Entrevista con Javi Marvel 2017 - "El sondido de Placebo es rabioso, visceral, pero a la vez muy elegante."

Entrevista con Jafi Marvel by Susie Bosco - Placebo Anyway

Placebo Anyway meets Jafi Marvel.

El artista español de pop-rock electrónico se ha reunido con nosotros para una entrevista en la que hablamos de sus proyectos musicales y de la gira mundial de uno de sus grupos favoritos, Placebo.

En tu larga trayectoria musical Jafi Marvel ha trabajado con grupos como Niños del Brasil o Los Nervios, ha compartido escenario con Fangoria, OBK, Glamour to Kill o VNV Nation.

Le hemos visto en escenarios como la Sala Heineken, El Sol (Madrid) o en festivales tan importantes como el Rock in Rio Electrónico entre otros.

Placebo celebra su 20 aniversario con una gira en la darán 6 conciertos en España*, entre ellos estará un show in Logroño, residencia actual de Mr. Marvel.

Placebo Anyway: ¿Cómo fue para ti cuando te enteraste del concierto de Placebo en Logroño?

Jafi Marvel: Fue una verdadera sorpresa. Y también una alegría. No esperaba poder disfrutar en Logroño de una de las bandas que más me ha marcado, siempre acabo desplazándome a ciudades más grandes para ver conciertos de este tipo.

Placebo Anyway:¿Qué esperas del concierto? ¿Qué canciones deberían estar en el set list para ser un concierto perfecto de la banda británica?

Foto créditos:  ORN MRC Notimex - Marzo 2017

Jafi Marvel: Seguro que va a ser un concierto inolvidable, es un tour de aniversario, con lo que van a sonar temas que nos van a traer grandes recuerdos.

Para mi cualquier setlist que hagan va a ser acertado, pero claro, tengo mis temas indispensables: Teenage Angst, Nancy Boy, Pure Morning, Every You Every Me, Black-Eyed, Taste in Men, Special K, English Summer Rain, The Bitter End, Because I want you, Ashtray Heart… Creo que si sigo acabo nombrando el 99% de los temas Ja ja ja.

Placebo Anyway:: Vamos atrás a los años noventa. ¿Recuerdas cuándo escuchaste por primera vez a Placebo?

Jafi Marvel: Sí, perfectamente! Estaba en casa de mis padres, en Zaragoza. En la televisión había un programa sobre Mountain Bike en el que de repente sonó Nancy Boy. Subí el volumen y me quedé escuchando hipnotizado. Al día siguiente hablé con amigos hasta que descubrí quiénes eran los responsables de ese sonido que me había cautivado.



Placebo Anyway: Hay muchos músicos en el mundo, pero te gusten o no, Placebo destaca, deja huella. ¿Cuál es el motivo en tu opinión?

Jafi Marvel: Yo creo que es la personalidad de su sonido. Es rabioso, visceral, pero a la vez muy elegante.

Placebo Anyway: Tus seguidores están felices dueños de tus tres trabajos discográficos en solitario:

'Jafi Marvel’ (Satélite K, 2009), grabado en Berlín bajo la producción de Luis Miguélez y Juan Tormento (Glamour to Kill, Dinarama, etc.)

‘Discordia’ (Satélite K, 2012), grabado en Madrid con Big Toxic como productor (Fangoria, La Fura del Baus, Dirty Princess, etc.)

 ‘Inevitable’ (Rock CD, 2014).

y ‘Maldito Insomnio’  (Many Kisses Ltd. / Satélite K, 2015)

 grabado en Zaragoza  y masterizado por Luis Sancho en 12+1 Estudios.





La discografía completa y los créditos: aquí

Placebo Anyway: ¿Podemos encontrar influencias o inspiraciones de Placebo en tus discos?

Jafi Marvel: Sin duda. Puede que no sean perceptibles, pero están ahí. El sonido de sus guitarras me ha llamado siempre mucho la atención y me marca desde hace años.

“Daño”, un tema de mi tercer disco “Inevitable”, aunque tiene unos sintetizadores muy presentes, para mí es 100% Placebo.

Ver los vídeo clips de Jafi.

