Tag: Jez Mead

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Jez Mead

Last week I was blown away by Jez Mead’s latest album Beard of Bees. Recently I had the pleasure of catching up with the band himself to chat about the disc, his unique sound, and life on the road.

You’ve got such a unique sound. What influences your music?
I do a lot of writing on the road while I’m driving so it seems to suit being listened to in that way. I like all sorts of music but don’t tend to listen to that much blues rootsy stuff even though I get put into that department. I’ve only got a tape player in my van so it’s anything I can get from the op shop on tape, lots of 70’s stuff. But I like bands like Talking Heads, English 80s stuff like the Cocteau Twins and Talk Talk and also heavier bands like Tool. The Drones and Dirty Projectors are my latest favourite things.

Beard of Bees has such a beautiful, spontaneous feel to it. What was it like to make?
I love being in the studio and I don’t really know what I’m going to do ’til I get in there. The only thing with this album is I wanted to make it a bit more raw and to try and capture more of what I sound like live.

One of the tracks on the album, “Devil,” sees you duetting with the lovely Julia Stone. What was she like to work with?
On one of the tours I did with those guys, we were singing that song in their set and it worked well so I was keen to record it again as a duet. We’ve been mates for quite a while so it was just hanging out really; there was no work involved.

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Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Beard of Bees” – Jez Mead

Nursing a post-Eurovision hangover, I needed just the right music to survive my Monday morning. I found it in Beard of Bees, the fantastic fourth album from Jez Mead.

It’s amazing that this guy has been releasing albums for so many years, yet he hasn’t crossed my radar until now. It’s a case of better late than never though. This record is accessible yet rich, just like Jez’s voice. His bluesy rasp brings a depth to the stripped back songs. The raw delivery is perfect for creating an air of honesty and spontaneity; I imagine these songs wouldn’t sound very different if you saw them performed in your local pub. There’s that same electricity that you feel while listening to a live set, that impalpable feeling that anything could happen.

The tunes are an eclectic mix, yet the pieces fit together beautifully. The title track is a rollicking acoustic alt-country number. “Town’s Too Small” feels as if it could have been plucked straight from the Deep South, with its hand-clapping rhythm and swampy feel. As with anything that Julia Stone touches, the duet “Devil” is delicate and gorgeous. The tender closer “Crooked” is blessedly understated and lovely.

Beard of Bees is a lush, complex album that has quite simply cast a spell over me. If like me you’d never heard of Jez Mead, this should be the record to change all that. Beard of Bees will be released on June 25.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jez Mead is No Sucker

In a world of disposable pop and middle-of-the-road rock, the authentic tunes of Jez Mead are somewhat of a revelation. He’s been an independent force for years, but now this poetic sage is taking his music to the masses.

Jez is set to release his debut EP Sucker on September 4, and he’s winging his way around the country to celebrate. The disc is the first release on Jez’s own label Belly Up Records, which works in conjunction with EMI Music Australia. But there’s more to come, with Jez set to release his debut album Beard of Bees early next year.

See Jez and hear his message at the following launch shows around the country.

3 September 2009 – Emily Grace, Adelaide
10 September 2009 – Northcote Social, Melbourne
17 September 2009 – Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney
23 September 2009 – The View Factory, Newcastle
25 September 2009 – Diggers Tavern, Bellingen
30 September 2009 – Troubadour, Brisbane
2 October 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Original Matters