J*DaVeY: Toying With Humans

Story by: Your Brutha brub
Images by: Pablo Aguilar

The year is 2005 and I’m in New York City for the annual CMJ Music Conference. It’s one of the few times of the year where you have the option to choose from twenty concerts a day, meet-n-greet with industry big wigs, receive way too many music samplers (which you usually end up playing once if that), and can randomly spot city happenings such as homeless transvestites fighting over a slice of pizza and a bottle of Yoo-hoo at three am in NOHO. Needless to say, it was a sensory overload that week.

It’s Friday night and I’ve probably had a collective of 15 hours sleep since Sunday. The only thing keeping me going at this point was the excitement of just having left a bar where in a matter of one hour I heard DJ Spinna & Rich Medina kill it on the turntables, chopped it up with Pharaohe Monch, and unintentionally tried to holla at Lauryn Hill (I did try to holla but I didn’t know it was Ms. Hill at the moment). Wow, I need food.

At this point I don’t really don’t know where in the city I am but I’m not complaining because my stomach was full from one of the best Costa Rican chicken meals I have ever tasted. I don’t even know if it was really a restaurant because the place had two tables with non-matching chairs, the room was about the size of my living room, and there where a couple kids playing with toys on the ground next to a floor counsel television set.

You might be thinking at this point, “Where is he going with all this.” This is where I get to the good stuff, my introduction to J*DaVeY…

It’s already late, I’m tired, drunk but only have a couple more nights in town so I remain a trooper and head to one more spot. It’s a showcase put on by the good people over at Sound In Color. I was little piqued because I knew Steve Spacek was performing and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. I walk in and the place was packed with a smorgishborg of tastemakers and industry hipsters but considerably chill, it almost had a house party vibe. First things first, I need another drink. I conduct the assortment of pounds, hand shakes, and hugs with an array of friends, associates, and colleagues as I make my way to the vodka. As I pull away from the bar my dude Trek Life taps me on the shoulder and says, “Yo brub this is [insert government name], she’s a really dope singer.” As I shake her hand I ask over the pulsating music, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, what’s your name again?” She replies, “Just call me Jack”. I knew my mind wasn’t right from the combination of low sleep and alcohol so I question myself did she really just say Jack? Unsure, in typical schmooze fashion I just nod my head and say, “word”. Little did I know in about fifteen minutes Jack was about to end my night by grabbing the mic and smacking me in the head then dragging me away with her music. I had now left earth and was not worried in the least bit how I was getting home. With each song I was in her retreat and she was playing with me as she pleased. Yes it was a night to remember, my introduction to J*DaVeY.

Fast forward to now: J*DaVeY is Los Angeles based genre making duo with influences from A-to-Z. After a couple years of cyber buzz and co-signs from the likes of Prince and Questlove of The Roots. Jack Davey and Brook D’Leau are poised to change the way you categorize your iPod.

Because of logistics and the fact that there still might be a couple people on the planet that don’t know; what does J*DaVeY mean and what’s up with the girl with a guy name and guy with a girl name?

Brook: J*DaVeY doesn’t mean anything. The sound and style is the definition of the name.

Jack: Ah, what’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…

How did you guys come together? I heard there was someone’s prom involved.

Jack: I went to an all girls school and my best friend took Brook to prom. We were friends for a year after that before we even knew that we were both into making music. One day Brook mentioned casually that he had been making beats in his dad’s home studio & I was an emcee at the time looking for a producer so he played me some stuff and it blew my mind. A few days later we collaborated on a song & we’ve been working together ever since.

How long after you two met did the group officially became know as J*DaVeY?

Brook: It was actually a few years later. We initially were not a group and were going by undisclosed names. J*DaVeY wasn’t born until about 3 or for years after we met.

Jack: At first I was just a solo act that he was producing but we decided that it would be better for us to become a group. We wanted to push the sound as a movement as opposed to just a cute girl who’s singing over some dude’s beats.

What was your first performance like?

Jack: It was the two of us performing to a sea of confused faces. People didn’t comprehend what was going on, but they didn’t boo us so I guess we weren’t that bad.

Brook: Eek! I was nervous as hell. Kanye came… right after we got off stage. lol

J*DaVeY | Mr. Mister

So from the time you became a group up until now; is there any thing you would do different if you had the chance to remix a few steps?

Brook: Nah. I think the organic nature of how everything came about is what inspires us today.

So I’m hearing you are signed to Warner Brothers. With all the commotion that has been going on in the record business how has that been?