Foto créditos: Digital 21

Placebo Anyway: Stefan Olsdal es un gran amante de España y de sus artistas. Actualmente apoya a artistas jóvenes y colabora con Digital 21. ¿Cómo sería una posible colaboración con Placebo? ¿Te gustaría trabajar con ellos como banda, con Stef y sus proyectos también más electrónicos o compartir escenario?

Jafi Marvel: ¡Desde luego! Cualquiera de las opciones sería un lujo. Imagínate, compartir escenario con Placebo! ¡Wow! ¿Cómo decir que no a eso? El proyecto de Stef con Miguel (Digital 21) también lo sigo de cerca. Miguel es un buen amigo que, además de ser un gran músico y productor, no para de organizar fiestas y eventos en la noche madrileña. En más de una ocasión ha contado conmigo y ha sido siempre un placer.

Placebo Anyway: Otra manera de colaborar con ellos sería en un proyecto social. Sabemos que en tus conciertos siempre están presentes.

Jafi Marvel: Sí, creo que todos podemos aportar algo y, ya que estás en un escenario con un micro en la mano, cuesta muy poco ayudar o recordar a la gente que no todo es diversión. El VIH sigue siendo un gran problema a día de hoy y cuesta muy poco tomar precauciones, hay que recordarlo de vez en cuando ya que parece que no es tendencia para los medios ni el sistema sanitario.



Placebo Anyway: Ahora nos vienen la mente los charity shows de Placebo como en Ankor Wat (Bangkok 2008) que estaba enfocado en el tráfico de seres humanos; el de Leeds (U.K. 2015), donde apoyaron la fundación CALM y también el ‘In Aid of The Mercy Centre, Bangkok' en Utrecht (Holanda 2015) ¿Qué les propondrías a Brian and Stef para llevar a cabo un proyecto juntos?

Jafi Marvel: Seguro que aparecían numerosas posibilidades: refugiados, desahucios…

Placebo Anyway: Queremos despedirnos con una invitación a tu página web donde encontramos tu agenda, discografía, tus vídeos y una tienda online.

http://jafimarvel.com

En tu Facebook podemos descubrimos de ti otra faceta artística más.

www.facebook.com/jafimarvelmusic

Jafi Marvel: Imagino que te refieres a las sesiones como DJ que estoy realizando últimamente.

Ya cuando vivía en Zaragoza me gustaba ponerme a los platos alguna que otra vez en los bares o pubs que frecuentaba. Me gusta hacer que la gente baile y lo pase bien, y eso a veces es una responsabilidad.

Con mi faceta de DJ, mientras ando liado en el estudio grabando nuevo material, me quito el “mono” de escenario yendo a pinchar a Clubs y eventos por toda España.

Placebo Anyway: Sabemos que has participado en Especiales dedicado a Placebo. ¿Qué tal la experiencia y habrá un pre y/o aftershow event que a lo mejor diriges tú?

Jafi Marvel: Es cierto, la primera vez que sonó en directo nuestro último disco fue en una fiesta Placebo en Madrid.

La verdad es que no me había planteado organizar nada ¡Viene Placebo a la ciudad que a día de hoy es tu casa! Anula cualquier otro plan que pueda surgir para ese día… ¡y para el siguiente! Je je je Solo ponte tus mejores galas y déjate llevar…

Placebo Anyway: Muchas gracias por la entrevista. Nos vemos de nuevo en Logroño y contamos con tu concert review.

Jafi Marvel:  Muchas gracias a vosotr@s. Si podéis acercaros por Logroño, aquí tenéis un guía.

Entrevista por Susie Bosco - Placebo Anyway  

Placebo WorldTour – España – Entradas:

• Sala Razzmatazz Barcelona 26.04.2017
• Sala Razzmatazz Barcelona 27.04.2017 (entradas agotadas)
• Wizkink Center Madrid 29.04.2017
• Palacio de los Deportes Granada 04.05.2017
• Palacio de los Deportes Logroño 06.05.2017
• Mallorca Live Festival, Mallorca 12.05.2017

Entradas: http://aplaceforustodream.com



Photo credits: Diego Figueroa @halofiveo

• Placebo página web oficial: www.placeboworld.co.uk
• Jafi Marvel página web oficial: http://jafimarvel.com   
• www.facebook.com/jafimarvelmusic

• Placebo Anyway: www.facebook.com/PlaceboAnyway
• Placebo Anyway Blog (Centrefolds): http://centrefoldsculture.blogspot.com

        Entrevista en inglés

Interview with Jafi Marvel - "Placebo's music is enraged, visceral and at the same time very elegant."

