Interview with Jamie Turner

Last week, Joel caught up with Jamie Turner in London. Joel, having kept his ear to the ground, magically conjured up a series of questions to ask Jamie. This is what he said:

CB: So, Mr Turner, you have a new company with your name all over it. How long have you been working on that?

JT: Companies House answer: 5 months, real answer: ever since moving to Cambridge seven years ago. Its simply me getting my act together, putting a ltd after my name, putting in tax returns and all that jazz really. Getting legit.

CB: How has Peter Jones assisted you in forming the company?

JT: Simply being able to work from his Mayfair office has been a really big help. other than the one time I was working late in a corner and he locked me in by accident. Luckily he heard my screams thru the door as he walked off.

CB: Are you working with Peter Jones aside from the Hamfatter stuff ?

JT: I always run my other business ventures past Peter for his advice and also just on the whim he fancies getting involved.... never know ay !?

CB: Has Peter Jones or his staff led to you any exciting celeb parties?

JT: Well, there was the Christmas party at the Hippodrome, Leicester Square - and in my defence it did say Burlesque on the invitation. Some people may remember a swaying figure in a Top hat having a few too many reggae reggae drinks with Mr Levi Roots and then getting on stage, where some foolish soundman had left a mic on. Why do I do it to myself?

CB: Whats your opinion on celebrity culture and the demise of the English language?

JT: Celebrity.... Im sure celebrity was to celebrate someone's achievements or talents... fame being a by product of being good at what you do. But nowadays, it defiantly seems to be the goal for some people. As for language, I think the days of proper BBC announcers enunciating are long gone. Init.

CB: Have you met anyone more famous than the Dragons, since being in the Den?

JT: Ive had a few run ins with some pretty famous people. Personally, meeting some of the guys from Radiohead was a pretty special encounter. Robbie Williams is a nice chap - I did meet him when I was about 11 years old... he didn't remember! Walking out of my lawyers office I bumped into Eddie Grant which was a grounding moment.

CB: Did you hold your composure?

JT: Not with Eddie, hes far too cool and had one of those multi-position handshakes going on which I completely messed up. god. idiot. There was my chance to prove I was hip and I missed the snap.

CB: Dragons Den, we recall some fairly harsh reviews of your suit, how many do you own now?

JT: To be honest, the dole bought me that suit and I wore it for one day and scored 75K.... couldn't have been that bad, aye? Ive been back to my jeans and leather jacket ever since, even the dreads are making a subtle appearance, kind of by choice.

CB: The Strawberry Fair scene is diverse, charitable, ethicly charged and populated by some very lovely anarchists ; did your flirtation with the capitalist machine generate much friction?

JT: Wow, these questions are pretty cutting arent they, asked by someone who knows me far too well I think.... well, as you know SF holds a very strong anti-corporate view and doesn't accept any handouts what so ever, but that said, I learnt a lot from Strawb and how to do business ethically and thats what is making me stand out in the music industry. Theres capitalism and theres screwing people over, having CEO or MD before some ones name doesn't automatically change their ethics... well, it hasn't with me anyway.

CB: What are you hoping to see this year at the Strawberry Fair?
JT: Id love to see more local bands headlining the main stage, Hamfatter headlining three years ago was a pivotal point for the band and a great platform to push new Cambridge artists. I think the time has past to book sole surviving members of 60s psychedelic bands. Basically, Id love to see Bijoumiyo working the crowd that night.

CB: Bijoumiyo? Did you at any point try to get the band to change their name, to something that most graduates might find easy to pronounce, remember and spell?

JT: Come on man, we went on TV with a band called Hamfatter, I think Bijoumiyo is a safe bet. Im not going to dictate what a band does or what theyre called - Im not one of those industry folk.

CB: Was it hard to get them to actually structure a song, or were they already doing that before you came along?

JT: Those boys are great musicians and love jamming. Ive seen them play a 3 minute tune for 20 minutes! Sometimes theres no stopping them.

CB: Who is the bands lynchpin? What makes him their lynchpin?

JT: Myles Sanko, the lead singer, is probably the most driven musician Ive ever met. Hell literally personally email every person on the mailing list, instead of doing mass mail outs, and it really makes a difference. Plus, his hair has its own gravitational field, always helps for selling CDs.

CB: Where have Hamfatter gone?

JT: To L.A. to record with Joe Chicerilli (White Stripes / Raconteurs producer - really nice guy). I very fortunately bumped heads with his manager over a cheese table at a garden party whilst out in L.A. last year. Therell be some new tunes out later this year. Im pretty excited to hear what they come back with.

CB: So, the band comp, I remember you used to be in a band, how does it feel to be sitting on the other side of the partition?

JT: There doesn't seem to be as much judge bribing as I remember. I was looking forward to the new cars and women of the good old days... (joke, none of that has ever happened in any band competition - ever).

CB: Whats changed over the last few years at the comp for the positive?

JT: Im judging?! Having the final at the Corn Exchange is a huge plus. When I was in a band I would of loved to have played the Corn Exchange but alas, Ive ended up like most people in the music industry... a former musician (I wont say failed yet :)

CB: Talking about music, do you still play?

JT: Yes I still play... just not in public.

CB: Free advice for local bands thats a bold statement, how do they apply?

JT: I was very fortunate to get some great advice and mentoring from local music guru and advocate Richard Brown. This made a huge difference to my development in the music industry and since then, Ive gotten more priceless advice and guidance from some very respected names in the industry. I now feel like its my turn to pass on some of this knowledge to the next generation bands in the area. Keep the circle going. Ill be keeping with Richards tradition of a chat over a pint of Abbott down the Portland Arms alive. Visit http://www.JamieTurnernewmusic.com">www.JamieTurnernewmusic.com to get in contact.

Article posted by Brad Spreadsheet on Wednesday 22nd April 2009, 00:04:00

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