"King Of Man" Review:             /       "King Of Man" : Chronique : 

• Tasunka : You won awards as an ECMA award winning songwriter, won Swedish Idol, your first solo album was nominated for Music Nova Scotia 2011 "Rock Recording of the Year" and went platinum, your singles are played on radios in Sweden, etc…: 

So, did that success bring pressure or enthusiasm when you wrote your second album?

Jay Smith : I think both, but the pressure I put on myself is always greater. I always try to outdo myself.

• How would you introduce yourself as an artist and your music as it shows so many facets?

As a pop musician with a lot of blues and country influences. The making of this second album took a long time and I think it´s because of that and all the phases I went through that made the album so diverse.

• The artwork of “King of Man” is pure Rock Rebel spirit: tattoos, smoking, a real bad boy image different from the first album. 

Was it your idea and was it a way to make people react or pure fun?

The cover of the album was just a pic that came out from a long photo session and I didn´t think of it as rebelling, it´s just something I do without meaning to.

• On your first album there were covers of famous hits from pop to metal. 

So, did you write all the songs for the second album and could “King Of Man” be then seen as your actual first album?

I consider King Of Man as my first solo album, since the first had just one original track that I didn´t write myself. The only song that I haven´t written on King Of Man is the title track. It´s written by Richard Larsson and Alexander Scheele. I heard a demo and I just loved it.

• Can you tell me about the way you write songs?

Well, because I have a background in rock n roll and hard rock. I had to use a lot of different instruments that were new to me, because every time I picked up the guitar a riff came out which reminded me of the music I used to write. So I had to lean towards different instruments like the piano, because I wanted to make music that was far removed from what I´ve done before and in the same instance still be myself.

• What does inspire you when you write songs?

The people I surround myself with often inspire me, I like to have one or two musicians to bounce ideas off. Mostly I it's think because of my past, being a part of a group. I find it hard to write soupy on my own.

• Why this title: “King Of Man” and what are the main themes of the lyrics?

I just thought that it was cool title, and the main themes of the album are:love, death and redemption.

• Which songs of your second album represent you the best as an artist? As there are so many facets in this album and all of them are worth it

I think it's "Tramp of love" and "the Blues" and maybe "women"

• Can you tell me more about “Cowboys From Hell” ?

I have always loved Pantera and I had wanted to record this version for some time. If you listen to Pantera, their music is almost always based on a blues riff deep down any way.

• “King Of man”was produced by Dan Sundquist and sounds in an amazing way. How did you get to have him on board and how was it to work with him?

I actually had two producers on this album, Dan Sundquist and Richard Larsson. They are very different from each other in ways of making music, I learned a lot from both of them.

• How long did it take to record the whole album and where was it recorded?

Approximately a year and a half and it was recorded both in Stockholm and south of Sweden.

• Your voice is unique from smoky, Rock, swinging, touch of jazzy, Blues and so amazing to bring emotions to all of the songs whatever the music you play: did you have singing lessons or is it an instinctive singing with soul and guts?

It´s instinctive singing with soul and guts.

• There are many different instruments on this album: of course, drums, guitar, bass but also piano, hammond, saxophone, etc.. : 

Did you play just guitar or any of the other instruments too?

I didn´t play any of the other instruments. I wrote a lot of the ideas for the album on the piano but I´m not good enough to record, hehe

•  Is ‘Jay Smith’ a band or are you playing with different artists ? Could you introduce them?

The drum tracks where laid down by two drummers, Louisian Boltner and Robert Young. The piano and hammond is mostly recorded by Richard Larsson. Guitars by Pelle Holmberg and bass by Dan Sundquist and Linus Blad.

• In your ‘dream band’, with who would you like to play / sing? Alive or in Heaven I mean :)

That´s a tough question… I would like to have Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, ..) et Jerry Cantrell on the drums, Zakk Wilde (Black Label Society, ..) and Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains) on guitar and Mike Inus (Inez – Alice In CHAINS) on the bass.

• Next october you will tour Germany: Are there concerts planned in the rest of Europe and of course France?

It would be then a great pleasure for the French audience to welcome you
I hope to play in all over Europe, but as for now the only tour dates that are set are in Germany.

• “Kings Of man” was released in Scandinavia, last December and now in France in July: what are your expectations for its release in France and Europe ?

Very modest but hopeful.

• What are your plans for the future ? Musically speaking of course :)

I hope to release an EP with a bit of acoustic material I´ve been working on, which has an attendency to lean towards country more than anything else.

• Thank you for your answers :)

Thank you very much and have good day :)