Artist Spotlight: Meet Jakob The Liar
Can you tell me more about “Vi@gr@ Falls & P!$$ Graffiti?"
This song is about growing up in the early noughties, when 9-11 and the war in Iraq dominated world headlines and shaped a whole generation. It's also a nod to 90s counterculture, particularly my favourite band as a young man and first musical true love; Rage Against the Machine. Interestingly, those seismic events in American history were brought about by a massive overhaul of the first amendment, sensoring some of the greatest US protest songs in order to crack down on anti-establishment sentiments.
Was there any challenge that you encountered while making "Vi@gr@ Falls & P!$$ Graffiti?"
I really struggled with how the chorus should sound in this one. It took me years before I realised that a funk riff I had playing around in my ear for a while was actually the perfect match and would be able to take the song higher whilst making it more interesting and possibly even more relatable.
How do you feel "Vi@gr@ Falls & P!$$ Graffiti" represents your artistic identity?
It represents parts of my artistic identity in the sense that it shows aspects of my political thought process - particularly what was on my mind as a young man. Though it only represents one side of my artistic self, particularly that which is concerned with righteousness and social justice - it is nevertheless true to both what was on my mind back then, and how I feel about it all in the present moment. I suppose you could say it is true as far as true goes in the luxury of hindsight.
Can you walk us through your creative process when writing and composing music?
It either starts with a lyric or a chord, preferably in a new tuning I've never done before. Often I'll gather lyrics on a regular basis, putting them onto a note on my phone, and when I'm ready, they'll eventually make their way into a new composition. A great quote I heard one of my favourite Danish poets Peter Sommer says is: "There are times when I gather, and times when I share." It's important for me to respect the process and not get attached to the idea that I constantly need to create something. If I'm not creating something, it's usually because I'm gathering material - building up and topping up my creative flow until I'm ready to share my thoughts and experiences with the world.
What has been, so far, your favorite song to perform and why
Probably a song I wrote about my time living and working in Cape Town - Sweet City Blues. It's a cute acoustic song that really gets the room quiet and has people listening. Great for creating those moments of connection with the crowd that music is so famed for.