Q&A: San Jose

6-Piece Glasgow Powerhouse San Jose checked in with us before they set off on their “Milk of the West Tour” this August. Check out our recent Q&A with the band below:

1. Exciting times ahead as your tour is fastly approaching! What can fans expect to see on your latest outing?

We've been maintaining a slogging graft behind the scenes for the past few months, stroking our defeat and at times being present to ephemeral greatness. We hope to unfurl a new San Jose on the road. One unbound from our past sensitivities and artistic limitations. We're never ones to shy away from rawness and jagged edges, so there will be plenty of that. But we've worked hard to create a musical rubber to contain all of that, the joy then is the fear of it breaking.

2. You finish your tour off at The Old Hairdresser’s in Glasgow. Can you hint to anything special you guys have planned for your hometown show?

We always tend to surround ourselves with extra talented musicians, who serenade the audience with an extra level of sound. We are also looking to have an after-show celebration, in which all attendees of the gig are welcome.

3. Does the band have any peculiar pre-show rituals people would be intrigued to find out?

Nothing consistent, we try prod Cean as much as possible. Like matadors to a bull. It gets him in the mood. Hoping that after 5 dates of poking and prodding we can watch him unfurl. Our favourite act of prodding before going on stage had to be before tuts, where he disemboweled a can of shaving cream onto his eyes and face.

4. Any influences on your music that your fans may be surprised to hear?

We love Boards of Canada, love Yusef Dayes, love bald men in prog circa 1970/80, any sort of damp wet noise, and David Berman.

5. Congratulations on your latest single “For Jim, I Love You!” What was the inspiration for the creation of the song? And is there a real Jim?

Aye, Jim Jones. But the weight of his figure and the idea that he occupies exists in many ways. Not ideologically of course, but the bravado and worship we can see everyday. It exists within us all in a way, our commitment to our beliefs and biases. I think exploring that commitment is really interesting, especially if we alter the context. The song portrays that relationship between God and the believer as a sexual one, and an almost uncomfortably close one. We always find that when writing, the best stuff comes from within our own creases, rather than observations of others. It's cathartic, and allows us unload the perverse in a reasonable manner. 

6. The artwork for the single is visually striking. What was the band’s process in envisioning and creating it?

We worked with Michael Gao, who's class. Michael's art is great at conveying texture and his composition is always so bold and striking. This worked perfectly for the song, and Michael nailed the sort of demonic religious hellscape we are going for. It's good to get a reaction as well. A lot of album covers are so tame now.

Michael Gao’s exceptional cover art for “For Jim, I Love You”

7. After tour, what’s next for San Jose?

We have exciting plans for after the tour and potentially later in the year. We’ve recently recorded new tracks and plan to release at least one this year. Eventually, we’ll enter a period of creative hibernation, writing and refining until we have something new and exciting to share. And remember, season passes are available for all the Scottish dates at a great price!

Pulling themselves out of the gut of Glasgow, San Jose have used their showmanship and “performance art” oriented live show to paint an entrail circus. Where flesh and noise collide in ceremony. San Jose have cultivated the fields of Glasgow, sowing seeds with growing post-punk stalwarts Courting, Gallus and Hotel Lux. Following a string of sold out shows, including a sell out King Tut's Headline, the six-piece have gained notoriety as one of the most exciting and forward-looking bands in Scotland.

Their newest track “For Jim, I Loved You” explores the hook of faith. Capturing the euphoric element of belief and the power it can hold over us. San Jose birth a commanding sound, through dark brooding instrumentation, stirring guitar, hurdy gurdy and trumpet. They look into the depths of cultish poison, and emerge with a familiar picture, pure religion.

SAN JOSE’S MILK OF THE WEST TOUR

Aug 16th - SNEAKY PETE’S EDINBURGH
Aug 17th - SOTTO LIVERPOOL
Aug 19th - LITTLE BUILDINGS NEWCASTLE
Aug 21st - ROOTS DUNDEE
Aug 22nd - KRAKATOA ABERDEEN
Aug 23rd - THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS

Get tickets to San Jose’s upcoming tour here - https://beacons.ai/sanjoseband