Having played to packed rooms at official BIGSOUND showcases, and wrapping up a tour in support of Jeff Rosenstock, Jess Locke is no stranger to the stage. She has also toured in support of Paul Dempsey, Tigers Jaw, Into It. Over It, Julia Jacklin, and The Smith Street Band, before going on her very own national tour last year. Now she is kick-starting the year with a slot at the The Smith Street Band’s inaugural Pool House Party and another headline tour for the year after a busy 2017.
Hey, thanks for speaking with Forté. You had a big 2017 releasing Universe to an amazing critical and public response and you recently released the video for your single ‘Dangerous’, how was the video-making process? Did you enjoy it?
It was fun, it was kind of one of those last minute ones. It was a pretty simple idea, but sometimes those are the most fun. We just ran around one day; it was just me and my friend Zac. It was all pretty low-fi and fun and light-hearted. It’s definitely less stressful to do, you just get in there and have fun and something comes out at the end. I think it turned out well and people seem to like it.
You embark on a national tour hitting major cities around the country starting this March in support of the single. Are you excited to get on the road?
Yeah definitely! We had a pretty big year last year so it has been pretty non-stop, but now we’ve had a few months off over the new year so it will be nice to get back into it for the small run and get back out there and play the songs again. I’m looking forward to it.
You played the New Years Eve set at Falls Festival, how do you find the festival scene as opposed to your individual sets?
Well it’s totally different I guess. It’s fun to go out and play on a big stage to people you don’t know; it’s sort of like you’re trying to win people over or you hope that somebody gets something out of what you’re doing if they haven’t seen you before. Obviously with our own shows, they’re a lot smaller but you have people turning up that have been coming to shows for years, or have listened to the album and people that are really into it which is really nice as well. Both things have their pros!
You’re playing the Pool House Party on March 17 at the Coburg Velodrome with the likes of The Smith Street Band and The Bennies, amongst others. Are you excited to be a part of that?
Definitely! That’s going to be a fun show. I’ll be playing my set and I’ll also be playing in The Smith Street Band as well so I’ll be busy. It’s going to be really fun; there are a lot of good bands playing so I’m very excited about that.
When you play a show like that do you find that you get to mix and mingle with the other artists?
I think festivals and shows like this are nice to either see people that you already know, or meet new people or meet people that you may have seen around but haven’t really had a chance to talk to. I feel like music is a bit like that in that you know of people and there ends up being only a couple of degrees of separation. Festivals are like that where people are just hanging around and you talk to everyone. It’s also an opportunity to see maybe ten or so acts that you wouldn’t usually see on any one night. You can watch a bit of this and a bit of that and you get a good mix of what is happening in music in the city.
When & Where: Coburg Velodrome – Saturday March 17. Tickets on sale now via www.poolhouseparty.com
Written by Daniel Jubb
