Joel Janis, the leader of the band world pop band Jjanice +, finds it hard to conceal his glee over the fact that the band has released a six-song EP entitled Pierrot Couleur. Janis’ musical bandmates include Sarah Mk (background vocals), Carl Bastien (on the omnichord and on keyboards) and Geneviève St. Pierre (on piano). Marie Cournoyer and Vox Sambou perform some harmonies on the EP. Patrice Agbokou plays bass and produced or co-produced a great number of the tracks.
Janis, who is Haiti-born and Montreal-based, fuses hip hop jazz, soft funk, and world pop to create a unique style for Jjanice +.
Undoubtedly one of the EP’s most dramatic tracks, “Fleur du désert” (Desert Flower) features Janis on lead vocals and Malika Tirolien in a breath-usurping chorus. If you are a world music lover who’s really into Zap Mama and Les Nubians, your musical goblet will runneth over with Jjanice +. The production on that track runs smoother than cream.
Janis contends that the track “Berceuse Remix”, was written in honor of his son, and was inspired by classic French author and poet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince.
Another ear-caressing track is “Kamonyèt” (Public Bus). It chronicles everyday life of people in Haiti through the vents and windows of a public bus. Its lyrics speak about faces on the vehicle, depleted of hope, and battering daily misery and pain. The bandleader called on the Haitian singer-guitarist Wesli for some guitar work on that track. He says he co-wrote the song with a poet by the name of Duccha.
Joel Janis answered Kreyolicious.com’s questions about the EP.
If you were introducing Jjanice to a new fan, what would you say in the introduction?
Jjanice+ is an eclectic artist, a soulful crooner and poet, blending different genres, bending musical conventions. The poetic content is an important part of the music. Born in Haiti, Carrefour, and raised in Canada, Jjanice uses different musical textures—Afro-Caribbean rhythms, soul, indie pop, etc—and colorful poetry—mostly in French—reflecting the creole language and his Haitian heritage. I’ve been working with the Canadian-Ghanian/Togolese producer Patrice Agbokou as well as a Montreal producer.
For the EP, Janis also worked with Sugarface Nene and Engone Endong, whom he playfully calls the Pierre and Marie Curie of music for their tendency to innovate.
How did the idea of the EP come about?
As artists, we are continuously working on new ideas. My first EP, titled Sonneur, was released in 2010. It was more of an experimental output, which was good because it allowed me to try different things and find myself a little more. Since then, I‘ve been working on Pierrot Couleur—originally titled Les Voiles [The Sails], but changed the concept at the last minute. For this one I wanted to work on creating great hooks and telling great stories. Tire kont. Making it almost cinematic. Pierrot, the popular pantomime character from the comedia del arte, is usually represented as naive, sensitive, as [well as] a sad clown. He is the archetype of an artist. He is also mostly represented as a black and white character. I wanted to bring the character, the artist and his stories to a different light. This is the reason why [the EP] is titled Pierrot Couleur.
Give us a musical tour of the record and how some of the tracks on it originated?
“Asteroides” [Asteroids] is a song inspired by a short story by Felix Morisseau Leroy, called “Vilbonè” [City of Joy], recalling the fictitious events surrounding the passage of the Halley comet in Haiti. My version extrapolates on someone born on that day and wanting to live as fast or as intensely as a comet.
“8mm” is a song about memories past, old boxes full of pictures and old films. Stuff that we sometime need to put aside in order to move on. It’s about the end of a story but also the celebration of new beginnings. A burial song, celebrating the passing of those memories that we desperately try to hold on to and that gets archived in our minds like old film footage. This musical procession eventually turns into a real fiesta celebrating the beginning of a new adventure, akin to an Haitian funeral parade
If you were to pin-point Jjanice’s influences to just three musical acts, who would you name? And what is it about them that influenced Jjanice’s style?
Serge Gainsbourg, for poetry and beauty—where beauty is not necessarily always found. David Bowie, for eclecticism and avant-guarde. Fela Kuti for presence, importance of message, and African roots. But there’s so much more Coupe Cloué, Sam Cooke, Ti Manno, D’angelo, Boukman Ekperyans, Depeche Mode, Nat King Cole etc…[Laughter]
Do you think it’s important for an artist to take part in the creative aspect of cutting a record?
It think it is most important if you want to convey your message, your own story. The word says it—Artist. We create art. Not only sound, not only words. We thrive to create something that’s inspired and inspires. Of course, I cannot do it alone, for this EP I’ve worked with my long time collaborator and producer Patrice Agbokou, also with producer HaigVerbatzian—[of] Muzion. The way we create is really by exchanging ideas
Now, most EPs are usually the prelude to an album. Is that part of Jjanice’s future?
Yes! I am currently working on a album for [this year]. As I said previously, we are always creating. I have a few songs that are already ready and some that were supposed to be on Pierrot Couleur but that did not make it. Music always changes, and creativity surprises us; it surprises me! Who knows what the future holds.
What advice would you like to give to others about having and maintaining a band?
Nothing that hasn’t already been said: Perseverance and creativity are the keys for me. Perseverance—as it is not always easy and it is still not easy to be a musician. I guess it never will [be]. Even the creative process is sometimes a battle with yourself. Creativity [and] ideas rule the world. And that’s what makes it fun. To see the effect your work has on you and on other people.
Be sure to check out the band’s music BY CLICKING HERE. You can purchase all eight tracks BY CLICKING HERE. Visit the band’s website HERE.
