Hi Jake! We hear that you can play 16 instruments! Which ones can you play?

J:  Hi! It’s so great to chat with you. Yes, that’s right.  I play Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, Bass, Drums, Banjo, Piano, Synthesisers, Stompbox, Tambourine, Harmonica, Congas, Bongos, Kazoo, Ukulele, and Cajon.

Wow! You toured in Japan earlier this year – what was that like?

J: The May tour was 21 days in five different cities – Osaka, Kobe, Gifu prefecture, Yokohama and Tokyo – I think I did 12 performances. There were visits with city mayors, charity events, Tokyo TV did an interview, and a major Tokyo magazine did an article on my debut tour. I also met up with an American musician who I have collaborated with online with before – he and I met at a studio for a rehearsal with his manager, and then we then did a live performance together in Tokyo!

Going to Tokyo Disneyland was brilliant. I spent many days and nights also on the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing - Scramble Crossing in Shibuya. As many as 3000 people crossing at a time! Yoyogi Park were many catch ups with friends, and filming. Takashita Street in Harajuku was really interesting with all of the youth driven unique fashion and accessories.

That sounds amazing! What’s the most memorable gig that you have played?

J:  In Australia, there’s a major festival here in Brisbane called RedFest, on the Main Stage was really great. I have played on stage twice with Andrew Farris the co-founder and main songwriter of legendry band INXS. For the official release of ‘Every1 Loves U’, I had it in one of my favourite venues in Shinjuku, Tokyo. That was probably my most memorable event ever!

Who inspires you and why?

J: The technical abilities of musicians in Japan is incredible. Artists like Kenshi Yozenu and Imase. These artists sing live just as well as in their recordings. As you might already know I usually play all of the instruments on my recordings, but I really enjoyed using all Japanese session musicians for the recording of ‘Every1 Loves U’.

Who would you like to open for on tour?

J: Opening for Andrew Farris would be great and also to play some of the songs we have written together

What do you hope to achieve in 2024?

J: (Getting) A Dachshund. LOL, but seriously, keep writing music, keep collaborating and studying Japanese. I already have my third tour scheduled for Japan early 2024.

For more of our interview with Jake, check out our December 2023 ‘Band Together’ issue (with Olivia Rodrigo on the cover) out now!