Bridlington band January Jam having been jamming since – well, January, give or take; we were keen to learn more about this new foursome of familiar faces, and sent Emma Stainforth along to a rehearsal to chat to the band, with Ebony Kelly taking photos.
Band practice begins as Lucy Burdon, January Jam’s lead vocalist, wraps up with her last singing student of the day. Seamlessly, amps appear, guitar and bass are tuned, and mics rise between the easy chatter of inside jokes and the mundanities of setting up. I look up to see the ReMarkable Arts Studios transformed into a seventies band rehearsal – Sherilyn Papworth (bassist and backing vocals) loses the Afghan coat to reveal bellbottoms and bell-sleeves, Stevie Nicks incarnated in this Bridlington loft room. Elliot Joesbury (drummer and producer) adjusts levels and readjusts again, whilst Curtis (lead guitar and backing vocals) keeps the band in tune before we embark on an eight-song journey spanning psychedelic rock, new wave, and heavy metal – just to name a few! The joy is palpable as the band laugh and dance and catch silly glances throughout the set and, not to forego the absolute force of musical talent that appears oh-so easy for January Jam. After a rip-roaring practice, I sit down with the band to discuss how in (almost) a year they have found themselves eight original songs deep into this retro-inspired powerhouse.
January Jam, apart from being friends and bandmates, also includes a set of siblings and a couple. However, it was neither of these relationships that began the band; rather, it was a friendship. Lucy and Sherilyn explain how New Year’s Eve 2024 saw them each begin new romantic ventures, and it was this shared experience that set the wheels in motion – ‘We went through something at the same time’ Lucy explains, ‘we were on the same wavelength.’ This shared inspiration catapulted them into songwriting together and came to inspire the band name and first single title – a fun nod to the excitement of early romance. When I asked how the band grew from Lucy and Sherilyn to the four-piece band we see today, the simple response was ‘we were in the same room.’ After years of occupying the same open mic spaces and jam sessions, things came naturally. Lucy says of Elliot and Curtis, ‘they’re very talented people… I don’t think it would have fit with anyone else.’ Despite a bashful response to the flattery from the boys, the sentiment is echoed.
After playing eight originals and teasing two more, it is clear that writing plays an integral role in what makes January Jam. Elliot describes Lucy and Sherilyn as ‘Lennon and McCartney’ in their writing dynamic; with such a synchronicity, they bring the lyrics and melody to the band. Lucy explains how ‘a song doesn’t just come from one person, we all build it together’; from there, Curtis will create a chord progression, and Elliot brings the beat and the hope of adding a ‘cowbell to everything.’ A great deal of the writing process happens in Lucy and Elliot’s flat as the distinction between best friends and bandmates coincides and collides. An unreleased track, ‘PC’ feels extremely anecdotal, and Sherilyn explains how their current setlist comprises a mixture of extremely personal and emotional songs as well as musical storytelling of their friendship and adventures together (including a track with the working title ‘Were-badger!’)
The band radiates a psychedelic, seventies vibe with their debut single, ‘January Jam,’ deeply influenced by artists like Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin. There are also influences of sixties bands, such as the Beatles, The Seekers, and The Hollies, emanating in their ‘haunting and hypnotic’ harmonies through the use of both female and male voices. Despite a huge amount of influence coming from sixties and seventies rock, the band discuss how they are reluctant to pigeon-hole themselves into a single genre, explaining how they take all their influences and ‘jamify it.’ This allows the band more flexibility and space to experiment in the writing process, in turn creating songs that tiptoe the parameters of blues, dive head-first into psychedelic rock, and dance with light feet through heavy metal.
When I asked when music began for January Jam’s members, without missing a beat, Sherilyn tells me ‘birth.’ With the joy of listening to, sharing, and playing music growing in equal measure through their lives – inspired by musical family members, cultivating musical skill through lessons, and performing to friends, family, and peers as soon as they could. Curtis tells the story of how, after a severe case of tonsillitis, he lost his hearing at three years old; however after an operation at the same age he regained his hearing and fell deeply in love with music and sound of any kind; his parents sharing with him how he’d find crisp packets to rustle just for the joy of the sound.
Coming from a small seaside town can often feel restrictive for creatives, but January Jam has nothing but praise for Bridlington and how it influences their music. Sherilyn explains how there is ‘something about [Brid]’, a special quality in the community that makes the band feel they can be braver with their writing and performing, as well as silly and fun. The band have also found many opportunities for live performances in the town. Curtis mentions how his childhood guitar teacher, Dave Allottt, was hugely encouraging in taking part in local jam nights, in which Curtis feels he was able to build both his confidence and love for performing. Elliot praises local promoter Alex Verda (Metalines Studios) in creating a ‘home from home’ in his open-mic nights, in which local acts feel confident to experiment, collaborate, and grow.
Seemingly, January Jam are only just getting started. The band reveal an album is in the works, and how they are ‘raring and ready’ to get gigging in Bridlington and further afield. Performing live, the band aims to create something ‘not that deep,’ mixing fun with the ‘beautiful and empowering.’ Sherilyn explains how they want to create something authentic – spending less time on what they think they should be doing instead of what feels right to them. Elliot adds, ‘it’s good to see bands having fun on stage,’ which January Jam indeed do! If the electricity the band brought to a Tuesday night rehearsal is anything to go by, January Jam’s Bull & Sun gig on the 19th of April will not be one to miss!
Links: Facebook : Instagram : Spotify : TikTok
Gig Dates:
Sat 19th April at The Bull and Sun, Brid
Thurs 1st May at The Queens, Brid
Sat 28th June at The Bull and Sun, Brid
Sat 26th July at The Queens, Brid with Night Flies and Sandra’s Wedding
All four members of the band also tutor or coach different specialities as Remarkable Arts. Check out their work here.
