Lila J are the self-professed chameleons of the industry. From weddings where they played soft whispers of music at the altar to full on out-and-out clunky distorted noise at max volume in the middle of a bustling festival. They possess a repertoire that is highly lucrative for any self-respecting venue out there. Not only that, Lila J proudly sports two people and two guitars. Thats it. No overly-elaborate set-up, no added nonsense just them and the music they adore. "So many people think we have to have a full band. But it's really satisfying to know we don't actually need it." Lisa beamed as she said this. They’re a stage managers dream, little set-up with a huge-pay off.
What's even better is that their energy is simply infectious. The pair were bouncing off each other making jokes and giving off such an inviting vibe the entire time. An air of authenticity surround them. They were genuine salt of the earth people who didn’t care for the persona’s and pigeonholing of artists. They wanted to be taken for who they were and how they played their music. That’s where Ragged Moon stepped in.
The pair had much to say about how Ragged Moon interacts with musicians. "They're hooked into the industry already and because they are musicians themselves they're looking out for us more so than most studios." The added value that they've gained was also a big talking point. "Our first stint of gigs in Stroud were entirely set up by Ragged moon and that was a really good thing for us. But there's the opportunity for management as well so there's more than just producing and engineering available at the studio."
When reminiscing about their catalogue of gigs there were certainly some stand out moments. The most prominant moment thus far of 2015 for them involved a very iconic punk band. That's right, Lila J supported none other than The Damned at Gloucester Guildhall and they were chosen for the job by the band themselves. Being the acoustically driven storytellers they are it seemed like an odd line-up on paper. Lisa was incredibly dubious going as far as googling the gig to make sure it really was them and not a tribute act.
"We didn't really know why we were chosen. My concern was that we are a bit quirky but we aren't punk!" All the doubt melted away however as the 400 capacity hall began to swarm with intrigued fans. "The room just kept filling and filling. What was a thrill for me was that people were coming in and staying in." The crowd were entranced by their raw rhythmic flair and they made quite the impact on a rather unsuspecting audience.
It’s not all punk-loaded madness though. The simple act of being the first band to play at a local coffee shop was also a highlight for the pair. The venue were slightly nervous about having them play but rest assured Lila J exceeded their expectations dramatically. "We had people coming out from the block of flats around the coffee shop to come listen to us!" With their unique and quirky sound it's easy to see why these guys have really picked up momentum in the past year. By that I mean they've released two albums and have been non-stop gigging across the country. They'll soon be disappearing off to the Isle of White over the weekend for a private party, how swanky!
With this in mind we wondered what they looked for in their own music. Lisa pondered for a second. "Music has to be something you love, you have to have the passion for it and you have to be having fun. If there's no fun involved in the music it's evident in what you produce." It seems Lila J have embraced this mentality to the fullest as Gavin ellaborated further. "We were both involved in bands before this, for years I played in Foreheads in a Fishtank. But it just got to the point where I had to take a step back and walk away from something that no longer excited me."
So their advice for eager musicians fresh on the scene? "You have to believe in what you are doing and don't make music for other people. Believe that your sound is something people want to listen to." For Lila J they have a very similar drive. "Our motivation is to do what we love for as long as we can and earn enough keep from it." There's no worry about this though. Because by the looks of the trajectory of their career and their achievements thus far it's only the beginning for this talented duo.
By Melissa Tucker
Lila J are the self-professed chameleons of the industry. From weddings where they played soft whispers of music at the altar to full on out-and-out clunky distorted noise at max volume in the middle of a bustling festival. They possess a repertoire that is highly lucrative for any self-respecting venue out there. Not only that, Lila J proudly sports two people and two guitars. Thats it. No overly-elaborate set-up, no added nonsense just them and the music they adore. "So many people think we have to have a full band. But it's really satisfying to know we don't actually need it." Lisa beamed as she said this. They’re a stage managers dream, little set-up with a huge-pay off.
The pair had much to say about how Ragged Moon interacts with musicians. "They're hooked into the industry already and because they are musicians themselves they're looking out for us more so than most studios." The added value that they've gained was also a big talking point. "Our first stint of gigs in Stroud were entirely set up by Ragged moon and that was a really good thing for us. But there's the opportunity for management as well so there's more than just producing and engineering available at the studio."
When reminiscing about their catalogue of gigs there were certainly some stand out moments. The most prominant moment thus far of 2015 for them involved a very iconic punk band. That's right, Lila J supported none other than The Damned at Gloucester Guildhall and they were chosen for the job by the band themselves. Being the acoustically driven storytellers they are it seemed like an odd line-up on paper. Lisa was incredibly dubious going as far as googling the gig to make sure it really was them and not a tribute act. "We didn't really know why we were chosen. My concern was that we are a bit quirky but we aren't punk!" All the doubt melted away however as the 400 capacity hall began to swarm with intrigued fans. "The room just kept filling and filling. What was a thrill for me was that people were coming in and staying in." The crowd were entranced by their raw rhythmic flair and they made quite the impact on a rather unsuspecting audience.
So their advice for eager musicians fresh on the scene? "You have to believe in what you are doing and don't make music for other people. Believe that your sound is something people want to listen to." For Lila J they have a very similar drive. "Our motivation is to do what we love for as long as we can and earn enough keep from it." There's no worry about this though. Because by the looks of the trajectory of their career and their achievements thus far it's only the beginning for this talented duo.
By Melissa Tucker
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