Muen Magazine

VOODOO JOHNSON

Carl Gethin (Guitars)

Birmingham, United Kingdom

www.myspace.com/voodoojohnson

www.voodoojohnson.com

By: Macavity

Voodoo Johnson is poised to hit the world music scene in a big way. With a debut CD coming out today worldwide we wanted to catch up to the band to find out what is making them such a success already with their music. Fortunately we were able to talk to one of their guitarists, Carl Gethin, and find out some of the details about where Voodoo has been and where they are heading.

Voodoo Johnson is also: Paul Gethin (Guitars), Kev Bayliss (Vocals), Dave Barker (Drums), and Rich Bellamy (Bass)

MUEN: Thanks for taking the time to talk to MUEN Carl. You have been together as a band for some time. How did the band start?

We actually started in an ice cream factory! Myself and Dave met while working there packing ice cream sundaes. I can’t remember whether they were fudge brownie ones or raspberry ripple. (Laughs) We got talking and decided to form a band and it kind of went from there.

MUEN: Another great band I interviewed, Colour Sunday, had a band member that was in Voodoo Johnson. What made you decide on this lineup and what makes the members so special together?

Yeah Ben is a good friend of the band but like most bands, line ups tend to change until you settle on the right one. Some bands never find the right line up! We all get on so well and we gel so well as people, not just as musicians. Being friends helps a lot I think and the lack of egos means that we don’t have a problem saying when we’re not happy with something. So we can work and work on songs without anyone getting grouchy.

MUEN: Of course some may know but have to ask where the name came from since it is so unusual?

It came from a meeting I had with Jimmy Page when I won a competition. We were chatting about loads of things but I can’t remember much about the conversation because I was so star struck. It’s Jimmy Page! Anyway, we touched on the subject of Robert Johnson, the old blues guy. I knew about the legend of him selling his soul to the devil and we based the name around that.

MUEN: Great idea to come up with a band name. You have a rich sound with the two guitars that is reminiscent of Iron maiden in that both can play lead. Do you feel you trade off playing lead or play it consecutively to make that full sound?

I don’t think either of us sees ourselves as lead guitarists really. I play most of the solos and lead parts but when we think a song needs a harmonized guitar part or whatever Paul can do it easily. Like on the start of “Seven Years.”

MUEN: Speaking of guitars, have to ask about your win of the Jimmy Paige contest and how that came about?

That was before we formed VJ, I saw a competition called Riffathon in Total Guitar Magazine and I entered it. I had to record a song with cool guitar riffs in it and that was it. (Laughs) I recorded a version of “All AlongThe Watchtower” and messed about with it a bit. It was judged by Brian May, Jimmy Page and Dan Hawkins so it was really cool to win.

MUEN: Who writes the music and how does it evolve to what we hear on the CD’s?

We don’t really have a set way of writing but I would say a lot of our songs start with a riff and go from there. Sometimes it’s a riff we jam with together and build the song as a band. But sometimes I’ll develop the song myself and take it to the band later to see what everyone thinks. And by this time Kev will have had a rough version and started coming up with vocal ideas for it. Seems to work for us.

MUEN: It does work well from the sound of your music. Speaking of that, your debut full CD comes out today. How was the recording process with this album as compared to previous studio’s and producers?

It was really cool recording with Romesh. He’s a top guy and the studio is great and easy to relax in. I think maybe the biggest difference to before was how hard he pushed us. He made us do our parts until they were right, even if it meant playing the same thing over and over again! He was a taskmaster! But he was a nice taskmaster. (Laughs)

MUEN: Do you feel like you expressed your musical voice in this full album more so than in your prior EP’s?

Yeah I think so. EP II was done within a month of Kev joining the band and was just done to get our name out there really. It was probably seen more as a demo at the time. We’ve been finding our feet together as a band on the first two EP’s, finding out what works and what doesn’t. I know Kev wouldn’t sing about a dirty angel anymore.

MUEN: The music sounds somewhat heavier and leaning more to rock and metal. Is that the direction you plan to continue in?

Maybe, but I think we’ve always had a lot of variety in our songs and we like to mix things up a bit. We had some more up tempo, quirky stuff that didn’t get onto the album because it would have sounded out of place. We’ve always had heavy parts in our songs, stuff like “Another White Lie” and “Seven Years” but maybe on the album they are a bit more prominent.

MUEN: Having said that you have added in some great acoustic parts to songs that make it a more interesting listen. Do you plan on being able to do a complete acoustic?

I’d love to do an album like “Jar Of Flies.” A softer more chilled album and I think we could definitely do that one day. Who knows maybe sooner rather than later!

MUEN: Another striking difference that is most noticeable is the artwork that you have been known for with the first two EP’s is gone. Why the change in logo and branding at this point?

I think as with the first EP, it was a bit more of a classic rock feel and it really didn’t go with the music on 10,000 Horses. I guess it’s not just the music that has evolved but the stuff around that too. I love classic rock but I don’t think anyone in the band would be happy just sticking to that.

MUEN: Where can your fans get the new album?

You can buy it digitally through iTunes, 7digital, Amazon etc. Or you can buy the physical digipack copy through HMV, Amazon, Play.com or directly from us on our MySpace page.

MUEN: Saw that you played a couple of festivals. Do you have plans to tour to support the CD?

Yes we’ve got some gigs booked in for November and hopefully add a few more too!

MUEN: You seem to have a very loyal following of fans around the world already. Any plans to come to the states or other markets than the U.K. and if so when?

We’d love to get to the States but as with most things it’s all about the money! We’re also hoping to get to Japan next year sometime.

MUEN: With all those loyal fans is there one thing that they don’t know about the band that that would surprise them?

Yes. Dave was a professional bear wrestler back in the day. Actually one thing that might surprise them is that we did release an EP called “Dance With The Devil” before Kev and Rich joined. That’s why EP II was called EP II! There are probably only 50 copies in existence!

MUEN: I see that you seem to be doing a DIY for your album. Many bands are doing that to retain rights. How is it working for you?

Yeah it’s going great so far. We’ve licensed the release in Asia through Spiritual Beast but we’ve self released it everywhere else because it makes sense to. There is no money in the industry at the moment so keeping the rights and being in control is great for us. There are very few things that a label can do that you can’t do yourself these days!

MUEN: What have you got planned for the rest of 2010 and also beyond?

Playing gigs and spreading the VJ word. (Laughs) Also, we’ve already started writing new stuff for the next album. Or possibly the next release with be an EP, we’ll keep writing and see what happens.

MUEN: Is there anything I have not mentioned that you would like current and potential fans to know about Voodoo Johnson?

Our second album will be even bigger and better and that’s a promise.

MUEN: We look forward to that and many other great things from the band. Thanks again for talking to us.