Most guitarists say that a certain band or album inspired them to pick up the instrument in their teens, however I read that you started playing guitar at the age of two so do you have any recollection of what attracted you to play?I have very vague memories of seeing someone with a guitar on television when I was 2, and from that point I kept pestering my parents for a guitar. It turns out he was Mark Knopfler [from Dire Straits kids].
Can you play any other instruments?
I can't play drums, as many people assume, but I play bass and a bit of piano.
How would you describe your sound to someone that hadn't heard it?
I wouldn't - why spoil the surprise? I'd just get them to come to a gig. I'd describe the sound as a mish-mash of blues, funk, rock, new age, indie prettiness and occasional metal mayhem.
How long have you been playing in your current incarnation? Tell me about the things that you were involved with earlier.
I've been playing solo for two years. Before that I've played in covers bands, just tons of working-musician type gigs. During my teens I did the angst indie thing in a band called Pig - we sounded a bit like Pearl Jam with Steve Vai guitar solos! I've even done Country and Western for line dancers in working mens clubs. Let nobody say I haven't suffered for my art!
Your album 'Hypertension' was recently released, what did you set out to achieve?
I intended to capture a live gig. It's pretty raw and I didn't use lots of fancy technical equipment in a big studio. The next album will be recorded at a gig. It'll be a DVD too.
Is your approach to guitar playing a conscious decision at ripping up the rulebook? After seeing you perform I realised how silly musicians are in ghettoizing themselves to a specific style.
I think I play by the rules quite a lot, and let things evolve. I've played all of the styles that there is and I try and put different elements of different styles of music together and I have a big pallet to draw from. Sometimes I envy those who specialise - it's a lot less work.
What tunes have you been listening to recently?
Quite a lot of Indian and Pakistani music. Angelo Paladino who's style is blues/rock'n'roll. The last album I bought was Yellow Shark by Frank Zappa.
I'm in the process of writing a review on the recently released Nick Drake compilation 'Made to love magic', did he influence you at all?
I have two of his albums and I do like some of the atmospheric things and the way that he created a cloud of sound but I wouldn't say that he's a real influence upon my sound.
Michael Hedges is a big influence. Nick Harper is one of the main reasons that I play acoustic; I previously thought that you could only get that power and intensity from a full band, but he makes a real noise with his guitar.
You seem to be quite established on the live circuit in and around Leeds, how are things going elsewhere?
Well I've gone down well with audiences - playing in front of new people is the most fun. I can often gauge how well a gig will go by the enthusiasm of the promoter: if they sound excited on the phone things tend to go well.
Am I right in assuming that your success has been gained pretty much entirely through word-of-mouth? I noticed that you played a festival in Italy recently.
It's mainly through word-of-mouth. The opportunity to play that festival came about because Brendan Croker told them he wouldn't play unless they let me perform! I've set-up a record label called Performing Chimp and I send out demos to magazines and venues which also helps obviously.
Are there any bands or musicians around Leeds that excite you at the moment?
A band called Gallo combine grunge with funk and jazz with dance music and their songs are really good. A guy called Ric Neale who's a pop singer/songwriter is an entertaining chap. Four Day Hombre I think are great. Rob Nichols has really strong songs, and his performances have really improved in that he is so much more confident and his personality really comes across a lot more on stage.
Have you had any interest from record companies yet?
I've been approached by one major twice and I've actually blocked the guy that works for them from my e-mails, and it'll stay that way until I at least learn how to unblock e-mail addresses! I don't think music should be marketed like crisps, I think that major labels destroy music as art. Roughly two bands that I know per year get signed and none have got anywhere. I know someone that signed to a major and built his own studio, recorded the album of his dreams, but the label wouldn't release it because it sounded similar to someone else they're trying to promote. So no-one will ever hear it. They sign up a load of bands who sound similar, promote one and screw the rest, just to remove any competition. A record deal is an entry form for pop idol as far as I'm concerned.
What are your aspirations for the future?
Doing what I'm doing now all over Europe. I hope to build up bigger audiences and that is not something that I would expect to happen overnight, it may take years. I just really enjoy playing live so that's what I hope to keep doing!
Watch Jon Gomm live at Korks (Otley) on 9th April 2010 - info / tickets.
