The Sick-Leaves exclusive interview!
“The Sick- Leaves is Eksteen Jacobsz. Meaning that it is the solo project of Eksteen Jacobsz (similar to that of Greg Carlin with Zebra & Giraffe).
The Sick-Leaves currently perform as a three piece with a synth bassist and drummer forming part of the live band. Their sound is a “sonic assault of twisted, layered guitars placed on a bedrock of solid drums and bass grooves.”
The Sick-Leaves are gigging regularly around Johannesburg and Pretoria (and hopefully Cape Town in the near future)..
The Sick-Leaves second album: Stone the Crow was released this year by Just Music ( a digital release) and the first album, Tunnel Vision ( which was SA music award nominated) was released by Sheer music.
Why the name ‘The Sick Leaves’? Sick Leaves is a bit of word play between sick leaves from a tree and taking sick leave from work. I like the concept of almost everyone taking sick leave from work at least once in their life when they are not really sick. It’s basically stealing from your boss and that is very rock’n'roll.
How did you meet the people that you perform with? I met James Strangelove (Bass Synth) in 2006 through a friend in Melville and we’ve since become very close friends. Jade Mckinon (Drums) I met through an ad I placed on the Powerzone website this year. She replied and we get along very well musically
What are some new things happening? There are two new and first ever Sick-Leaves videos coming out in the next few weeks. The one is for my Everything but the Girl cover, Missing (it went to No.1 on Highveld’s Homebrew SA Top 10 last week) and the other is for All these foolish things (I’ve said); The Sick-Leaves’ first radio single and from our debut album, Tunnel Vision. A third video, The Black Disciples, from the second album, Stone the Crow, will be released later in 2009.
The band is also very active at the moment. Upcoming shows are :
5 Dec The Rock Bar, Melville with Isochronous
31 Dec The Rock Bar, Melville (36 hour party rock marathon)
13 Feb The Rock Bar, Melville with The one Night Stands
What would you like to achieve in the music industry? Well, getting to the point where I can make a living solely of music. Being able to support myself financially only from album sales and live performances.
What’s the new single your releasing (or will it be a surprise)? Missing is currently on Campus radio and also on Highveld. 5fm doesn’t want to play it as they say the original is still on their playlist and they can’t have two versions on at the same time(although the original is already more than 15 years old!)! So much for supporting SA Rock.
Do you have a favorite song from the album? I like all the songs from the new album, but if I had to choose a favourite it would probably be Coppice Fire. It is an 8 minute rock opus that starts with church organ and ends in a wail of discordant Beatles strings.
Who takes the longest to get ready before a gig? We are all pretty punctual when it comes to gigs. At rehearsals it would most definitely be James. He has a huge setup and the fact that he makes a lot of small talk doesn’t really help.
Are any of you working on side projects? Nope. We’re all pretty much committed to The Sick-Leaves which is really great as a lot of SA musicians have their fingers in different pies at the same time which can be frustrating if you try and organise gigs and tours.
Who talks the most rubbish (at any given moment)? James is a big contender for this title. He believes no topic should be serious and that the envelope for no sense talk should be pushed to the extreme. We don’t complain as it is a lot of fun and it balances out my more serious side. Jade is stuck somewhere inbetween.
Who is the messiest on tour? Definitely not Jade…
Eksteen Jacobsz (who is The Sick-Leaves) is making a name for himself in the local music scene!
Keep an eye out for his music and vote for The Sick-Leaves to get on 5FM.
Here’s how:
sms hi5@5 The Sick-Leaves MISSING to 33345 when you can, which will help get The Sick-Leaves played!
go,go,go!
xx
yours in musical madness
