You know that I write a series of books about a British rock band called ShadowsForge. Over the course of promoting my books, I've had the pleasure of coming into contact with some amazing real-life bands and singers. One such performer is Jagger Cook.
Jagger Cook has a unique sound that is soothing to the soul as well as exciting. I wanted to share his talent with the people around me, so with the help of author and friend Brenna Lyons (http://www.brennalyons.com http://www.myspace.com/brennalyons), I've compiled a list of questions to put to Jagger. He was gracious enough to take time from his busy schedule to grant me an interview. Here's what I learned.
Jena: You know I need to ask the usual questions: What is your full name? What is your birthday? Your favorite color? Your idea of a perfect night out? Hair color? Eye color? Height?
Jagger: Jagger Cook (that's the name I officially go by now) Birthday - Jan 4, 19?? (lol A gentlemen never tells his age) My fav color is hard to say. I love colors in general. One of my fav's is indigo. I like non-colors, too, like white and black, a lot. LOL A perfect night out is being with great company, enjoying great food and drinks and having thought-provoking conversation! Hair color is different shades of earthy browns and blonds. Eye color is greenish with some slight brown. Height - 5'7
Jena: When did you discover that you wanted to go into music as a career?
Jagger: In my late teens. I always loved music and when it was time to pick something to do for college I just naturally chose music to study! I had been playing and singing music since I was 8 years old, so it was just as if I felt I needed to pursue it!
Jena: How do you get psyched up...or calmed down… before going on stage? After coming off stage?
Jagger: Going on stage - I focus and remind myself of what my true purpose of going out and performing is: to be a reflection of love and light, and to share my spirit with the audience. Coming off stage, I usually need to unwind a bit, have something to eat and kind of kick back a little, decompress at little, I guess. LOL
Jena: What is the most distressing thing about being recognized as a performer? What is the best thing about it?
Jagger: The most distressing part about being recognized as a performer is being "ON" even when you're sometimes feeling "OFF"...LOL... The best thing is being able to share my spirit with people and to create a space for love to come in.
Jena: You should be able to have an off day, no matter how popular you are. How do you classify your music?
Jagger: My music is Rock/POP with some new country crossover.
Jena: What's the funniest thing/mishap that's ever happened to you on stage and how did you handle it?
Jagger: Playing a show at a fair in Southern California. Just as the first song started my in-ear monitors went out and I couldn't hear the band, just the local radio station and a muffled version of my song in the background. LOL (The in-ear monitors seal your ears to outside noise including the band.) So I started singing but the band and I weren't in sync. Luckily Adam (bass player) came over to me right away and started tapping me in time with the song until I could yank the damned in-ear monitors out of my ears. No one even noticed. They just thought Adam and I were fooling around. LOL!!!!
Jena: I see your style as comparable to some of the 80s rock. Was that your intent?
Jagger: I don't think we intentionally planned on this record to sound like any one or anything but some of my favorite music was from the 80's (ok, am I dating myself now? LOL) so I think indirectly my music has been influenced by that era.
Jena: What's your favorite song to perform?
Jagger: Afraid like Me, and the acoustic version of Snowed Under.
Jena: What was the first song you ever performed before an audience? What were the circumstances? Was it planned or spontaneous?
Jagger: Rock You Like a Hurricane by the Scorpions (We changed it to Rock You like a Candy Cane...LOL) for my high school Christmas pageant.
Jena: Where do you get your inspiration to write songs? Do you collaborate with others when you write? If so, whom do you most enjoy working with and why?
Jagger: My inspiration for writing songs comes from the real life experiences of myself and of others. I like talking about issues that affect us all and to ask questions that cause people to stop and think.
Jena: Do you write both lyrics and music?
Jagger: I'm capable of doing both. On this record I co-wrote all the songs with my producers Frank Gryner and Karen Stever.
Jena: You are hanging out around the house. What are you most likely wearing? (This is one of Brenna's questions.)
Jagger: LOL...hmmmm....shorts and a t-shirt...sometimes just shorts...LOL...sometimes just...LOL
Jena: Did it just get a little warm in here? lol What would be the ultimate gig for you to perform? Whom would you like to have watching you perform?
Jagger: The ultimate gig would be for me to perform "The Light of Mississippi" on the Oprah Show...for Oprah, of course!!!!
Jena: If you could perform a charity gala and choose the bands you get to perform with, which ones would you put on the schedule and what would be the charity?
