Interview With 'Nicolle & The Joonoos'

Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?

I met Isaac through the label about a year ago, he’s 16 and incredible on guitar and mentors me on rhythm guitar. I was dead set on signing with MST Sounds when I heard about them opening and sent them everything I did for over a year, haha. I really wanted to be part of building something from the ground up and I just knew the label was the one I needed to be on.

What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?

When I was really young I wanted to be a marine biologist or a solicitor and even studied art haha but for the past 6 years, music is all I’ve wanted to do. I’d spend all day thinking about what songs I could write when I was in school and uni.

Tell us about your latest EP and why our readers should check it out.

It has penguins on the artwork. ‘Nuff said. But seriously, I poured my heart and soul into writing these tracks and we’ve really tried to create a new sound by criss-crossing lots of elements of different genres. The EP is called ‘As If’ and originally started as a project that should’ve just been a single but became an 8 track EP as things progressed.

Who would you say is the bands main song writer or is it a group effort and where do you draw your inspiration lyrically and musically from?

Most of the tracks I wrote alone but sometimes I co-write with the producer Matt Taylor, and there’s one track on the EP that I didn’t write called “Lights Out”: I fell in love with the guitars on that track so had to sing it. For me, inspiration can come from a major life event, or just a phrase I see or overhear when I’m out and about. We have a track called “Jack Wills” for example, named after the clothing brand. But everything comes from a very personal place.

As a band what do you believe is your greatest achievement to date?

I haven’t fallen off stage yet. I’m quite proud of that. For those that know me, they’ll know what an achievement that actually is.

Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?

This guy called the Badger (although he’s not actually a badger, as he has to remind us sometimes). He’s the most rock and roll guitarist out there…When he hears my tracks he knows what to play in to make my songs come alive. He can play with his teeth. AND he always gets on stage and gives it his all no matter what. Truly inspirational.

What do you enjoy most about touring? The unpredictability of it. The places and the people you meet and the great stories you get from it. Sure, things go wrong, but it makes the good even better. If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect? An honest, energetic performance, some terrible puns and probably me hitting my mouth on the microphone…Again.

If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?

I can only pick one? Aaarghhh…Little Mix because of that sass and those dance moves, haha. I think they’d be great fun. You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about? Is it cliché to say Michael Jackson? I remember watching his film “This Is It” and he was just never afraid to try anything as a musician which is the sign of a true artist and knew exactly how he wanted his tracks to sound. I was just mind blown watching him. He was an incredible performer, too.

And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie? Even more Christmassy than Santa driving the Coca-Cola truck decked out in fairy lights. We just want to say thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

'As If' EP available now.