10 Quick Ones with JACOB BUNTON of MYJA – January 2018

According to a recent press release: “Formed in 2016, as a side project of A Bad Think mastermind Michael Marquart, and Jacob Bunton (Lynam, Adler), the duo has crafted a somber sound reflective of the personal experiences that define the band’s core. With roots firmly planted in all things traditional rock, Myja’s self-titled debut album, is a carefully constructed, innovative mix of rock and modern pop sensibilities. Whether painting the portrait of a modern-day romance (Just One Kiss, Plans) or coming to terms with mortality (Hangman, Hit & Run), the album is a synthesis of time and space and is a testament to the human condition.”  We get Jacob to answer our 10 Quick Ones about new music, his influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our new release is the self-titled debut of our new project Myja.  Michael and I met through a mutual friend a couple of years ago and hit it off immediately.  We started writing songs at Michael’s studio in Malibu and decided to record a full album.  It was a really fun record to make.  We recorded a song a day all very organically.  Each part was carefully thought out and we were cautious not to fill up space just for the sake of filling up space.  These days, with technology and literally unlimited tracks, it’s easy to add parts that really don’t do anything for the song.  Sometimes space is necessary.  There are tons of hidden nuggets within the music.  That’s my favorite thing about classic albums, no matter how many times I listen, I always end up hearing something that I missed the first few hundred listens 🙂

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to play music.  There was an old piano at my grandfather’s house when I was a kid and before I could even walk, I would sit at that piano and bang on the keys.  As soon as I was old enough to start going to concerts, I would go with my mom and my aunt.  Watching concerts and MTV definitely made me want to pursue it.  It was such a great escape from all of negativity that was going on around me.  I got my first guitar from mowing lawns when I was 11.  I played along with everything I heard on the radio regardless of genre.  I was obsessed!

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Steve Vai, Duran Duran, Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Dream Theater, anything 80’s metal and New Wave, Ricky Skaggs, etc. I can’t name just 5. I have different musical influences for each instrument, songwriting, production, mixing, genre, etc.  For instance, Steve Vai is my biggest influence on guitar.  He’s the reason I picked up a guitar.  I also love CC Deville.  People can say whatever they want, but his solos are giant hooks.  At Poison shows people sing the guitar solos.  He’s a huge influence.  Also John Patrucci from Dream Theater.  For songwriting, I love Mutt Lang, Diane Warren, Martin Gore, Prince, Nikki Sixx.  For production, I love Mutt Lang, Bob Rock, Flood, Geoff Workman, Bruce Fairbairn, Jason Elgin, Roy Thomas Baker.  For mixing I love Mike Shipley, Randy Staub, CLA, Jay Ruston, Andy Wallace, Kato Khandwala, etc.  I could go on all day about influences.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

Mutt Lang.  He is my favorite producer and songwriter of all time.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Straight ahead rock in the style of Tom Petty meets the White Stripes meets Neil Young, meets America.  It’s Rock N Roll with big choruses.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Waking up everyday getting to create.  The greatest feeling in the world is when someone comes up to you and tells you that one of your songs helped them get through a hard time in their life or either reminds them of some of their happiest moments.  It’s not rocket science, but it’s important.  Music is happiness, music is life.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

The band is only Michael and I.  Neither of us cook, I don’t drink, but we both gravitate to the musical instruments any room that we walk in to.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

A music journalist.  I can’t imagine life where I wasn’t involved in music somehow.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

No, everything that’s happened in life has shaped who I am.  Life is about experiences good and bad.  You have to have failures in life to appreciate the success.  If you have never failed, you have never tried for anything.  Anyone that is successful will tell you that they failed 100 times before they got something right.

10.  If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would love to be a fly on the wall during the recording of Rumors, Appetite For Destruction, The Wall, Hysteria, etc.  Again, I can’t name just one, I would be happy with any of those.  All of those records mean a lot to me for different reasons.  I love honest music.  I love great songs.

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Category: Interviews