Black Star Jackals
Black Star Jackals https://www.facebook.com/blackstarjackals
We first featured Black Star Jackals late last year for their single Always The Same. We had the pleasure of interviewing the band last week read the Q&A ⬇️
Their new single Party People has been played by the BBC Rapal team and Jim Gellatly on Amazing Radio.
When and how did Black Star Jackals form?
“Our lead singer Kieran had been writing and gigging his own songs here and there as a solo acoustic act for a few years and at the end of 2018 he decided he wanted to create a band around those songs. He started off with just a bassist and a drummer at first, but realised something was missing and advertised for another guitarist, which was how Steven got involved and that’s when things really started to get going. Max (bass) and Calum (drums) had replaced the original guys by summer 2019 and we got to gigging pretty much straight away.”
Who are your musical heroes?
“One of the main things that brought us together was a love for the same bands and artists. Whilst there’s loads of acts about today we really like, the bands the ones that are really deeply rooted are the ones we grew up listening to, namely all the great alt rock/indie/metal bands of the 90’s and 2000’s. Bands like Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Incubus, Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down, Slipknot, to name a few. That was a golden era for bands in our eyes and our aim is to bring this sort of music back into the mainstream like it used to be, but with our own modern twist.”
What is the story behind your new single, 'Party People’?
“The song itself is driven by this simple, but super effective pounding ‘four on the floor’ style drumbeat – similar to what you hear in lots of dance tracks. That was the foundation on which we wanted to build the track i.e. a proper party jam you can’t help head banging to. In fact, the words “Party People” came about from us imagining a crowd rocking out to this at a party. Then we decided to put a twist on the meaning, instead suggesting that the “Party People” are kind of like mindless sheep, dancing away their dreams. You can draw whatever analogies or metaphors with real life you choose…”
What has been your biggest highlight so far?
“Has to be winning the Scottish final of the Soundwaves Music Competition in 2019, meaning we got to play in the O2 Academy in Birmingham in the final. We’d barely 30 minutes of original music to our name and had very little experience but we just kept progressing through the rounds until we got to the national final. It was a real confidence boost for such a young, unknown band.”
Where or how can people keep up to date with the band?
We’re on all the usual places: Facebook: @blackstarjackals | Instagram: @blackstarjackals | Twitter: @BlackStarJackal | Spotify HERE
When do you reckon live music will return and what are the band's plans when it does?
“It’s crazy. Even in September last year we had dates in the diary for the end of January, expecting the worst of this to be behind us by then. How wrong we were! We don’t see any gigs before summer to be honest, and its doubtful any major festivals will go ahead, at least not with a live crowd. If we’ve done a live gig to a real crowd by Christmas, we’ll be thrilled…which is pretty depressing. One things for sure, it’ll be the best bloody performance we’ve ever given!”
Tell us something most people won’t know about the band?
“Both Steven and Max attend/attended the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for Classical Music….but now everybody knows it….”
Facebook: @blackstarjackals | Instagram: @blackstarjackals | Twitter: @BlackStarJackal | Spotify HERE