Jack: It’s been an interesting ride thus far. Not interesting in a good or bad way just…interesting. That’s all I can really say about it. I guess we’ll see how it turns out.

Brook: Huh?

What have been some of the biggest obstacles in doing music professionally?

Brook: Finding believers, real believers.

Jack: Making steady money.

If you weren’t making music for a living, what would you probably be doing?

Brook: Probably working my way up the retail food chain.

Jack: I’d have my masters in film studies & be teaching a cult film history class at some cool liberal arts college.

- Random Q’s:

Fruity Pebbles or Shredded Wheat?

Brook: Shredded wheat with soy milk, peaches, and strawberries.

Jack: Mmmm, what Brook said!

Favorite alcohol drink of the moment?

Brook: Hitachino.

Jack: Vodka with cranberry & pineapple juice, oh so refreshing.

Which one of you usually makes it to the studio first?

Brook: Me; I guess I’m kind of obligated to do so, no?

Jack: Brook. I have no concept of time.

J*DaVeY - The making of Lil Big Heads

Which one of you is the last one out the club?

Brook: (whistling)

Jack: Um, I take it he’s whistling because we both know that I’m usually the last one stumbling out of the club.

Who’s a better dancer?

Jack: I don’t dance, I boogie.

If you had the opportunity to take a New York cab ride with any person/people, who would it be?

Brook: David Byrne.

Jack: It doesn’t matter as long as they’re paying the fare…

If you were a cartoon character, what cartoon show would you be on and why?

Jack: I’d be shaggy from Scooby Doo; he was skinny, got stoned all day, ate big sandwiches with olives on top, and went looking for ghosts. (That) sounds good to me.

If tomorrow was elected J*DaVeY Day in congress which granted you the right to pass one law for the US, what would it be?

Jack: Free education for all.

brub’s Fantasy Scenario: While shopping at a grocery store you run into Jimmy Page’s wife. Literally, you bump heads while trying to pick up a melon that fell to the floor in the produce section. Everyone laughs and you get to talking. She divulges she had kind of “spaced out” over her frustration in shopping because she still hadn’t figured out what meal to cook that night.

Thinking fast: What meal do you suggest her and Jimmy eat in hopes it impress her so much that she invites the two of you to dinner? (I know right, Jimmy Page’s wife shops and cooks their meals herself. Just run with it!)

Jack: Tacos, cuz I love them. I’d offer to make fresh guacamole so she wouldn’t be able to refuse. Hell, I’d even bring the cerveza. Fiesta!

What’s your favorite J*DaVeY song or which one has the most meaning to you and why?

Brook: THIS ONE! Someone told me the chords are too dissonant…..that’s my favorite part.

Jack: I’d agree. The vocals for THIS ONE! were recorded in one take. I was dizzy after cuz it was so full of emotion.

J*DaVeY | Lil Big Heads

Any memorable show performance stories?

Brook: It’s funny how the Chapelle stories were immediately referenced as we sat down for omelets and hash browns @ 3am. Thanks P. (referring to Prince)

Jack: Being booed when we opened for the Roots in Toronto. They even threw plastic beer bottles at me!

You two have a very strong visual presence. How important is fashion to you?

Brook: It’s important and unimportant all @ once. What’s more important is how you feel and what you exude. The clothes have to wear you.

Jack: Exactly, it’s not what you wear it’s how you wear it.

Some people dress based on weather, some on where their going, and others put on clothes for the day based on how they feel. What’s the process of getting dressed in the morning for you?

Brook: I change outfits @ least 4-6 times before I walk out the door. Yeah girl shit, whatever.

Jack: Me too! I was just saying I need one of those computerized wardrobe thingies that Cher had in ‘Clueless’. I love the “getting ready” process; it’s actually kind of relaxing…

What should people be on the lookout for in the future?

Brook: Blood in the streets and smacks to the back of the dome.

Jack: Robots from Andromeda, they’re coming.

Anything else you what to say or let your fans know?

Brook: We love you more than you’ll ever know.

J*DaVeY has a double EP, The Beauty In Distortion/The Land of Lost, coming out on July 1st, 2008 on Interdependent Media/Fontana/Universal Music. (If you downloaded that bootleg version on the net this is not the same thing so buy this release!!!) Also be on the lookout for the as yet untitled full length album on Warner Brothers.

Now head over to www.myspace.com/jdavey and say hiya!

For more information check out www.jdaveybaby.com

easy

YBb