A Quick Chat With Burning Jacobs Ladder

Burning Jacobs Ladder only debuted in December and he (Jake Johnson) is now following it up with his second single 'Seventh Fever Of The Mind'. It's like a wild-west psych-rock track. The gloomy, mind-bending number features the organ; layers of smooth, clean guitar licks over guitar stabs; and a menacing, low-pitched vocal performance from Jake Johnson that's caked in a gritty distortion. We spoke with Jake Johnson about his new track, his own recording studio and his work as a diagnostic radiographer.

Seventh Fever Of The Mind' is your brand new single, tell us more about the meaning behind the track.

It’s a metaphor for mental health and anxiety. It’s a serious subject behind the veil of fairly uplifting music. That contrast encompasses anxiety, at least in my experience it does. Musically it’s almost a 60’s throwback and very much inspired by bands such as Brian Jonestown Massacre who I’m a fan of.

We understand that you write and record everything yourself in your own home studio. Tell us more about that process.

Yes, I like the freedom it gives me to make all my own choices on my own time. Inspiration, time and energy are not always present so its good to have a space ready for when it does. It is small but I do thrive off those restrictions. Most of this EP was actually written in my old place in the spare bedroom so my new space seems luxury.

If there was one piece of equipment that you could add to your studio, what would it be and why?

I'm not going to turn down a Moog One or a Prophet 5 but in all seriousness, I have everything I need to make music that will compete with my peers. Like most muso’s I have bought and sold so much gear over the years with the conclusion that i don’t need most of it. I enjoy the restrictions, it forces you to think and learn how to actually use the instruments and resources you have. That being said i am looking for an upright piano, definitely won’t fit in my studio but I’ll find somewhere for it. The second EP is very piano laden and it inspired me to improve on it.

As an English Ex-pat, what are some of the differences you've noticed between the music industry in the UK compared to Australia?

I was in bands most of my youth in the UK and my view then is very different from now. I always saw the industry as some mythical creature, very cloak and dagger so to say. Australia is less saturated in comparison to the UK and I find you champion your homegrown talent a lot more. In my short time in the music realm, I have found Australia to be very welcoming and encouraging.

When not in your studio recording, what can you be found getting up to? Any other hobbies?

Working. I feel like I have 2 jobs, my real job as a diagnostic radiographer and then the dream job as a songwriter. Between them, I don’t have a great deal of spare time. They come hand in hand though, without one I could not fund the other, and my guitar collection would dwindle…

Your EP is due to be released on the 12th of February. What can we expect to hear on it?

It is fairly diverse and that is intentional. I wanted the first EP to showcase a little of what I could do whereas the second EP is a lot more focused and uniform. EP1 was mostly written well over a year ago. I feel like I’m playing catchup a lot of the time due to me taking so much on with recording and producing etc. There is an acoustic song on there that I recorded in one take and also a long, concept of a song that shows my experimental side a little more and the direction I’m moving.