There is so much happening in the lives of JW Paris, that it can only be called a true maelstrom. The London based trio didn’t joke when they said last year that 2024 will be their year. There is a new single coming out in 10 days’ time, there is also a new EP being released this spring and the band has some really big things to announce shortly. Just sit tight and enjoy the ride. Aaron Forde, Daniel Collins and Gemma Clarke sat down with us to answer some of the questions sent in by fans and they made for a wonderful interview. From Korea to Germany and the Wirral in the UK, the band’s received enquiries on topics as varied as football, raising family or paranormal encounters. Enjoy!
JW Paris by C24 Photography
You are dual fronted but both vocalists are male. Will we ever hear Gemma, your drummer, sing? Some of my favourite vocalists were drummers – Christina (Germany)
Gemma Clarke: Oh, I am asked this so much! I love singing away behind the kit. I know where I am in each song with the lyrics. I love group vocals on recording and I’m also a bit of a “steering-wheel singer” (laughing). I love turning my favourite tunes up and singing away in my car!
Luckily for everyone though, you are safe that I know I am not a singer, my voice doesn’t need to be heard – it’s pretty awful! (laughing again). Aaaaanyways, who would want to sing a note when Danny and Aaron make such sweet sounds in JW themselves?!
Over here, Korean fans call themselves Parisians. I would like to know if British fans of the band have their own name for a fan community? – 아해민 (Oh Hae-Min, South Korea)
JW Paris: This is amazing to hear we have a fanbase in South Korea! When we read this question, we were automatically looking at how we can put on a gig over in South Korea. We’d love to play out there, something dreams are made of – let’s start a campaign to get us over! To answer your question: our British fans do not call themselves anything, so Parisians is definitely a first and think, we should make it a movement.
What would be your advice for starting bands? – Kayla (London, age 14)
JW Paris: Something that really stuck with us is to focus on making music that really represents you. When we were starting out, we made music almost trying to fit into the current scene. It really distracted us from writing music we enjoy listening to and playing live together. Carve your own way in this industry and just make music that you are passionate about. Another thing, play live and support other young bands. Build a community and hype each other up. We’ve been so lucky to be part of some amazing groups of other bands all helping each other. Again, build a community and support each other.
What football team do you support? – Anonymous (Scotland)
JW Paris: Luton Town and West Ham Utd.
Last week was my 11th JW Paris concert. I am a religious person (Jehovah Witness) and my question to the band is: do you think rock concerts can be akin to a religious or spiritual experience? I strongly believe it is possible – Randy (Eaton Bray)
JW Paris: Fantastic question and also 11 shows! Your support means so much and we are so humbled when we hear you’ve been to that many gigs. Hopefully we keep each one interesting enough for you.
Gigs of any type of music can mean so much on so many levels to different people. If you think sound/music is the only sense that really can change our emotions for without giving us a specific reason – why does a minor chord make us feel sad and a major chord pick us up? If you hear a song that you really connect with and then see it performed live with passion from that artist, it can be that feeling of spiritual experience. Concerts can make you feel part of a community and all on the same wave length, that’s a beautiful experience. For us, performing songs live that mean so much to us and seeing others enjoy them it’s a high that keeps us writing and bringing back on these sweaty stages.
I want to know if anything spooky or paranormal ever happened to you on tour or in the studio. Give us your best Mulder and Scully stories! – Kasia (Poland)
JW Paris: If we reveal too much paranormal activity the FBI may sniffing around our gigs….
Sadly, we haven’t seen anything spooky just yet. However, coming back from a studio in Wales, Aaron (singer / bass), good spooked by a tractor on a country road going 5 miles an hour and we ended up in a ditch. Got pulled out by the farmer in the same tractor. True story!
To Gemma, I am a mother of two young daughters and I gave up my passion to raise them. How do you stay creative with children around? They are so time demanding – Hirata Hikari (Japan)
Gemma Clarke: Children are a vortex of time! You blink and suddenly a year has passed! I wasn’t playing for my children’s younger years, I just focussed on being a mum and raising them. When I got back behind the kit with JW, they were old enough to understand what I’m doing and where I am going and were happy with that.
The best thing for me and them is that they got Auntie Aaron and Uncle Danny! The boys are soooo good with them. The girls love it when they can come to a gig or a rehearsal, or we FaceTime from tour. They’re old enough to enjoy mummy in a band now, they’re coming to a few gigs this year already. They wear their T-shirts and sing along. My youngest has even decided she wants to be in a band and has chosen to learn bass like Aaron!
I have an incredibly supportive family around me which means I am able to live this life. They understand I need to be creative, it’s who I am and I’m so much happier when I can have that time.
I say see if they can share your passion and enthusiasm for whatever it is you want to do. When they are old enough to understand that Mummy is so much happier doing what she loves. It’s important I think, to teach children of our passions and doing what we love, because there is so much more to us than just being a mummy… 💕
Can you release your own version of “Heavy Balloon” by Fiona Apple? – Francis (London)
JW Paris: We have never heard this song before but giving it a spin now. Love the sound of this, it’s like a PJ Harvey and Findlay. Maybe this could be a song we get Gemma Clarke on vocals? Thanks for the recommendation, we will add it to our playlist and feel free to send more!
I once stayed at the JW (Marriott) hotel in Paris. Is the band named after a five-star hotel? You should get a sponsorship! – Annika (France)
JW Paris: We say, let’s shake up one of these JW Marriott hotel lounges with a good old bit of rock ‘n’ roll, ey? Maybe we could invite ourselves into one of their cocktail lounges!
Who`s your favourite indie label? – Alex (Wirral)
JW Paris: The Myth, The Legend and our Favourite Thing – Blaggers Records!
Please follow JW Paris online at:
www.facebook.com/jwparismusic
www.instagram.com/jwparismusic
www.twitter.com/jwparismusic
www.youtube.com/c/jwparis
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Eh8L6V40D5B70XCOucwE3
tiktok.com/@jwparismusic
New single “Who Are You” will be out on Blaggers Records on 14th of March 2024.
Rita and Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 
2 Comments