La musique en plein coeur avec Jaël

Hello Jaël how are you ?

I am really great thanks ! My tour started and people liked what they heard. That’s always a good feeling and a big relief! I am greatful for my loyal fans !

Could you describe your carreer path ?

Oh dear that’s a tricky one… I started out in school bands. When I was 15, I was asked to sing in a first « real band ». Then I had some guest appearances on several groups and sang backing vocals with the Moonraisers. By the age of 18 I met Luk Zimmermann who was guitarist and producer of Lunik who was in the process of recording their first album in the studio. He asked me to first sing as a guest on one song and I ended up singing pretty much the whole album. So I started being the singer of Lunik. The years from 1999-2013 brought us several number one hits, gold and platnum awards and seven albums. We toured switzerland and germany and a little bit of austria. In between two albums I had a duoproject called MiNa with Luk Zimmermann with which we toured norway in 2007. Also during those years I sang on several electro/dance projects as a featuring artist like for example with the Canadien act Delerium of which one of the remixes hit number one in the UK dance charts or with DJ Tatana. Also I sang on an album by german act Schiller which made double platnum in germany, so I toured through a lot of big halls and festival in germany with them in 2008. Then we had another two albums with Lunik before the band split up in 2013. I released my first solo album october 2015 which reached number two of the swiss music charts and the remix of my single « Easy Life » featuring James Walsh (Starsailor) reached number 7 in the UK upfront Clubcharts.

Right now I am going more acoustic. I am performing in a trio formation playing the guitar and singing, having Domi Schreiber (MyKungFu) on guitar and Cédric Monnier (ex-Lunik) playing the piano. The triotour started as mentioned in september and we’re in the process of recording an acoustic album as well, to be released oct 24th 2016. This will be the first time I will play shows in the UK, and the US as well as some shows in germany besides numerous gigs in switzerland. In december we’ll be touring with an additional choir of 12. I am really looking forward to that! It’s gonna be magic !

Music is (for you) above all a passion, a desire or a need ?

It depends on the day and my mood. When I am low it can be a need. When I am on stage it’s mostly a passion. In the studio it’s plain fun. During songwriting it’s like a riddle wanting to be solved, I feel drawn to it and it’s almost like an urge, as if something was pulling me. I know if I don’t finish the song no one will and the song wants to be written, so I kind of have to… It’s like there’s no way around it.

It by the way can also be a burden. Sometimes I am tired of it all too and then it’s a job.

Mainly honestly when I am on promotion tour… Sorry, don’t take it personally, I guess I am just not the selling kind of person and to promote myself and « sell » my work (besides living with the fact that literally EVERYBODY thinks they know better how I should do my work than I) has always been the hardest part for me. It obviously is part of the whole thing though and if journalists researched well, treat me as kind as I am treating them and respect me for my work as I respect them for theirs it can sometimes actually be really interesting and end up being more a cool conversation than an interview. THEN I like it ! J

Also being a musician is not only writing and recording and performing songs… There’s thousands of things that need to be done, even more so since I am managing myself, have my own publishing company and then all the office stuff coming with that nobody would think about…

If I told you French song, you say … ?

Great lyrics I often sadly don’t understand well enough.

What are your sources of inspiration for writing your lyrics ?

My life, the life of people around me, my thoughts and feelings, a conversation I had, a book, a movie that made me think… It can pretty much be anything honestly. I love languages and then sometimes I am looking into them and find a word that I particularly like and it says to me « write a song about me »… J

Studio or live ?

Gladly both. I am getting tired of studio after months in it and look forward of touring and showing people my work. And I get tired of always travelling when I am on tour and look forward to get back into songwriting and recording. And I anyway have my moods. It kind of takes a special mood to be in to feel like now is the moment to write a song. I have weeks or even months when I know there’s no point even trying. It’s almost like the seasons of the year. It comes and goes. You wouldn’t want to jump in the river to swim in winter, but you love it in summer. Or go sking in summer… 

BB King, Steevie Wonder or Johnny Cash ?

Johnny Cash

Classique, rock, électro, jazz or hard-rock ?

Indie-folk-pop

What's your best stage memory?

There’s too many… I love being on stage especially when my audience is attentive. That’s why all my concerts now are seated. I love the atmosphere of hearing every single note to the end and I cherish those moments when people are honestly affected and touched by my songs and lyrics. I feel very much connected to them then. That’s nice and is pretty much the biggest reason for me to go on making music… this feeling of being connected with other human beings, speaking or singing out their dreams and wishes or their fears, loss… I had so many feedbacks of people telling me they felt like this song was written for (or about) them. And I like that. As if I could give people the soundtrack to their lifes if they’re willing to open up their ears and hearts. I like it when my songs help people to go through a rough patch or if even only they know they’re not alone with their feelings because of a song of mine.

You are given the opportunity to realize your dream, what would it be?

I am already living it.

What is the person you most want to meet all the world of music?

Anybody who is kind, touches me with their music and has something to say.

Last question to close this interview, we wish you anything for the rest of your musical career?

May it last as long as possible. I feel very greatful and blessed to have what I have and be able to move people, so I hope I can go on doing it for a lot longer.

Thank you very much for answering my questions, I wish you a beautiful continuation in the art world.

Thank you ! That was fun actually ! And I wish you all the best too !

Crédit photo : Eric Ruffino