Nat Jenkins Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 9th 2010 3:13PM by Libby Bitting
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Rockabilly may be uncommon in the UK, but London native folk-rock musician Nat Jenkins has built his career out of such contradictions. Jenkins is an unsigned artist who has already worked with British rock royalty such as producer Chris Kimsey (known for his work with The Rolling Stones, Peter Frampton, and The Psychedelic Furs) and The Clash's Mick Jones. The orphaned musician found his home in Strummerville, the music charity organization founded in the name of former Clash member Joe Strummer. Hear Nat Jenkins' British, contemporary take on traditional American rock at the SXSW Strummerville Showcase March 15th and on his debut album, "The Message," which will be released March 8th and available for internet download on March 15th.

How did you get on the SXSW lineup?

I've been doing a lot of stuff with Strummerville, whose praises I can't sing enough. Strummerville is a charity that's set up in memory of Joe Strummer by Joe Strummer's family and the rest of the guys in The Clash. They're there to try to help out young, struggling musicians. I came into contact with them about a year and a half ago, and they've absolutely just turned things around for me when it comes to everything from studio time to meeting the right producers to work with, to getting the right shows, everything from that to being really great friends and really good people and just being there for me every inch of the way. This is their first showcase at SXSW this year, so they're very kindly bringing me over there.

What artists have influenced your music?

I've always been a massive fan of The Clash, and been lucky enough to do some stuff with Mick Jones recently, which was a dream come true. Bob Dylan, in a big way, ever since I was really young, and he remains a massive impact on my whole life, really. Seeing Richie Havens play a lot over the years, whenever he's come to London, particularly his guitar playing. He has a very rhythmic, percussive way of playing guitar, which has had a big influence on me. Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, The Clash – they're my big three.

How would you describe your sound?

I guess, I suppose, what I'm trying to do really is kind of put my own modern, 21st century twist on all the old folk, country, rock'n roll music that I really love and was brought up on. Trying to do something contemporary with it and add this sort of London flavor to what's essentially quite an American sound.

Growing up in London, what attracted you to American folk-rock music?

I don't know. I've always been very attracted to American culture. For instance, I got very into American literature as well, always read a lot of the the "Beats," Jack Kerouac. The first time I went to New York to play out there, I became really transfixed with the place. People say that to me a lot, that it's a very American sound –what I do, from someone who's very much from London. But what I hope to do is put my immediate surroundings, wandering around London late at night, playing little pubs around London, I kind of try to put that into the music, as well. I like to think that lyrically I'm very much a London songwriter, even if sonically it's more of an Americana sort of thing.

How did you get into playing music?

I've always been playing music, really, ever since I was a kid. I can't remember a time when I didn't play. I guess I got into my first band, as most people do, around 15 or 16, and headed out on the road from when I was quite young, about 18 really.

What message did you have in mind in titling your album, "The Message?"

Well it's not a message in a philosophical sense, I've got to be honest. It's literally about sending a text message. It's about trying to get home, and you've been either out on the road too much or you've been just out somewhere late too long, and you're too drunk, and you're trying to get home, and you don't know if your girl's gonna be awake, if she's pissed off, and you're trying to get through and you can't. That's the message.

What's your favorite part of being on tour?

The usual thing, really I've always loved being on the move, being in different cities every day, and meeting new people. Just the sort of weird, little, crazy situations you end up in, as well. Not necessarily even the big shows and stuff, just the weird little towns you end up in or strange, bizarre situations you get into, and the big array of people you meet along the way.

And your craziest tour story?

I've done some pretty unusual tours, I guess. I've been lucky enough to go on more conventional tours supporting bigger bands, and that's fun and I really appreciated that. Way back, 3 or 4 years ago, I just went around Central America with a couple of friends of mine and we hitchhiked from town to town and I just played at different bars every night, and that was fantastic. We went all the way across Honduras on the back of pick-up trucks and just saw where we ended up each night. I don't know if you can call that a tour, I suppose. I did a tour of Italy once supporting a band called The Kooks, and we ended up getting locked out of our hotel and had to sleep, me and two other bands, in a bush by the Colosseum. That was pretty ridiculous. It was a very cold night, it was mid-winter as well.

What are you most looking forward to about going to SXSW in Austin, Texas?

Well firstly, the sun. It's been miserable weather here, and snowing, so I can't wait to get to heat. But I've never been to anything like SXSW, and the thought of so many bands together at one point in one city is the most exciting thing. It's really nice cause so many of the other people who I know and played with over the years are all gonna be in town at once, which seems like such a crazy, unique thing. So I'm looking forward to seeing lots of friends, looking forward to seeing all their shows, to meeting some new friends, seeing as much music as I can, eating some good food. It's just such a nice thing to see so many musicians all coming together like that. The whole music world seems to camp out in Austin for a week.

Libby Bitting is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.