Interview with Mr. Jafi Marvel  by Susie Bosco for Placebo Anyway

Placebo Anyway meets Jafi Marvel / April 2017

Spanish pop-rock electronic artist Jafi Marvel met with us for an exclusive interview where we speak about his music projects and the Placebo World Tour 2017.

We would like to introduce to you Javi Marvel:

In his long musical career he has collaborated with very well-known Spanish groups like Niños del Brasil or Los Nervios, shared live stage with Fangoria (friends of our beloved Stef Olsdal), OBK, Glamour to Kill or VNV Nation.



We saw him playing at important Spanish venues such as Sala Heineken, El Sol (Madrid) or at important festivals like ‘Rock in Rio Electrónico' among others.

Jafi is a huge Placebo fan and will not miss the show in Logroño, where he currently lives.

Placebo celebrates their  20^th anniversary and during their World-Tour they will play 6 shows in Spain. *

Placebo Anyway: How did you feel when you heard about Placebo’s concert in Logroño?

Jafi Marvel: Yeah!! It was a big surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy a concert here in Logroño of one of the bands that has inspired and influenced me the most. I have always had to go to other cities to enjoy bigger concerts like this one. So it made me really happy!

Placebo Anyway: What do you expect from the show? How would the perfect set list be in your opinion, for this concert?

Photo credits: ORN MRC Notimex March 2017

Jafi Marvel: I’m pretty sure it will be an amazing gig that I will never forget. It’s an anniversary tour, so we will listen to songs that will bring back lots of memories.

For me, any set list they choose is great; nevertheless, I have my preferred list of songs:

Teenage Angst, Nancy Boy, Pure Morning, Every You Every Me, Black-Eyed, Taste in Men, Special K, English Summer Rain, The Bitter End, Because I want you, Ashtray Heart…  I think That If I keep going I will end up naming 99% of their songs (Laughing)

Placebo Anyway: Let us travel back in time to the 90’s. ¿Do you remember the first time you listened to Placebo?

Jafi Marvel: Of course! I was at my parents’ home in Zaragoza (Spain). I was watching a TV program about the band Mountain Bike and suddenly I heard 'Nancy Boy'. I turned the volume up and I listened mesmerized to the song.

The next day I spoke with some friends until I finally found out who was the band responsible for such kind of mesmerizing cool sound.

Placebo Anyway: There are many bands in the world, we whether you like it or not, Placebo are special, different, a band which leave a mark on us. What do you think is the reason for the band to have such an impact on people?

Jafi Marvel: I think it’s the personality of their sound. It’s enraged, visceral, and at the same time very elegant.

Placebo Anyway: Your followers are happy owners of your 4 solo albums:

‘Jafi Marvel’ (Satélite K, 2009), recorded in Berlin and produced by Luis Miguélez and Juan Tormento (Glamour to Kill, Dinarama, etc.) 

 ‘Discordia’ (Satélite K, 2012), recorded in Madrid and produced by Big Toxic (Fangoria, La Fura del Baus, Dirty Princess, etc.)

‘Inevitable’ (Rock CD, 2014).

 and ‘Maldito Insomnio’  ( Many Kisses Ltd. / Satélite K, 2015)

recorded in Zaragoza and produced by Luis Sancho en 12+1 Estudios 

Complete discography and credits here.

  

Placebo Anyway: Do we find some Placebo influences or inspiration on all these albums?

Jafi Marvel: Without any doubt!! It might not be obvious, but it is there. The sound of Placebo’s guitars has always caught my attention and left a mark on me over these years.

For example, “Daño” (Hurt) a song on my third album “Inevitable”, even though, the synthesizers are very present, for me it’s a 100% Placebo.

Check out the Javi's videos.

