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Biography
In early 2011 Winterfield and Ma began working on producing lo-fi rock tracks inspired through the uniqueness of their Chinese and Persian ancestry which provided ample musical influences. With a fusion of electronic beats to add to their already distinctive sound, they asked Ma to produce whilst Winterfield stepped up on vocal duties. As collaborations between the trio came in thick and fast and after using various aliases, Jagwar Ma was born. Later that year the band released their first single “Come Save Me”.
Contributing to the uniqueness of their sound are elements which are influenced by hip-hop and a wide variety of bands such as Tribe Called Quest, Avalanches, Primal Scream and Phil Spector with parts of their music infused with remnants of the 80/90’s Madchester music scene.
Jagwar Ma have often received comparisons to contemporaries Foals and The XX with whom they’ve both shared a stage with.
In 2013 the band released their critically acclaimed debut album “Howlin” which spawned the singles: “Uncertainty”, “The Throw” and “Man I Need” and received raving reviews from well-respected music publications such as: NME, Pitchfork and London Times.
With a string of sold out headline tours and notable festival appearances under their belt such as: Bestival, Pukkelpop, Latitude and Glastonbury the band have picked up a plethora of fans along the way. Jagwar Ma possess the incredible ability to create a joyous atmosphere as they delve through a mountain of genres, there’s a little something for everyone and audiences just can’t help but dance along come rain or shine. At their 2014 Glastonbury performance, the royal Prince Harry watched their set from side stage receiving a high five from Freeman.
As their native homeland Australia continues to produce top quality acts all across the board, Jagwar Ma proudly represent and encompass all things indie and dance.
Live reviews
Never judge a book by its cover, nor a band on its debut record. While you’d be forgiven for thinking of Sydney three piece Jagwar Ma as a relatively straight forward indie band - judging solely on their first record 'Howl' - such an analysis only scrapes at the surface of their power. This is a trio of musicians less suited to dingy, sticky floored boozers than they are to the world’s super clubs, transforming in a live setting in to a juggernaut of throbbing bass and monolithic grooves. Though they’ve found themselves at the forefront of a late 90s baggy revival, this is much more “Loaded” than it is “There’s No Other Way” – guitars might be on stage, but make no mistake, this is a dance band first and foremost. Pinning them to such a genre is to a big mistake, as the force with which their groove hits is so alarming it strikes far more of the future than it does of any past. With sold out tours across Europe, the USA and their native Australia under their belts already, one starts to grin upon pondering just how good they’re going to be on their next visit – it's important to remember, they’re putting on gigs this good already, and they’ve only been going at it for three years.
I went to this gig with two friends who are fans. I'd played some of their music and was indifferent and expected that live they would up the funk and groove and it would be a danceathon.
The support were scarily untuneful. As easy on the ears as walking on Lego is on the feet.
Between the support and JM was a 'dj'. I'm not sure what he was doing really but he only played one record - Cities in Dust' by Siouxsie and the Banshees. I guess that is what djs do now? It was neither danceable nor listenable. The crowd remained unmoved.
Our heroes arrive after an interminably long time. They are on an ugly, messy set that looks like a college gig from the eighties. They start their tuneless, groove free music. My friends go to the pub without me noticing. I get a WhatsApp saying 'we're not feeling it so we're leaving'. Thank heavens. I bail.
Jagwar Ma put on an AMAZING show. I saw them last Fall at Missisippi Studios, but the gig at the Doug Fir was even better. The guys were more loose with the song structures and created a psychedelic dance mix that everyone moving. "What Love" as always is the perfect opener and their tripped out version of "The Throw" closed the show with a bang. I wanted it to go on all night. Bravo!
The transition between songs was beautiful.
Such an enjoyable gig to go to and definitely worth the price.
The song set was perfect could tell everyone was enjoying it!
Definitely going to see them again when they are back in March.
They were really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really shit
They absolutely smashed it at Glastonbury this summer, in the William's Green tent as the sun went down. Lovely vibes, although could have done without all the entourage piling onstage at the very end.