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Music

The loose style of Jaala is intoxicating

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2015 is looking to be a massive year for Melbourne power foursome Jaala. Describing their music as “experimental bedroom punk”, Jaala have started working on their debut LP Hard Hold that is set to drop in October, have been announced to be supporting Hiatus Kaiyote on their national tour in August, and have secured themselves a slot at this year’s BIGSOUND.

Jaala Hard Hold

From solo banjo to guitar band jams, Jaala have shown amazing growth and talent in this last year. Be prepared to hear this name a lot more in the future.

Made up of Cosima Jaala (vocals, guitar), Maria Moles (drums), Loretta Wilde (bass) and Nicolas Lam (guitar), they have honed in on a completely unique sound that is bold enough to send your mind into a spiral of sounds, yet holds an essence of calmness that is enough to bring your feet back to the ground. This sound makes perfect sense if you listen to one of their demo tracks Gwynne; it’s upbeat, mellow, fast and slow all at once. Jaala explained that this idea of bedroom music comes from writing “Songs perhaps too personal to share and usually created as a way to navigate and understand the deep sea heavy feels”.

After playing around on a banjo for a couple of years and playing very few gigs due to being burdened by the monster that is stage fright, Jaala bought herself an electric guitar and taught herself how to play. This resulted in about 50 minutes worth of music written, and after joining forces with Moles, Wilde, and ultimately Lam, Jaala (the band) was born. Now, with Hard Hold‘s release date fast approaching, it is, in Jaala’s words “A fucking break-up album”, which will delve into her most inner and personal thoughts. If Jaala’s demo tracks are anything to go by, Hard Hold will 100% be delivering big things.

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One of their stand out tracks is Double Dutch, which has a smooth jazz/punk/funk/ experimental sound can only be described as existing in a genre of its own. It has quite a stilted and fragmented feel about it, which just adds to the sweet quirkiness of their sound, but at the same time, Jaala’s vocals piece each part together, making the track flow in a disjointed kind of way. There are so many different sounds and elements to this track that it definitely deserves a few listens so your brain has the chance to soak in each sound.

Although Jaala only has three gigs under their belt, they obviously have something special about them to catch the attention of Haitus Kaiyote and be invited along on their tour. And on her upcoming experience and history of stage fright, Jaala tells us “I’m going to have to suck it up and grow some really big balls!” That’s what we like to hear! So be sure to keep an eye out for the release of Hard Hold, and if you’re in town when they pass through, go show Jaala and their balls some lovin’!

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Check out our interview with Jaala in Happy Mag issue # 3.