10 Quick Ones with JAKE DAVIES of OF LIMBO – June 2018

According to a recent press release: “Brothers Jake and Luke Davies were raised in Melbourne, Australia. Growing up on rock ’n’ roll, they developed a passion for playing music together, one that would lead them to Long Beach, California, where in 2014 they formed Of Limbo. With the addition of Herbie Brady on bass and Anthony Aguilar on drums, they released their self-titled, self-produced debut EP soon after, which established the band’s sound as a versatile and refreshingly modern take on rock, contrary to the generic and stale trends surrounding them. Two years of shows across greater Los Angeles quickly garnered them a reputation for their wild and dynamic performances, showing a presence reminiscent of rock bands from the early 90’s. The group’s newest release “Nicotine” is now available on all leading outlets. With the addition of Juan Paz on drums, keep an eye on Of Limbo in the years to come” We get Jake to discuss new music, influences, and more in our 10 Quick Ones…

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?

Yeh for sure. There are lots of gems on that record. The first thing that jumps to mind is Viva Las Vegas.  When people listen to our version of that song they can’t even recognize that it is a cover of the Elvis classic. Literally the only thing that’s taken from the Elvis version is the lyrics.  We completely re-harmonized it; the music and vocal melodies are completely different, even time signature is changed from 4/4 to 3/4. The lyrical content to the title track “Nicotine” is something else I’d suggest people look into. The song is a commentary on addiction; how everyone has got one, whether it be fitness, drugs, sex, eating.

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

In 2013, Luke came to stay with me (Jake) over summer break from his first term at Berklee School of Music. During the two months he was with me we just started jamming riffs while partying every night, and what was coming out of it was fucking incredible, at least to us.  We couldn’t record the riffs and songs as fast as we wrote them. We decided that what we were writing was important because at the time, no one else was doing it.  We soon found out our boys Joyous Wolf were only half an hour away working on the same kind of Real Rock we were.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Obviously differs for each band member, but I’d say Alice In Chains, Metallica, Faith No More, Audioslave and the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

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

Living or dead? David Gilmore / Prince. There are plenty of guys out there that we’d love to write a song with, but these two in particular have a very, very different style to ours. Both would make for something completely original and unexpected.

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

Riff driven rock music. Every song has a unique vibe and a catchy groove. We pride ourselves on high-energy performances that create an atmosphere that is infectious. Our goal is to make it impossible not to have fun.

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

That moment of conception.  Writing a new song and weaving together riffs, melodies and lyrics, to create something new that just fucking rocks.  That buzz I feel when we create something that we love.

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?

We are lucky enough to have a compound in Long Beach that we live and jam in so the drinks and the jam sessions are flowing at all times of the day and night. Surprisingly, we’ve never had the cops over for a noise complaint. We normally turn to Juan for pouring out the stiff ones, although he loves himself a whiskey while the rest of us take vodka.

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

Jake – “Instagram influencer, paid to do nothing.”

Juan – “Soccer Team Owner”

Herbie – “My dream job would be getting paid to backpack the globe, exploring the wildest, most remote places on the planet. Basically being Bear Grillz.”

Luke – “Producing other musicians.”

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”?

Well, we sure wish we hadn’t gotten in the van crash that ended our first full US tour before it even began. But fate deals some rough hands.

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?

Metallica – Black Album. It was the first album I gave to Luke.  It was his introduction to what music really can be.  For me, it is a sonically perfect album that marries metal, rock and pop in a way never seen before.  Literally anyone can enjoy that album.  Put it in front of a kid, they will rock the fuck out – guaranteed.

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Category: Interviews