Jagger: I would choose to perform with Bon Jovi and James Taylor for any type of children's causes...child abuse, cancer, homeless...etc.
Jena: What's the weirdest/funniest question a fan has ever asked?
Jagger: What kind of underwear do I wear...boxers or briefs...LOL
Jena: You've worked with Frank Gryner (Bon Jovi, Rob Zombie), artist Karen Stever, guitar legend Waddy Wachtel (Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Don Henley, etc.), Craig Macintyre (Josh Groban) and Scotty Kormos (Four Star Mary), Emm Gryner, Steven Memel (Maroon 5), Lis Lewis (Gwen Stefani, Linkin Park, etc.), Adam Kury (LA Guns, Legs Diamond) and Jason Orme (Alanis Morissette). How did you come into contact with so many who were so well established in the music industry?
Jagger: Very, very, very fortunate and blessed to have met all of these people and to have had their expertise and talent on my record. I went to college with Frank and just kept in contact with him over the years. Everyone else has come into my life as a complete blessing, not planned but very much appreciated!!!
Jena: How did you hook up with your band members, Scotty Kormos, Adam Kury, and Jason Orme? Do they comprise the entire stage band, or did I miss someone?
Jagger: Scotty played drums on my record and I was extremely impressed with him. When I was looking to form a band Scotty was available and interested in being my Music Director and helping put together my live show. Scotty was responsible for getting Adam and Jason on board to play with me live. I'm very fortunate to be in such great company and talent. Scotty really out did himself when he put my band together!!!!
Jena: How did you hook up with your label, Souls In Progress Productions Inc?
Jagger: Souls in Progress is a company I put together to represent all of my business interests. I called it Souls in Progress because that's exactly what I believe, that we are all Souls in Progress, ever changing, ever growing!!!!
Jena: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Jagger: Actually, I'm pretty happy and comfortable with myself. I don't thing I 'd change anything about myself.
Jena: You sound very contented with who you are. Is there any meaning behind the awesome tat you have on your left shoulder? Do you have any other tats?
Jagger: The tattoo is very meaningful. I could speak for days on it but basically the snake is in the shape of infinity, biting its tail meaning the never-ending circle of life, the shedding of stories and the renewal of self. On the snake's back are the 22 Hebrew letters that correspond to the 22 cards of the major arcana of the tarot, which is the soul's journey from start to finish. The 3rd eye is our intuition. The Ohm symbol at the top is the sound of creation. The alpha and omega signs on either side of the snake represent the beginning and the end and the eternal flow of our spirit. The star - which is really two triangles - means fire pointing up, and water pointing down, action and inaction, both required for creation! I have a tattoo on my right arm of the tree of life as it relates to my life and beliefs!
Jena: Wow. A lot of thought went into that tat. Where do you want to be in 5 years? In 10 years?
Jagger: In 5 years I'd like to be a well-established World Class Rock Artist with Jagger Cook being a household name in every country around the world. 10 years, hmmmm -- perhaps the south of France, sipping fine wine, and being Nostalgic. LOL
Jena: Nostalgia – What is the story behind the song? (My personal favorite!)
Jagger: This song is a series of examples of what it means to get back to basics and a reminder to keep our feet firmly planted in our roots. It really is a song about what feeds our spirit!!!
Jena: How does it feel when you are on stage?
Jagger: Exhilarating. It's where I'm most comfortable actually. It's like being at home!!!
Jena: How do you feel about your successes to date?
Jagger: I feel very fortunate and blessed about my successes to date and look forward to even bigger and better successes in the future!!!
Jena: Is there anything I didn't ask that you'd like to tell your fans?
Jagger: Just that I'm very honored and humbled by all of the love and support that my fans give to me on a day-to-day basis. It really does mean the world to me!!!!
Jena: How do you feel about these questions? Did I do okay for my first interview of a major music industry star?
Jagger: LOL You did great, darlin'. Your questions were very cool and appropriate to what I think my fans would like to know about me. Thank-you so much for this opportunity to share a little about myself!!!!
Jena: Thank you for taking time to share so much about yourself. Your fans appreciate it and you know I appreciate it, too.
So now we know a bit more about Jagger Cook. Check out his MySpace here: http://www.myspace.com/jaggercook Listen to his tunes and get yourself out there and purchase the CD All Our Hands Are Dirty here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/jaggercook
Cheers,
Jena'
Believe in Dreams!
http://jenagalifany.bravehost.com
