Jon Savage: "I'm not ready to reflect on my career yet ..."

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Jon Savage is well known on the South African music scene as a prolific DJ and leader of several rock ’n roll projects, including Cassette and Kite Rider. Now he’s trying his hand at the film industry with a rock mockumentary called Stone Cold Jane Austen. He answers some questions.

Good day, Jon. How are things?

Howzit Henry! Things be busy as hell but good as gold.

The trailer for the film Stone Cold Jane Austen is all over the social networks, and looks brilliant! What is the background of the conceptualisation and the decision to make this project happen? What’s the situation with the crowdfunding at the moment, and why did you decide to take this approach?

I've been wanting to make a comedy about the South African music industry for some time. I've seen so many sides of it from all different angles, so I wanted to create something that could both poke fun at the entire scene and also ring true! It's a comedy about South Africa, but it has heart. 

With the success of the 5FM MashLab I've really fallen in love with the process of keeping fans involved with projects at all different levels. Crowdfunding is an amazing extension of this, where people from all over the country can be involved in this film as opposed to just being spectators. People are looking for more cool projects like this to exist, and this way it is in the hands of the people whether or not it does. And if it works, it will open up a platform for other cool projects!

The film contains some subtle (and some not-so-subtle) jabs at the nature of the demon that is the local music scene. As a musician, DJ, filmmaker, how do you view the state of the scene? How much truth is there to SCJA’s view that even though they don’t speak Afrikaans, the only way they’ll make money as a band is by releasing Afrikaans music?

Haha, well this is exactly it. There are a lot of truths in this film, but at the same time I've taken the characters to another level, sort of like a David Brent from The Office. In other words, Stone Cold Jane Austen parodies strategies that bands from all over have actually tried – or at the very least, every band has had the discussion! So it’s funny on a lot of different levels.

On a different note: your band Kite Rider released an album a while ago. What is the story behind the ending of Cassette and the beginning of Kite Rider?

Ah, that’s a long story. Maybe we ended it too soon, but I think there was too much stress and heartbreak and confusion in Cassette during the last months of our band life. Everyone was arguing and playing the blame game about what wasn't working, and to be honest, I'm probably mostly to blame – which, interestingly, is why the story of Stone Cold Jane Austen has its roots in real life! 

Kite Rider is an incredible experience. It's my own dream team of musicians and when we all play together, the universe rocks! I love this band! Also, there’s no stress about the band being a success or not – it’s a band that just likes to play music! 

The Kite Rider release contains some real grit, a lot of authentic pop-rock. We don’t often see Kite Rider’s name on venues’ calendars (although you did perform at Up The Creek earlier this year). Is it a conscious decision to shift the focus from live gigs to elsewhere, or what is the situation at the moment?

To be honest, everyone in the band has too many other things going on. Everyone in Kite Rider is in such demand that getting the band together as a unit is always quite a struggle. As a result, we've decided to just relax into it, and we will hit it hard when the time is right. We've got two big festivals coming up this year, which is exciting. But every time we play together as a unit, we all get excited about what the future could hold for this band. All invitations welcome. 🙂

Your Jonsavage.co.za site directs to the website of Pocket Love, a studio run by yourself and Jane. What, exactly, is Pocket Love, and what is the nature of its relationship with, well, the nature of your and Jane’s relationship?

Pocket Love Studios is a film and television composing studio run by myself and Jane (my wife). We write soundtracks to films and television ads. We've just finished the soundtrack to the upcoming Spud film.

One of the many projects you’re involved in is Simply Dead, with Toast Coetzer. What’s going on with Simply Dead these days, and how the hell do you make time for all your projects?

Simply Dead is very special. In fact, I think very recently some of the lines between Simply Dead and some Buckfever have been blurred. We wrote a Buckfever album recently for a dance group that we performed with, but I think it was more of a Simply Dead album maybe. This week we are playing at Katherine Bull's art class too, as the same line-up. We actually started working on a second Simply Dead album with Kyla from Freshlyground, but we never had time to finish it. Maybe this year you'll see more from Simply Dead. Depends on how busy we are with other stuff.

You’ve been involved with the local music scene for a long time now, and in a lot of different roles. What memories do you hold that stand out most strongly, both good and bad?

Well, obviously Cassette was a major highlight for me. Playing huge gigs like supporting Pink and Coke Fest and touring Europe for many years was a dream come true. But it was also all a big life lesson. It's hard work. My MashLab on 5FM has been a massive career highlight for me, but the way it ended will always leave a bad taste in my mouth. Being the musical director of the SAMAs was also a really incredible experience. My online radio show on seed.tv is also something I really love doing!

This is a hard question. I'm not ready to reflect on my career yet, as I'm only just getting warmed up. 🙂

What does the near and far future hold for Jon Savage?

Stone Cold Jane Austen! Let's get through that first and then we can worry about the future! 

What is the meaning of life?

Shut the fuck up and do the thing you're supposed to be doing.

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