Dancing about… Maritime Museum | Kenyah Johnson

October 7, 2024

We’re back, after a busy summer, with the next edition of ‘Dancing about…’, a new monthly blog by our Programmes Coordinator Kenyah Johnson that will feature interviews with many of those who participate in NYJO. The intention of this blog is to be solely based on their gigs outside of NYJO, as Kenyah discovers and explores their original music, how they choose to express themselves when not in Woolwich Works and find out who and what they truly want as emerging musicians.

 

The title of this blog is based on the quote by Thelonious Monk, ‘Writing about music is like dancing about architecture’,which I guess is quite ironic as that’s what this blog is trying to do. I feel there are hardly any right words that encapsulate what music is, on both an individual and communal level; but I still believe there’s value in trying to peg down and formulate a word or a thought or a sentence to be able to share that intrinsic feeling.

Every month the title of the blog changes to reflect the venue at which the person I’ve interviewed has performed at, and for our next edition I had the opportunity to sit down with AJ and Spencer, two members of our U18 Programme on a Saturday and two of the three members of Phase Difference.

 

K: So tell me how Phase Difference came to be.

AJ:  Phase difference has been a thing for about four to five years now. We started in about Year 7 or 8. It was just me and Jamal originally [the third member of Phase Difference]. Me and Jamal were in the same music class. I play drums. Jamal plays piano. We originally played together a lot. Then in Year 8, Spencer joined our school; me and Spencer went to the same Primary School together so I knew Spencer about 6-7 years prior. I knew he played the guitar very well. So then we became a trio and for our age we got really good. Every day we would be in the music room, pressing teachers to let us play, let us play and then eventually we were being asked to play for assemblies. Anytime teachers had meetings, they were wanting us to play. So yeah, we just became a band.

In about Year 10, we met Jonathan, who also plays drums. We realised we couldn’t really have two drummers so in my free time, I learnt four other instruments; piano, bass, drums, guitar, that I’m now able to play. And that’s how it is now. Sometimes I choose to play bass, sometimes I play piano. But Phase Difference is just Jamal, Spencer and I.

K: How did you land this gig / get involved with the Youth Collective?

S: This gig was actually referred to us by a friend who worked at the Maritime Museum and they helped us get this gig by passing along our names. It was meant to be us and another band. But the other band didn’t turn up, so we actually got some extra time.

AJ: The person who referred us was doing a project; a youth project. Their job was to create a show, if that makes sense. They needed music and they didn’t want to use speakers and just play music. They said they wanted a live band, so they asked us and we were more than happy to do it.

K: Talk me through your set list; What you played and why you played the songs you chose.

AJ: If I’m being quite honest, it was mainly us improvising. We just did it on the spot, but we did have a short-list of songs. The way we work is, most of us can’t read sheet music fluently. So we say what songs we want to learn, we learn the songs individually and then in a day or two, come back and play it together.

After we do the specifics, dynamics, solos etc. We’ll do that in an hour lesson. All the songs we learn, we basically memorise so if anything happens, we always have a set of songs we can do.

S:  There were some basic jazz standards and some basic jazz fusion songs as part of our set such as Strasbourg Saint Denis, ‘Chameleon’ by Herbie Hancock, ‘Isn’t she lovely?’ by Stevie Wonder; just songs that we’ve really been playing for quite a while and just know inside out.

K: Talk me through the improvisation on Tadow as it felt like your standout song on the day.

S: For me mainly I just use the pentatonic scale, the Dorian modes and the harmonic minor. Those are the three skills I usually go to for improvising. I also use my ear a lot, like my theory isn’t that good, but I just use my ear to play what I think is right and play what I think is next.

K: I know Jamal couldn’t be at the gig, how did you shape the gig differently with Miguel and Isaac?

AJ: The gig wasn’t that different with Miguel and Isaac. It was originally meant to be me, Spencer, Jamal and Isaac, but Jamal was unfortunately busy. So we quickly had to replace him with Miguel as a rhythm instrument. I mean, we’re all rhythm, but like as a rhythm guitarist it wasn’t that different asking Miguel. We’ve all been in the same music class since GCSE, that’s about three years, so we all know what each other plays like and how we play, we have the same set list, so it wasn’t that different at all. It was mainly just improvisation and communication.

