Molotov Jukebox was interviewed by The New Current. Nat talks about how MJ came together, how they found their name, the best and worst shows they’ve played and about the next festivals they will attend:

-How did you guys come together? How long have you been a band?

Well it started with Sam and I meeting in another band and wanting to do our own music and falling in love. Then we slowly got our ideal band through trial and error, for example the Max’s, our drum and bass were stand-ins that we just immediately adopted! As the band is now, we’ve been together a year and a quarter.

-Where does the name of the band come from?

The name came from the sleep deprived, festival fuelled, Sam’s mouth, when after a week of dancing and having it at secret garden festival, we were busking to the last dregs of people standing. It was just Sam and I at the time, we didn’t even have any songs of our own. Someone from the Chai Wallah crew asked us what we were called, and that was Sam’s answer. It stuck, I like it, The Molotov cocktail is the symbol of revolution and we strive to be like a jukebox, full of different genres.

-Describe your music/style in five words?

Fiery whirlwind of urban Mac-do one, source of the GypStep!

-Best & Worst shows you’ve played?

Worst: there are 2 unfortunately. The first is when we didn’t have our now band, we’d just started and we didn’t know what we were doing. It was at the St Moritz club, and there was no sound check (very dangerous with our set up.) The crowd was all wrong and the sound was atrocious. We’d already done a gig and I definitely wasn’t sober anymore, so I started insulting the crowd and the sound engineer. Then we realized there was no sound engineer and that was the problem. Terrible. The second was at the Notting Hill arts club, we were on much later than expected and at the time I had just given up smoking, so I was a bitch from hell. Again there was no sound check (see above) and I felt so self conscious and angry on stage, after the first song, I told the band to go straight to the end of the set list as I needed to get the hell out of there. Both of these make me cringe.

Best: Again there are 2, first at Secret Garden last year on the last nigh. I wouldn’t say its the best we’ve played, but the crowd were EPIC!! Sam played in just his Jazz boxers, I looked like a tropical Tina turner and the band was floating. The best we’ve played was actually at the Brixton JAMM to a small but responsive crowd and we were so tight, I felt like I’d been married to the band for over a century.

-Do you have a pretty ‘normal’ fan base, any stalkers been told to keep their distance?

I think we’ve got an interesting fan base comprised of people that like to dance like epileptics and wear loud outfits. Haven’t met any weird stalkers, but then again, I’m not very aware of the definition of weird.

-Are you planning attending any festivals?

We’re doing a lot of the festival circuit this year, starting with Sunrise, Beach Break then Glastonbury, Secret Garden, Manifest, Green Man just to name a few. Bring on the summer!!!!

-Who would you want to work with?

We’ve just recorded some new tracks that should be ready in a few weeks and are planning to just keep writing new songs and getting tighter as a band. We’re also doing a show in Germany and one in Austria which will be new for us and really would like to go to Brazil over the winter to play there.

-Who would you want to work with?

Gogol Bordello, Amy Winehouse, Buena Vista Social Club, Cat Empire, Shantel, Young Blood Brass Band, Ojos de Brujo, The Specials, Toots and the Maytals, Casper, Stenchman. There are obviously more, but it would fill an entire page and it’s probably the only sunny day left of English summer and I need to lye on the beach!

-How has it been for you guys as a band with all the changes within the music industry, you been getting a lot of support?

I’m not really up to date on the changes in the industry, I just know its always been hard to be an artist of any sort and I have no illusions as to how hard it is to make things happen. It was the same before and its the same after, the rest are just details. There has been a lot of support from Chai Wallah and Jungle Drums and especially our manager, Sirius.

-Best advice you’ve been given?

Stop panicking and be patient. Bascially keep calm and carry on (or carry sausage).

-And, if you where to give me advice about starting a band what would it be?

Find the right people. You can have an amazing player who’s lovely but doesn’t have the vibe of the music. Every one in the band is fucking important, it’s a team. Also don’t jeopardize your dreams for the sake of being nice, you’ll regret it. We’re all going to die so make the most of it.

Read the whole interview here