A Q&A with Jolly Jackers
Hungarian folk-punk tornado…
What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
‘Deaf and Dumb’ came out on 26 April. It is part of a new rework album called The Blue Disc, which contains four of our older songs that we gave new life. I have been the flutist since the beginning, but we always had different singers—none of whom stuck around. At the end of 2023, we were back in the same situation and had a choice: either quit, or I step up as vocalist. We decided to go for it—and here we are! This is a closure and also a new start, which is very exciting for us.
What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
To be honest, putting it together went surprisingly easy and fast. It felt like missing pieces finally falling into place. If I had to pick the hardest part, it was our schedule—squeezing in recordings of these songs (plus another 12 we’ll release this year) was a challenge. I managed to record vocals for 16 songs in two days, which isn’t bad at all!
Who produced the release – what did they bring to it?
We produced it ourselves with the help of our fantastic sound engineer Gergő Dorozsmai. He doesn’t call himself our producer, but he adds incredible value to the songs and is a dream to work with!
What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
I want our songs to connect with people. Whether it’s through dark lyrics they relate to or uplifting tracks to brighten their day, I want them to feel seen, understood and energised.
How does a track normally come together?
Usually it starts with an idea—often a guitar riff or melody. Our guitarist Mark is the main composer and brings fantastic guitar themes and arrangement ideas. Everyone writes their own parts, and we refine things through rehearsal until the song reveals itself fully.
What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project?
So many! I admire Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth, Billie Joe Armstrong’s energy, Devin Townsend’s talent and humour, Till Lindemann’s unapologetic artistry, Adele’s songwriting and relatability, and Deryck Whibley’s bravery in writing about trauma. I could go on all day!
What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
We’ve toured all around Europe but haven’t been to Ireland or England yet—an Irish pub tour would be amazing! As for venues, Red Rocks in Colorado would be the dream. Maybe one day!
If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to, what would it be?
Probably ‘Welcome to the Grind’—the title track from our latest LP. Though personally, I love ‘I Failed You’. It’s very close to my heart and I’m proud of how it turned out.
What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
I’m not overly ambitious. If I can play music for the rest of my life, I’ll be happy. It would be amazing to make a living from it, though—we’re working hard towards that!
Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Life is short—do what you want! Make music, eat the cookie, ask the person out. And if you like an artist’s work, support them—it means the world to us to hear that we’ve made your day.
The latest track ‘Deaf and Dumb’ is out now – taken from The Blue Disc, which is released on 22 May. Find the band at jollyjackers.bandcamp.com