Photo credits: Digital 21

Placebo Anyway: We all know that Stefan Olsdal is totally in love with Spain and their artists. Currently he supports young artists and is collaborating with Digital 21. ¿How would a possible collaboration with Placebo be? Would you like to work with the band, or with Stef and his electronic projects or even share the stage with them?

Jafi Marvel: Of course I would! Any of these options would be a kind of a luxury for me. Only imagine being on stage with Placebo!! Wow!! How could I say no to this!!

I follow Stef’s project with Miguel (Digital 21). Miguel, who’s a very good friend of mine, and a great musician and producer. He organizes lots of parties and events in Madrid too, and has counted on me in more than once occasion. It has been always a  pleasure for me to collaborate with him.



Placebo Anyway: Another way of collaboration with Placebo would be a charity project. We know that in your concerts it plays a big part.

Jafi Marvel: Yes it does! I think we could do something. As you are with the microphone on the stage, it’s very easy to help and remind people that not everything in life is fun. For example, Aids is still a big problem nowadays and you don’t need a lot of effort to take precautions. It’s important to remind it every once in a while, because it seems that for the media it’s not an issue, not even for the sanitary system.

Placebo Anyway: Speaking about charity shows, our conversation reminded us of Placebo’s charity shows such as Angkor Wat (Bangkok 2008) which was focused on human traffic, or Leeds ( U.K 2015), where they supported CALM, or the In Aid of The Mercy Centre, Bangkok in Utrecht (Netherlands 2015). What kind of charity project would be your proposal for a collaboration with Brian and Stef?

Jafi Marvel: I’m quite sure there would be huge amount of possibilities: refugees, evictions…..

Placebo Anyway: We would like to say good bye with an invitation to your webpage, where we find your songs, videos, news and an online store.

http://jafimarvel.com

On your Facebook page we discovered another important detail about your music career.

www.facebook.com/jafimarvelmusic

Jafi Marvel: I suppose you mean my DJ sessions, that I’ve been doing recently.  Ever since I’ve lived in Zaragoza I have loved djing at the pubs or venues I used to go. I enjoy encouraging people to dance, to have a great time and this, sometimes, is a big responsibility but I love it.

When I’m in the studio recording new songs, I stop  my DJ projects around clubs and event venues all over Spain, and I have to remove the “I want to be on stage” vibe from my mind. It makes me feel better!

Placebo Anyway: Thank you very much for the interview. See you soon in Logroño and we count on you with a Placebo concert review!

Jafi Marvel: Thank you very much dear Placebo Anyway Team. If anyone of you and your Facebook followers want to come to Logroño. I’m here for you!!

Interview by Susie Bosco – Placebo Anyway / Supervisor ,  translation correction Diana E.T. Fogin



Placebo WorldTour – Spain - Tickets:

• Sala Razzmatazz Barcelona 26.04.2017
• Sala Razzmatazz Barcelona 27.04.2017 (sold out)
• Wizkink Center Madrid 29.04.2017
• Palacio de los Deportes Granada 04.05.2017
• Palacio de los Deportes Logroño 06.05.2017
• Mallorca Live Festival, Mallorca 12.05.2017

Tickets: http://aplaceforustodream.com

Foto créditos: Diego Figueroa @halofiveo

• Placebo Official Page: www.placeboworld.co.uk
• Jafi Marvel: Official Pagehttp://jafimarvel.com  
• www.facebook.com/jafimarvelmusic
• Placebo Anyway: www.facebook.com/PlaceboAnyway
• Placebo Anyway Blog (Centrefolds): http://centrefoldsculture.blogspot.com

Interview by Susie Bosco. Translation correction and supervision by Diana E.T. Foghin

Interview Spanish version

Brian Molko PLACEBO 120 · The inside story

The inside story

Coincidence

It all started when I needed a 12AT7 reverb driver valve for a classic Rivera era Fender Super Champ I had sold on e-Bay.

Popping in to see Denis Cornell to buy the valve, we discussed the possibility of working together on some sales and marketing ideas.

As luck would have it, the buyer of the Fender combo turned out to be Craig ‘Hoppy’ Hope, the guitar tech for Chris Martin of COLDPLAY!

