The Baker's Dozen #3 - O&O
Odadiah Jones and Orian Peled aka O&O are the third act to complete The Baker's Dozen. At the time of writing the duo were very busy preparing for C2C weekend at the O2 so we really appreciate them taking the time to get involved. So please read on for tales of rehearsals in a bomb shelter, Spanish music, John Denver and the mysteriously named Lynx 93.
1. What is your earliest musical memory?
Orian: My mother is a flamenco dancer, so we always had Spanish music playing in my house. One of my favourite home videos shows me at age two dancing around in my mother’s high-heeled, dance shoes (which is kind of dangerous come to think of it!) and imitating her moves, while she is clapping the complex rhythms.
Obadiah: I grew up in Colorado to the songs of John Denver. He died when I was three or four years old, and I remember feeling very sad to hear his music after that - I wouldn’t let my mother put any of his albums on!
2. Do you remember the name of your first band?
Obadiah: I started my first band as soon as I could strum a few chords and we had the name Lynx 93. I think I was maybe vaguely aware of Blink 182, I liked cats and I was born in '93…
Orian: As a teenager I used to sing with a few guys from my hometown who had a practice room in their bomb shelter, as you do in Israel. We didn’t really have a name until our first gig at an open mic and someone came up with En Delay, which literally translates as ‘no delay’.
3. Which current artist do you hear and just go Wow?
We recently went to the Americana Music Association UK showcase in London and were completely blown away by a band called The Texas Gentlemen! There is nothing more enjoyable than seeing a group of killer musicians totally tearing up the stage. Otherwise, we are currently loving Escondido and Striking Matches' new music.
4. Do you sit down to write songs or do you wait until your mojo comes to get you?
Sometimes the mojo finds you, but most of the time you need to conjure it by sitting down and doing the work. When we want to write new material, we’ll schedule songwriting sessions together, even though we live together and spend most of our time together. Something about putting it in the calendar makes it official. Doing other, seemingly-unrelated activities also inspire us to write, such as reading a book, listening to interviews with other songwriters or listening to a classic album.
5. Big venue or small venue - what's your favourite to play?
As exciting as it is to play a big venue, sometimes performing in a small venue is more intimate and allows for a closer connection with the audience, which can also be more intimidating because everything is up-close and personal.
6. Who is the one artist you wish you could share a stage with (past or present)?
Where to start? Presently, we’d love to do a four-part harmony arrangement with Chris and Morgane Stapleton. We love his music and they’re both amazing live!
7. Bowie, Prince, Sinatra, Elvis which departed great means the most to you?
Obadiah: John Lennon, for me. A flawed man, but a great one nonetheless.
Orian: Ella Fitzgerald. She is a singer that inspires endlessly and I have a real soft spot for Jazz. I admire her tone, agility and longevity - she’s a legend!
8. Is a saxophone solo ever ok?
Of course! Why not? Just listen to ‘Money’ by Pink Floyd.
9. Should music be free?
We strongly believe live music should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their income. London is a great place for that because there are plenty of ‘free entry’ gigs any given week. We also think that artists and songwriters should be valued and intellectual property should be protected. Nowadays, with a £10 Spotify or Apple Music membership, you can listen to just about anything, which is great for the consumer and probably means more people are consuming music than ever. The music industry is still in the process of finding the balance where this arrangement also benefits the artists.
10. Can you remember the first record you bought and what have you bought recently?
Orian: Destiny Child’s The Writings On The Wall.
Obadiah: The Beatles’ Anthology Volume 2 was my first, and the last thing we bought was a vinyl copy of The Texas Gentlemen’s TX Jelly at their concert.
11. What was the last song that made you cry actual tears?
‘Landslide’ by Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac…every time!
12. Do you binge watch Netflix / Amazon / DVD box sets (any recommendations)? Do you have a guilty pleasure in Film or TV you’ll admit to watching and loving?
Obadiah is a big Game of Thrones fan, Orian not so much. We definitely recommend The Man In The High Castle on Amazon. We’ve been meaning to watch Black Mirror, but we’re limited with what we can watch because Orian won’t agree to anything too disturbing before bed. Our guilty pleasure is Nashville - we love the music from the first three seasons!
13. What is the most important thing to you that you can see from where you are right now?
We’ll be cheesy and say...each other! :)
Nashville based guitarist/singer JD Simo is in the UK (March 2019) playing a run of shows with fellow guitarist Tommy Emmanuel CGP. JD recently released ‘Off At 11’ an album that finds him blending straight ahead blues with much more expansive material than incorporates a range of jazz/blues and jam band influences. The album is a fine introduction to JD Simo and well worth tracking down. We caught up with JD for the RGM Baker’s Dozen feature where he explains how guitar great Steve Cropper proved influential in his early days and a more recent love for Bojack Horseman.