As Beans on Toast heads to The Cluny this month, Rob Glover caught up with head honcho Jay to find out more about Australia, inspiration and more.
You’re currently out on your Australian tour. How’s it going? It’s got to be infinitely warmer than when you play The Cluny…
No doubt it is, but it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to be playing The Cluny in February. I kind of like all the seasons, and I’m happy to enjoy the weather wherever it is, so bring it on. Bring your coats and we will warm your hearts at the gig.
Being so prolific, it’s got to be great. But have you ever had a writer’s block period or seen the beginning of December on a calendar and your heart has just sank?
I certainly wouldn’t rush an album or force an album out, but it seems to be my natural output really that I do release an album every December. There are many reasons why doing an album once a year works, but I’ve been doing it so long and I come from the school of thought that there’s always something to write about. For me, it feels like a year is quite a long time to have 10 to 15 songs to share with the world. At the end of the day, that’s what I am doing here being a songwriter, so I’m happy to keep on writing songs.
What’s the favourite line you’ve ever written?
I am always honed in on the newest songs I’m writing. I’ve got a new tune and the opening line is: ‘The world is feral, full of joys and perils, driven by force.’
You come across, and this has been officially voted by my circle of friends, as a good sort to go out on the drink with. Who would you personally like to go out on the sesh with?
I’ve actually got a song about that very subject – it’s called ‘Taylor Swift’. It starts off by saying: “Who’s the best person to go on the drink with.” It starts with Taylor Swift and then I think I change my mind and go to Bill Hicks and then roll off an endless chain of people from Jim Morrison to Jam Baxter and back again.
As a musician/artist, you have ticked a lot of boxes, played a lot of great gigs, released books etc. What’s left on your bucket list?
I guess it’s just to continue being in a position where I can continue to do this for the rest of my days until the bucket gets kicked.
Beans on Toast heads to The Cluny, Newcastle on Wednesday 21st February.
Tickets, priced at £18.00 in advance, are available from thecluny.com.
