Welcome to this chat with Jasper Dan on SA Music Zone. Discover their journey from debut to their latest release ‘Mama Voodoo’. Learn about their unique sound, inspirations, and the impact of Southern Rock in South Africa’s music scene.
Since Jasper Dan‘s debut album ‘A Southern Fling’ (2016), you’ve been consistently releasing successful singles. Could you share the strategy behind this approach? Are there plans for a full album soon?
“Our journey and how we have gotten to here hasn’t really been planned at all. After a Southern Fling we went through several band member changes and through the process we also met Robin Walsh at Assegai Studios. We started then recording singles with Robin just to keep us active and releasing things while we were trying to put some nickels away for a bigger studio release.”
“Then Covid came to town and the lengthy lockdown. Once we got through that we couldn’t wait to just get back on stage and back to live performances. So, we have been releasing singles here and there, but the overall goal is to get back in and finish off our second full length album.”
Jasper Dan‘s music has gained significant airplay on local stations like Mix FM’s and consistently feature on their Top 40. How has this exposure impacted your journey as a band?
“The local radio exposure and support has been really fantastic, and we have met some really good friends at Mix and other stations who do so much for us off air.”
“Having that has also really forced us to make sure that we put our best foot forward all the time. It’s reminded us to always take our performances and music production very seriously, making sure that we bring our best to everything we do. While we do enjoy a good party and are the best of mates, we still push ourselves to give the best we possibly can.”
As one of the few Southern Rock bands in South Africa and Africa, how would you define Jasper Dan’s distinctive sound within the genre?
“Our musical roots are relatively firmly set in 1970’s American rock; it’s that tone we really are all about and it really is what we aim for. Overdriven Marshall Amplifiers, Gibson Les Pauls. A Fuzzy Fender Jazz Bass and big classic Tama drums. A Good ol’ faithful SM 58 vocal microphone. This combination is our happy place!”
Let’s delve into your latest single, ‘Mama Voodoo’. What inspired the gritty, sludgy edge of this track, both musically and lyrically?
“The original idea came back in the Covid Pandemic lockdown. I battled with not being able to play music in a collective environment with my band mates and live shows, through which we thrive. These challenges boiled over into something of a deeply frustrated and quite aggressive riff which eventually became the backbone for Mama Voodoo.” says Barret (from Jasper Dan).
“From there it was almost as if the song chose its own lyrical content as a theme of traditional and dark magic practices seemed to be the only thought I had while listening to the music when we were putting it all together. I started to visualize the many methods people use for escape and hallucinogenic journeys that people of all walks of life have been experimenting with over many generations.” says Jamie (from Jasper Dan).
“I always found it fascinating that long before people of different continents had contact or communication with each other there have always been different methods for inducing spiritual or out of mind journeying. From palm reading to tarot cards, crystal balls to ayahuasca experiences to drinking pills, the song tells a story of a spiritual journey of enlightenment through mayhem of ending in tranquility and peace of the emotion and feeling of being immersed in the gentle rolling river water.” says Jamie (from Jasper Dan).
The artwork for ‘Mama Voodoo’ is visually striking. Could you delve into the concept behind it and its connection to the song’s themes?
“The artwork is simply our interpretation of what we envision our Mama Voodoo to look like. We’d be happy to follow her on the journey.”
“She has strong links to the Voodoo of New Orleans but also our more traditional African Hoodoo and the respective traditional medicine and cultures. It really is a traditional and old-world concept with a striking modern beautiful lady.”
Jasper Dan, known for your electrifying live shows, what have been some of your most memorable performances or tours?
“Obviously opening for Iron Maiden in South Africa on their 2016 Book Of Souls Tour. It was a major highlight for us as a band. We got a tough time for it, that’s for sure. It made us stronger as a band though and taught us to just keep on keeping on.*
“This was an iconic tour. Our first show with a freshly cut new guitarist who had only joined us three days prior. We drove for 7 hours into neighboring country Lesotho. Barrett sat in the back of the van learning the songs on an acoustic guitar.”
“We played a gig in the snow on the Lesotho Mountains and spent a good few days really getting to know each other. Since then, we have had great tours to Durban and Cape Town. Our recorded show at the Radium Beer Hall was an exceptionally special night.”
“It was just one of those nights where everything goes without glitch and the crowd was just fantastic. We were the first band to play a show in the Lollipop Lounge in Joburg; you can just imagine how amazing that was.”
Which bands or artists have had the greatest influence on Jasper Dan’s music and why?
“This is almost impossible to answer really because we all bring our own musical influences to the table. We also share a collective passion and love for many bands. If we had to narrow it down, we would need to look at bands across many eras.”
“If you’re really asking us to name a few, Zeppelin, Seger, Skynyrd, The Band, Chris Stapleton, Rival Sons, Eric Church, Royal Blood, Audioslave, Pearl Jam, Sublime, Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society, Clutch. But that’s probably just scratching the surface.”
‘Mama Voodoo’ explores unique themes. How do the lyrics of this song reflect your personal or collective experiences as a band?
“While we have all been young and experimented in our own different ways, we have leaned on the psychedelic side of things in Mama Voodoo. The underlying theme really relates back to all of our own journeys, whether these be induced or not. Whether it is this, stress, or grief, the story of the song is about the mayhem before the tranquility.”
“This could very easily relate to the calm of the waters after the storm. You just need to buckle down and weather what’s ahead.”
If you could collaborate with any musician, past or present, who would it be and why?
“Oh, that’s easy. We’ve already thought this out many times: from Zeppelin and Rival Sons with Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, and Eddie Vedder as our shoop shoop girls.”
What are your plans as a band? Any upcoming projects or tours on the horizon?
“We have more studio time planned with the man, Robin Walsh, at Assegai Studio’s in Johannesburg, as we make our way towards our second full-length album; a dream would be to press that onto vinyl.”
“On the performance side, we really do want to continue with our Jasper Dan and Friends shows, where we invite young up-and-coming bands to perform with us at local venues.”
“The reaction to our music and performances in South Africa over the past few years has been fantastic and something we want to explore further.”
“We have a very large country, and we still have a good few places to get to, which we really want to do. Finally, we have a few dreams and rough plans to spend some time playing internationally within the next few years.”
I would like to thanks Jasper Dan for this interview and I wish them all of the best with their future musical endeavors.
More info about Jasper Dan
Jasper Dan is a South African rock band formed in 2015, known for their high-energy Southern Rock performances with a modern twist. The band, consisting of Jamie Hendry (vocals), Barrett Cawood (guitar), Jason Eedes (drums), and Mark Kenyon (bass), quickly shifted from covering songs to creating original music, gaining a dedicated fan base. Their style features strong rhythms, captivating guitar hooks, and raw vocals, inspired by classic American rock—a passion Jamie Hendry inherited from his father.
Jasper Dan’s growth from a cover band to a respected original act highlights their dedication and unity, maintaining a strong presence in the South African music scene while bringing their distinctive Southern Rock sound to audiences.
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