Village Raw - ISSUE 6
Village Raw is a magazine that explores cultural stories from Crouch End, East Finchley, Highgate, Muswell Hill and the surrounding areas. The magazine is created by the community, for the community. If you like this issue you can support the project through a subscription or donation. See the links below. The sixth issue of Village Raw magazine includes: ARTISTS OPEN UP - The Crouch End and East Finchley open studios. FUZZY AND LOUD / LO-FI AND MOODY - Musician Michael Jablonka discusses his music. ON THE TRAIL OF PINK - A project to celebrate Highgate’s historical women. LIGHTING IT UP - The Bounds Green Window Show lighting up the neighbourhood. WARM HUGS AND SWEET MEMORIES - In celebration of Crouch End institution Edith’s House. THE STATE OF OUR HIGH STREETS - Keeping our high streets alive and healthy. DINNER WITH A DIFFERENCE - Exploring the local supper club scene. THINKING LOCAL TO ACT GLOBAL - Making our relationship with the environment more reciprocal. SHAPING THE WORLD AROUND US - The importance of our biodiversity. FLOWERS FROM SEED - Growing seasonal local flowers for sustainable bouquets. FUELLING MIND AND BODY - A sanctuary to escape the pressures of modern life. AND MORE… Village Raw is created by the community, for the community. If you like this issue you can support the project through a subscription or donation. See the links below.
Village Raw is a magazine that explores cultural stories from Crouch End, East Finchley, Highgate, Muswell Hill and the surrounding areas. The magazine is created by the community, for the community. If you like this issue you can support the project through a subscription or donation. See the links below. The sixth issue of Village Raw magazine includes:
ARTISTS OPEN UP - The Crouch End and East Finchley open studios.
FUZZY AND LOUD / LO-FI AND MOODY - Musician Michael Jablonka discusses his music.
ON THE TRAIL OF PINK - A project to celebrate Highgate’s historical women.
LIGHTING IT UP - The Bounds Green Window Show lighting up the neighbourhood.
WARM HUGS AND SWEET MEMORIES - In celebration of Crouch End institution Edith’s House.
THE STATE OF OUR HIGH STREETS - Keeping our high streets alive and healthy.
DINNER WITH A DIFFERENCE - Exploring the local supper club scene.
THINKING LOCAL TO ACT GLOBAL - Making our relationship with the environment more reciprocal.
SHAPING THE WORLD AROUND US - The importance of our biodiversity.
FLOWERS FROM SEED - Growing seasonal local flowers for sustainable bouquets.
FUELLING MIND AND BODY - A sanctuary to escape the pressures of modern life.
AND MORE…
Village Raw is created by the community, for the community. If you like this issue you can support the project through a subscription or donation. See the links below.
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VILLAGE SOUNDS<br />
FUZZY AND LOUD<br />
LO-FI AND MOODY<br />
Michael Jablonka is a local musician with a contemporary take on<br />
blues-infused folk rock. He tells us about his work, creative<br />
freedom, and his new direction under the influence of the Rhythm King.<br />
Interview by Luciane Pisani. Photo by Dan Bridge.<br />
Why music?<br />
There’s always been music in the house – my mum influenced<br />
me quite a lot. I remember listening to a lot of reggae but when<br />
I got older she started talking to me about the stuff she used to<br />
listen to as a kid, from Joni Mitchell to Sparks and glam bands<br />
like T.Rex. Then I got a guitar for my barmitzvah and everything<br />
shot off from there. I couldn’t think of doing anything else. It was<br />
the only thing that felt natural.<br />
How did you get started?<br />
I took a couple of lessons at school and then the guitar teacher<br />
advised me to keep on doing what I was doing and learning on<br />
my own. I’m quite thankful for that as I feel like you develop your<br />
own style a little bit more. Then me and my neighbour started<br />
learning guitar together and it was becoming easier and easier<br />
to pick things up on either TV or radio, so it’s been a gradual<br />
progression, I guess.<br />
Who’s the most important influence on your music?<br />
I love blues music – that was the main thing that got me into the<br />
guitar. It’s probably going to be a cliché but I’d have to say Jimi<br />
Hendrix, just for the wildness and ferocity and everything he<br />
stood for. I try and carry a lot of those philosophies in my music.<br />
My music is kind of going into two parts – usually with my band<br />
there’s three or four of us and it’s quite fuzzy and loud and then<br />
there’s this other facet to the music which is lo-fi and moodier.<br />
What’s the difference between playing alone and alongside<br />
other musicians?<br />
I really enjoy playing for other people. I started off pretty early<br />
on playing for all different types of artists and it was great fun<br />
for a while, but playing with my own group, there’s no other feeling<br />
like it, really. You have all this space and creativity to just<br />
do whatever you want and let your mind go wherever and that’s<br />
always been the appeal – the sheer freedom of it all.<br />
What’s your most memorable life experience?<br />
I did a Michael Kiwanuka gig in 2017 at The Royal Albert Hall and<br />
it was just like a dream – all of our favourite artists had played<br />
there. I play lead guitar for Michael, and he gives us total freedom<br />
to be ourselves and everyone in the band is super nice. It<br />
was such a surreal feeling being on the same stage as all of our<br />
heroes and doing what we love.<br />
Name a song or piece of music that blows your mind?<br />
Every time I listen to White Light/White Heat by The Velvet Underground<br />
it feels completely different and I discover something<br />
else and it inspires me in a different way. Or there’s an<br />
Australian band called The Avalanches – they sample records<br />
to make a composition, but their first album Since I Left You is<br />
probably one of the most incredible things I’ve ever heard. Highly<br />
recommend listening to that.<br />
Where are you now with your music?<br />
Right now, I’ve just finished off a little lo-fi EP called Go-Go, incorporating<br />
this drum machine that I picked up a couple of years<br />
ago in America called the Rhythm King. I guess it was just an<br />
excuse to play around with my new toy. I’m a little bit nervous to<br />
see how people will receive it because I don’t think this is a part<br />
of me they’ve heard before, so it could go either way – but I’m<br />
alright with that.<br />
How do you deal with live nerves?<br />
If I wasn’t nervous then I think that would be a problem. I think<br />
it’s really important to be out of your comfort zone at most<br />
times, actually – I think it just adds a bit more to the performance.<br />
I’ve definitely found over the years the times I’ve been<br />
most nervous have been my favourite gigs.<br />
Do you have any favourite places to hang out in the area?<br />
I love Cha Cha Cha if I can get down there on a Saturday afternoon<br />
– it’s a really great hang-out. It’s quite nice to go to Ally Pally and<br />
just hang out there, on the grass or steps, and I sometimes go to<br />
Kiplings in Highgate, which is a great Indian restaurant. •<br />
Go-Go will be out in May - check: @michael_jablonka for up-to-date information.<br />
You can also view a live performance video of his new song Make Believe and more<br />
photographs on our website: www.villageraw.com/jablonka<br />
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