Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Problematic Jam

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

The dream I had last night : we were cruising with the band in some strange jungle or a forest. I always run in my dreams, to where, from who, dunno.

I presume it’s a kind of urge for creation.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

From my studies ; I have a degree in literature, history and philosophy. Love to write first. Use to write articles, reviews. Therefore, writing text and ideas along a melody with the guitar seemed so natural.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

Friendship ! We are a bunch of friends, playing music for a long time, knowing each other very well, and creating/jamming easily.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

It’s a kind of special. A blend of indie rock and post punk, a mix of diverses influences, but above all a complete freedom of creation basis. I mean we don’t do rehearsal, we barely prepare our music.

We just play and let the inspiration of the moment guiding us. It’s very genuine, and provide us a special key to be as fresh as possible, as weird as it should be. We are just surfing the moment while creating.

That gives us, I think, a special color creation.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

The more simple the music is, the better. I used to believe in complex structures, kinky bridges, weirdo intros and outros. Today, I admire the simplicity of the Bests.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

As far as I am concerned, my guitar is essential. I mean, most of the time music comes first. Even melody and harmony, it comes before the text. I would say most of the time.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

There is this new band, which is a friend of mine, THE PROBIES I just love. I’m wondering if we don’t share influences in common because these guys have something we appreciate very much.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

As I told you before, my studies lead me to editing works, reviewing records and stuffs related to music. The junction seems so obvious. We are now walking the path we used to follow from far away.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

I would say emergency. And a bit of authenticity ! As long as our listeners find out some « freshness » we are good.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

That music is according to me, vital in existence. An instrument ? A best friend for life. I mean, I wake up and put music on and go to the bed while listening a tune.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

I would say Reading Festival in England. A mythical festival for us. There were so many bands we worship that had been played this festival. It used to be so huge in the late 90’s. I still dream of all these venues I couldn’t attend at the moment.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

My response as the guitarist of the band – would different for the drummer and our bassist-singer I presume – is the following band : Which is not a band, actually but something heaven sent, something precious led by the Gods. The Cocteau Twins that I am currently listening to while I’m answering this interview. I worship this band, light candles in the night thinking to Elisabeth Frazer, draw circles in the sky just like a lunatic when it comes about this band.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music?

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/artist/0xPLnq82MalMcM9CDJgefe

Bandcamp: https://problematicjam.bandcamp.com

Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/problematicjam

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alltheselonelyhours

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

I would not say touring the world to share the music as most of the band would say. So modestly, I would say the next upcoming album we are working on.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

Dude we are stinking the cool, we are sweating the swag. This is a crime of nature for the others who are clearly not gifted as we were. « Effortless » would be, in my opinion the word that could defines us the more. Let them speak for us.

If you want here you can add a representative Youtube video to insert below the interview 🙂