Rather than just send it to him, as I’d had dealings with COLDPLAY when I worked at Marshall, I decided to get on a train and meet up with him in London. I thought he might be interested in doing something with Cornell.

During our two hour catch up meeting at the Brewhouse & Kitchen microbrewery on Corsica Street, Islington, Craig happened to mention that he had recently done some tech work for PLACEBO, as Adi Vines, Brian Molko’s guitar tech had taken a couple of weeks off to get married. I said that I’d give him a call as I hadn’t spoken to him for ages.

 

Standing outside The Garage music venue in Islington, I called Adi only to get an overseas ringtone. He was in Frankfurt doing a show with PLACEBO.

I explained that I was helping Denis Cornell, and that if he was interested, I’d love to go through the Cornell range with him when he was back in the UK.

About a week later he called me from Hamburg. He said that he was having trouble with Brian’s Fender ’65 Twin Reissue that was struggling as it was being run flat out with a bunch of distortion pedals, pushing it to its limit, and that it was starting to make some strange noises of its own!

 

 

He said that he’d had a similar problem with a ’60’s Fender Bassman back in the day, when he looked after Gavin Rossdale of BUSH.
The solution back then, was to have a more powerful custom copy made by another valve amp maker.

With this in mind, he asked if Denis would be interested in quoting against another custom amp builder…
After a few consultations it was a natural decision to select Cornell for the Placebo project. Denis Cornell has such a solid understanding of the issues and how to solve them, and has decades of experience building touring-grade equipment that world class artists can rely on.

 Read the whole article here

Sources and photo credits: http://www.envisioning.co.uk

Without You I'm Nothing - Bowie Placebo 12" picture disc vinyl RSD17

 

 

To celebrate Record Store Day UK 2017, Placebo will be releasing a 12" picture disc vinyl version of the single 'Without You I'm Nothing' featuring the vocals of David Bowie.

Originally released in 1999 on CD only, this vinyl release is exclusive to #RSD17 and can only be purchased from participating record stores worldwide on Saturday April 22nd.

For more info on this release and to to find your closest participating store visit http://recordstoreday.co.uk/home/

Montreal Gazette "Placebo Effect Gets Polished", 2003

Photo: Carole Epinette

Montreal Gazette "Placebo Effect Gets Polished", 2003
by Jordan Zivitz


Group has grown up. North American tour means smaller audiences - and less pressure.


"Oh no. Oh no." Brian Molko knew what was coming. The none-more-androgynous singer for Placebo was just told that his interviewer had been thumbing through old press clippings from Molko's debauched days: tales of demolished hotel rooms, verbal warfare with other artists and general depravity. The title of Placebo's latest album - Sleeping with Ghosts - relates to being haunted by the memories of former loves, but it's also relevant to juicy bad-boy stories that just won't die.


"Look, man, let me put this straight: If they're handed attention and money, every kid in their early 20s will jump into the deep end of the rock 'n' roll pool," Molko said in a tone that was more defiant than annoyed. "The only difference is that we did it in public, and we're still being crucified for it.


"If you expect us to be the same people at the age of 31 that we were at the age of 22, then you're a bigger idiot than me. I don't mean you personally, but for people to expect you to be the same person is just absurd. If you are, that means you're a very sad person. It means you haven't learned anything. You haven't grown. All these incredible, crazy, chaotic, mind-blowing life experiences that you've been through have taught you nada, and that's shameful."


Molko has learned plenty. How to live well without dying young. How to practise the fine art of diplomacy. (It's doubtful the singer will again describe his audience as "50,000 crimes against fashion," as he did at one festival appearance.) And how to sharpen his music into a sinewy glam/punk/electronica hybrid that can be as vulnerable as a first kiss while stinging like barbed wire.


Molko, bassist Stefan Olsdal and drummer Steve Hewitt have been on the road since March, so they've had lots of time to polish the already refined Sleeping with Ghosts material. But the allure of playing North America - where the European trio draw a fraction of their overseas audience - is being able to scuff the polish.


"The pressure is lifted off of you to be this magnificent band; it's punk rock again," Molko said. "We've just done our biggest tour ever in Europe. The smallest show we played was for 5,000 people, the biggest place we played was 18,000 people. Now we're in North America, playing in front of 300 to 500 people. I'm having a blast, because it's like going back and relearning the ropes, but with all the skills that you've picked up."


