounds and emotions, and on the live gig, things are natural, they just flow and come out.  I like the spontaneity of the live performance.  The audience is different every time
and I really feed off of that.

MCM: I caught one of your acoustic radio sets which was broadcast over the Net (thanks to Suzanne, Jake's wonderful manager for the heads up on that!), it was a great performance; has it been an interesting experience doing all the radio work? I can picture it as kind of strange that you're in such a small, intimate, studio-style environment yet you're having to stay switched on to the fact thousands of people are listening in, all whilst getting virtually no audience feedback because you can't see or hear them!

JAKE: That's the great thing about playing on the radio, it just feels like I'm in my own private world, or at least that's the way I like to think about it. The great thing about the internet and on-line broadcasting is that people from all of the world can catch the show.  I had fans from North Carolina and Oregon able to listen in, London too!

MCM: And you've been doing quite a bit of acoustic stuff in performances and on radio; is it a different feeling to playing with the whole band?

JAKE: Of course, the songs aren't as fleshed out and with the whole band you have the whole group's input taking you to the places you are coming from with any particular song, but playing acoustic you're able to get back to that raw emotion, that first seed of the idea before it was able to blossom and grow.

MCM: Tell us a bit about the band, how did you all get together?

JAKE: Nunzio Signore, my lead guitarist and producer of "Comin' Back Again", and I have been playing together for several years.  Nunzio was one of the first musicians I met when I arrived in New York City.  My bass player, Roberto and drummer Rob Dragghi played in a former band of mine called Doublewide and when I decided to go out on my own, I loved playing with these guys so much we decided to stay together and things have been great. It helps to be friends with these guys because when you're on the road you have to be able to survive in situations that are not always the best. It helps to know they've got your back.

MCM: Anywhere readers can catch you playing in the next couple of months?

JAKE: I am going to be playing mostly in the Northeast in the US and a few shows in Los Angeles towards the end of June.  In the fall, I'm hoping to make it to London.  You can always check out my website at www.jakestigers.com for all of the latest gig information.