13 Questions With…Jay Malinowski

While getting set to tour with No Doubt, Bedouin Soundclash’s Jay Malinowski took the time to answer his 13 questions

How did you come up with the name Bedouin Soundclash?

I didn’t actually come up with the name. A man named Raz Mesinai came up with it. He was doing a dub record with Bedouin instrumentation and called it Bedouin Soundclash. The name came up at one of our first practices when I said that we sounded like Bedouin Soundclash. The name stuck, and I think even though our sound has little to do with the source, the fact that it is eclectic and perhaps confusing relates a lot to our experience in Bedouin.

What do you like most about Toronto, Ontario?

I like that it exists as it is. It isn’t beautiful in the way Vancouver is, nor is it overly artistic in the way Montreal can be, but its a city that grinds away and has endless stories of people from different walks of life. Its the people here that i like the most.

Who was your favourite band/musician growing up?

I started with Bob Dylan and ended with The Clash. But I think The Clash influenced me the most.

Who did your parents listen to while you were growing up?

A lot of folk music. My mom gave me a Bob Dylan tape when I was 12 and I think I listened to “Lay Lady Lay” until the tape was broken.

What inspired you to write the tune “When The Night Feels My Song”?

I was walking down a really empty street in the middle of the night and I had this feeling that everything could be taken away from me around the next corner. But, even if that happened, I would still be okay. I had this feeling that the song would be the last song I might ever write and that if no one ever heard my band, this would be my statement. Luckily, it turns out it wasn’t.

What was it like playing with performers such as Ben Harper and Damian Marley?

It was an amazing experience. We had played a show in San Diego with Stephen and Damian Marley a while back. Ben was a presence. You can see it in his demeanor that he is truly a “feeling person”. Having Ben support our music has been really flattering and an honour.

How did you guys manage to open for No Doubt this summer?

The band contacted us to play. I had heard it might happen but I thought that we wouldn’t be picked because we haven’t put out a record in a while. Honestly though, the opportunity came up at one of the best times for Eon and I. We were going through a lot of changes and thinking we weren’t going to tour at all this year, then we got the call and thought “Alright man, let’s get over ourselves and get back on the road!”

One thing that’s noticeable is you guys play a lot of shows for charities and causes. Is this something you guys try to consistently do as a band?

Music is a really amazing way to connect to the heart of matters. I don’t take it for granted anymore because of how lucky I have been in life. I think that giving back, to whatever cause, is not just for the cause itself but also as a gesture to the larger good. For myself, I would be nowhere without the people around me and if we can give some sort of good gesture back, then i feel its our obligation.

Is there a reason to why you guys showcase the city life throughout most of your music videos?

I’ve actually never thought about that. Like I said before, the city is always my inspiration. The way real estate and architecture fluidly changes with the needs of each generation and how people deal with harsh surroundings is always a source of inspiration. I guess that’s why the city is always a part of our videos.

Name one band/musician you think people need to know about.

Pete Molinari. He’s a young guy from England who writes classic 50s’ and 60s’ folk country and sounds like Patsy Cline. He’s the man!

What artist do you wish you could collaborate with and why?

I would love to collaborate with Tinariwen. They are actually true Bedouins. I’d love to make a really rugged desert blues-rock-dub record with them. Something that sounded like it was knocked through some canyons before it hit the mics.

If you could keep one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I’d just need the “Twist and Shout” single. It was the first thing I ever loved.

Define Bedouin Soundclash using one word.

Unfinished.