As they often do, things play differently in Montreal. Originally booked for the Spectrum, Placebo's show tomorrow has been moved to the much larger Metropolis, where the band just played in July.


"It's our connection with French culture. I grew up in Luxembourg - I grew up watching French TV, I grew up with French music, I grew up with French cinema, and there's an obvious connection between me as a human being (with that background) and me as an artist. So it's not some kind of frivolous thing about 'We love Montreal.' It's the truth."


Molko always speaks the truth; just ask the old flames who have found themselves immortalized in song. The music-as-therapy cliche isn't so cliched in Placebo's case ("I've saved a lot of money on psychiatry bills, mate"), although not every relationship leaves a spectral trail strong enough to merit a lyric.


"You have to have a very serious impact to be worthy. I don't mean that arrogantly: Sometimes you have relationships that are frivolous and sometimes you have relationships that are very, very deep and meaningful. It's the ones that are deep and meaningful that affect you, that stay with you, that continue to haunt you for the rest of your life."

Rank Your Records: Brian Molko Skeptically Rates Placebo’s Eight LPs

Photo: Michael Bond

 

 

Rank Your Records: Brian Molko Skeptically Rates Placebo’s Eight LPs

 

As the band celebrates 20 years of releasing records, Molko looks back at his output.

In Rank Your Records, we talk to members of bands who have amassed substantial discographies over the years and ask them to rate their releases in order of personal preference.​

Some musicians don't want to rank their records because they're not music critics: it's not always so easy to admit one is better than the other. It's an issue that comes up an awful lot before conducting these interviews. Brian Molko is one of these skeptical musicians, but he's willing to play along without much of a protest. His band Placebo is in the midst of celebrating 20 years of releasing records, and although going into it he doesn't think he's capable, he is.

"I don't really look at it that way," Molko admits. "To me, they feel like standalone bodies of work that are all different from each other. I've tried to play the game. I have made a list for you. The experience of making the record has to a degree influenced my choices. I'm willing to roll with it. I've never done this before so it's a bit of a step into uncertainty. I would never have done it if you hadn't asked me to."

To go along with Placebo's eight albums (including a pivotal MTV Unpluggedsession), the alt-rockers are celebrating their 20 Years Tour with a new EP titled Life's What You Make It and a complementary double album, A Place For Us To Dream, featuring their best work from the last two decades. For Molko and fellow co-founder/bassist Stefan Olsdal, it's a time to celebrate, but also a time to be grateful.

"I've been doing this for my entire adult life, and I don't really know how to do anything else," says Molko. "It's very precious to me. I did everything for that to be the case. Somewhere within all of it, we've managed to keep the band relevant. I don't know how, but I know that because every time we go out on tour, the first five rows is filled with a new set of teenagers. The people that have grown up with the band are still there, they're just closer to the bar at the back. How two guys in their forties can keep doing that, I don't know. Perhaps we're just immature. I'm happy to continue following my instincts, and see where they take me."

Photo: Michael Bond



Noisey: Why is this your least favorite?

Brian Molko: I guess I put it there because I think it's the record that suffers most from having a blanket sound. We do our best to not make records that do that. It's part of our modus operandi. But it also happens to be the first time we also had a number one album, and in typical Brian Molko style, I put it at the bottom. [Laughs] I think it's a real somber record, so it doesn't really conjure up euphoria, which I suppose is what I look for in music. It was recorded during the height of our party phase, and once we had recorded all of our instruments, we had turned the studio into a place to have guests. So we spent a lot of time entertaining people while our producer spent a lot of time working on the album alone. I think if we'd been a little more involved, then perhaps there would be a little more light and color. It's quite a monochrome album for me. It's a very deep wood color, with stripes of gunmetal grey when I picture it.

You can see that in the album cover.
Yeah, and perhaps that's it. Perhaps the whole package is a little too gothic for me. I like to try and make an album with light and shade, and this one has the least. Maybe that's why it's last.


Sources: noisey.vice.com  / http://bit.ly/2jLTPxI
Photos: Michael Bond