Jets Overhead Interview: SXSW 2010

After popping their music festival cherry, so to speak, with an action-packed performance at Bonnaroo last June, Victoria, B.C. indie quintet Jets Overhead are looking to make a big splash on the festival circuit this year. Kicking things off with an appearance at Vapor Records' SXSW showcase on March 17 -- the label behind the band's U.S. debut 'No Nations' -- Jets Overhead will regale folks in Austin with their sentimental keyboard-heavy melodies before hitting Coachella and Sasquatch later this spring. Spinner spoke to singer-keyboardist Antonia Freybe-Smith about the group's background and, of all things, her warm and fuzzy feelings for Han Solo.

Describe your sound in your own words?

Soft [sometimes] heavy road trip music.

How did your band form?

Adam Kittredge [singer-guitarist] and Piers Henwood [guitarist-keyboardist] are cousins and started making music together as little dudes back in the day. Adam went to elementary and high school with Jocelyn Greenwood [bassist] and formed a band back then with Piers that later morphed into Jets Overhead when Luke Renshaw [drummer-singer] and I joined the band. Yowza!

How did you come up with your band name?

Adam took a trip to Europe to ponder some big changes in his life (his first band somewhat dissolving, a loved one passing away). While in London, he was immersed in the vast number of jets flying in and out of the city on a given day -- how there always seemed to be one zooming overhead every 20 seconds. Wrote it in his journal [and] started thinking about the way human beings move over the earth through the air to get what they need, be it work, money, adventure, escape or love.

What are your musical influences?

As a band: the Who, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead. As individuals: I know we would all answer that question differently, which I think is awesome. Diversity is where it's at.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

Being invited for dinner to Neil Young's house last fall before we played at his annual Bridge School benefit concert -- no words can describe the honour.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Cheesy, sparkly Top 40 hip-hop. 'It's gettin hot in here, (so hot), So take off all your clothes, I am gettin so hot, I wanna take my clothes off...' I love that stuff.

What's your biggest vice?

Hmmm... a few things come to mind: laziness, for starters. HBO -- rentals or downloads mind you, I don't have cable or own a TV -- and exercise. If I don't exercise I go psycho and it's not pretty. And big-bodied red wines that smack you upside the head when you sip them.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Wet Ones, Advil, water, big sunglasses, good tequila, rubber boots and Adam, my husband and bandmate.

Who was your first celeb crush?
Han Solo