K: What are your plans for pursuing music after school? I know you all want to go into careers outside of music, so how do you potentially foresee music fitting in?

S: I’m actually trying to get into audio engineering, which is kind of linked to music, so it’s not like I’m going to be far from music; but I’m going to go to uni, get a degree in engineering and then once I get out of uni I’m going to look into jobs in audio engineering, but at the same time I’m going to try and do my own gigs with Phase Difference and with other bands as well and try and get myself out there as a musician.

AJ: So after school I would love to take music seriously, but it is quite a risk. That’s the thing. So I want to have engineering as a backup. For now, my plan is to pursue engineering, hopefully to get a degree apprenticeship, which means I’d have some time to devote to music.

Assuming me and Spencer go to the same university or universities nearby, we’d then be able to still go to local gigs and still make money from music. If it all works well, the end goal for me would be to perform on big stages with big names, like performing at Ronnie Scott’s with my own band, or like ‘The Voice’ where they have a live backup band. I would love to do something like that.

K: Do you also have other upcoming gigs, whether it’s with NYJO or outside of us. Let people know what you’re up to!

AJ: On October 11th, we have a massive meeting with every teacher from every Academy in our school’s Federation. So that’s about 5000 people. We’re going to be playing in a school-wide Orchestra with Violins, Clarinets, all the instruments. It’s going to be massive. I think we’re playing Thriller, September and then there’s a Symphony in G. Yeah, it’s going to be amazing. It’s in the Excel Centre in London. We have some gigs in October half term like Halloween gigs too.

 

Catch AJ, Spencer, and the rest of the Under 18s in their EFG London Jazz Festival debut at Toulouse Lautrec, on 18 November.

Lucy-Anne (EP quote)

“Since joining NYJO, I’m so much more confident as a performer. Especially in terms of being able to entertain and keep the crowd engaged with you. It’s really nice to be able to feel that difference.” 

Lucy-Anne, NYJO Emerging Professional (Vocals)

Georgia (EP quote)

“It’s hard to just learn this music in the practice room but being immersed in the music at NYJO is a great environment to really push my playing. ” 

Georgia Ayew, NYJO Emerging Professional (Drums)

Sam Eastmond (MD quote)

"Giving them space to create whatever they wanted, without setting parameters of idiom or style helped them to conceptualise how they could bring these new concepts into their work without scaring them off, or mystifying the process."

Sam Eastmond, NYJO Educator

Jazzwise quote

"NYJO has never been conformist, never hewing to one particular line, never known for fawning replications and very deliberately these days a vehicle for new possibilities."

Jazzwise Magazine

Lydia (EP quote)

"The past year has been an absolutely incredible experience, pushing me way out of my comfort zone into playing with some of the greatest young jazz players of my generation and getting to call them my colleagues and friends has been beyond inspiring, and also an obscene amount of fun!"

Lydia Cochrane, NYJO Emerging Professional (Saxophone)

Anna (Learning national quote)

"[The NYJO residential in Cumbria] helped me to make friends with other young musicians. I enjoy playing a lot more and I’m quite proud of what I’ve accomplished. I feel more confident now. I have learnt different ways of coming up with solid melodies and also a little bit on harmonies. I think it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had."

Anna, NYJO Learning Widening Access participant

Briony (Learning U18s quote)

"I’ve felt very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing musicians, and I think that the environment at NYJO – which has fostered creativity and improvisation – has allowed my confidence and musical ideas to grow."

Briony, NYJO Under 18s

Oscar (Learning U18s quote)

"I think I’ve progressed a lot in my piano-playing. NYJO has helped me to flourish and really enjoy it. I’ve really enjoyed being engrossed in a high level of playing and learning things in a hands-on-way. I also like the diversity of perspectives and abilities of all the players and teachers which enables me to try things I might not normally."

Oscar, NYJO Under 18s

Jennie (Learning U18s quote)

"NYJO has got me listening to more jazz and learning more changes. It has also helped with working as a band. I’ve really enjoyed the free jazz, learning by ear, the people, and the atmosphere."

Jennie, NYJO Under 18s

Leah-Anais (Learning U18s quote)

"I love the people at NYJO. Everyone here is so encouraging and lovely and it makes the experience worthwhile. Though I have fun I’m still learning on the way which makes me feel productive too."

Leah-Anais, NYJO Under 18s

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