Q&A with Matt Jameson of The Junction

I like music that makes me swoon, sing, and dance. The Junction can do just that. The Junction is a Toronto-based-trio that has been cranking out poppy, catchy, and jazzy music for years. Well-known in the Canadian music scene, they have toured with The Reason, Alexis on Fire, and Bedouin Soundclash! With unique instrumentation, heart-melty lyrics, and indie boy charm, it was a pleasure to interview Matt Jameson, the bassist from The Junction.

Davin, the director knew that he wanted to have a video that was fun and that moved a lot. Myself, Davin, and Rob (cinematographer) were brainstorming on ideas and I pitched that we should blow the budget on renting the American Gladiator set for a day and there was no way we couldn’t have fun playing the games. “Balls, lets go with balls” Davin said. We didn’t know exactly what we were going to do, but he had the producers source ball options and we knew that if we just showed up to set in good spirits we’d be able to make a fun-ass video!

2) You are all originally from Brampton, Ontario and have been making a name for yourselves in the music scene! A friend of mine told me she used to watch you guys perform with bands at the Bramalea Church with some metal and heavy-rock bands. Your music is extremely different from the bands you played with in the early days in 2001 and 2002. Did that influence shape your music at all?

We were the ugly duck in the suburb scene with there being so many bands that were a lot heavier than us. We also used to sound more poppy and jazzy and the rock side kept slowly creeping in. I guess it was a few of those songs that we considered heavy, that helped us share the stage with other bands like that and later became more of an influence in the band we are today.

3) Another Link in the Chain is a great rock-pop album and was produced independently. Why did you decide to break things off with Universal and how did the recording experience differ? Did you find that this time around you had more freedom creatively?

Creative freedom wasn’t an issue with Universal, and I can now look at that as both a positive and a negative. Negative because getting a kick in the ass to be more mindful of the listener at that time may have helped make that record sound less scattered. And I can see it as positive, because it allowed us to learn a lot more; learn about songwriting and learn about what happens when you hand a major label a  record that they think will be a challenge to market. Which is exactly what happened with them…the guy that had signed us to the label either left or was fired (we still don’t know) and we didn’t have anyone at the label that could help crack the whip to make anything happen and eventually our management couldn’t even get people on the phone so it was time to take the power back as quickly as possible make some moves!

4) Another Link in the Chain was recorded in New York with some heavy-weight indie producers Gus Van Go and Werner F. (The Stills, The Trews, Priestess), what was it like working with them?

Fantastic! The guys really worked us and gave some really great input on the songs and helped shape a record that sounded more like one headspace. We’re actually working on doing the next record with them in Montreal right now. Fingers are crossed that we can get the record out this year or early 2012

5) What are the top 10 most played songs on your ipod?

The Ghost Inside – Broken Bells

I need a dollar – Aloe Blacc

Heard it on the Radio – Bird and the Bee

Now or Never – The Roots

Coochie – Blakroc

Total Life Forever – Foals

Bulletproof – Major Lazer and La Roux

The Suburbs – Arcade fire

Night by Night – Chromeo

Vaporize – Broken Bells

6) You are really making a name for yourselves in the Canadian music scene! In my research, one of your singles “My Love Was There”, was on an episode of Degrassi! There are many big things to come, but what is the one thing you want to accomplish and get that “you’ve made it” feeling?

Headlining a sold out show at the opera house was always a dream of ours. Rocking a show like that would be huge!

7) The Junction has performed with bands like Alexisonfire, Moneen and Vulcan Dub Squad, have you kept in touch with these bands?

Not as much as we would have liked. We still see the Alexis dudes around here and there, but we usually hang and see the moneen guys a lot more. Erik from moneen and I have many similar interests and nerd it up from time to time^.

8) And, if you could choose ANY band to tour with, who would it be?

I think touring with Pearl Jam would be very surreal and very inspiring.

9) Where is your band heading next? (writing music? touring?)

We’re working on the next record as we speak. We just finished the first pre-production session and it looks like we’ll be back in montreal with gus in another 5 weeks or so. In the meantime, we will be playing shows because that’s just what we like to do.

I can’t wait to hear about what’s next for The Junction. I can honestly say that Another Link In The Chain (and of course some of your singles- “My Love Was There”) has been on repeat on my ipod.

Thank you Abby! And thanks for writing about our band! woot!

If you haven`t checked out The Junction, do it. The trio knows just the right heartstrings to pull and the right beats to get you on your feet. Enjoy!

[youtube]http://youtu.be/Ll7p7rkIemw[/youtube]