Interview: Joe Armon-Jones

Keyboardist, producer, songwriter and founding member of Ezra Collective, Joe Armon-Jones speaks to Deb Grant ahead of his headline show at Band on the Wall, the first night of his UK in support of his latest album ‘All The Quiet (Part II)’.

Deb Grant: When was the last time you were in Manchester, was it with Ezra Collective, or did you play solo here more recently?

Joe Armon-Jones: It must have been last year, at Albert Hall I think. That was probably the last time I was here – I came up and did a masterclass here maybe more recently than that but I didn’t play a show I just did something at RNCM.

DG:  So have you played Band on the Wall before?

JAJ: Yeah – my first tour ever was with Zara McFarlane and she played Band on the Wall, it must have been one of the first stops on the tour, so it would have been one of the first gigs that I did outside of London. But a long time ago, way before the refurb and all that stuff.

DG: Do you have any memories of that gig or is it all just like a big blur?

JAJ: I remember being very nervous and I used to get this thing where I’d get weirdly cold hands before a gig even though it’d be a warm room, my hands would have their own like microclimate going on and that would mean that it was harder to play because your hands were stiff. Thankfully that doesn’t happen anymore. I think it’s just nerves, goes into your physical as well.

DG: That’s all you need especially when you’re such a fluid player, that must be a horrible feeling like your fingers are stiffening up.

JAJ: Yeah it’s like the same feeling as when you’re used to being able to have normal conversations with people and then you’re like socially drained and you’re just like ‘this is weird, I’ve got nothing to respond to’, it’s a really strange feeling.

DG: Do you notice anything about Manchester crowds that’s different from other places that you play?

JAJ: I think it’s just that the more north you get in general, the crowds get more – I’d just say, what’s the word to use, it’s easier for them to get to having a good time. Do you know what I mean? There’s less barrier for them, everyone wants to have a good time but with some people you’ve got to do a lot of unlocking before they’re like, ‘Oh cool, I can enjoy the night.’. I feel like the more north you get in England, sometimes it feels like the same as striking up a conversation – it’s just like people are just ready to jump into it, which is really nice. I always like that.

DG: Do you have any pre-show rituals these days? Anything you’re going to be doing tonight to get ready for the show?

JAJ: Just spending time with the band, to be honest. As you get older and you become an adult, this is our social time as well as our job, do you know what I mean? This is when I see some of my favourite people, so I just try and enjoy spending time with everyone.

DG: Anything you’re excited for tour-wise as this the first night?

JAJ: I haven’t been on tour in a long time, so I’m very excited. I’m bringing out some new nerdy things that just make me excited like new synths and gonna bring a vocoder to some of the shows that are a bit closer to where I live because it’s like, my vocoder is my baby so I kind of treasure it but I’m gonna pull it out at one point and try and use it in a show – so just a few new things. It’s just nice to be back on the road and playing music from the album.