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Toby Smith interview - Denver Rocky Mountain News: May 20, 1997

Lost In America ...But Maybe Eclectic English Band Jamiroquai Finally Has Country's Ear
by Michael Mehle


Special thanks to KidCroceti for finding this interview.

The image Americans have of Jamiroquai can be confusing. They hear a huge band that melds funk, R&B, soul, jazz and disco in wide-ranging pop packages. Then they see the act's breakthrough video for Virtual Insanity and there's just one man, England's enigmatic and opinionated Jason (Jay) Kay.

So which is it? Is Jamiroquai a band or a man?

A bit of both, says Toby Smith, who plays keyboards and writes much of Jamiroquai's music with Kay.

"It's kind of confusing. We all get confused at times," Smith said. "Jamiroquai is essentially Jay. He's the front man. He signed to Sony, and we're signed to Jay, so it's halfway between a solo artist and a band.

"But it's a band, very much so. It's been the same people for five years, and we like it this way. Being upfront, that's not for me, mate. I hide myself behind seven keyboards. That's where I like it."

The group hasn't had to hide in the United States, where a cult status means that Kay and his band mates can walk down the busiest street without being recognized. But that might be about to change.

Fitting somewhere between Parliament and Earth, Wind & Fire, the six-man band (which swells to 11 members live) is beginning to catch on in America, where its latest album, Travelling Without Moving, is making a dent in the sales charts. A more dance-oriented album than the band's first two major-label releases, Travelling Without Moving melds disco beats with funky bass lines, a touch of acid-jazz instrumentation and sharp pop sensibilities.

America might be the last market to jump on board the Jamiroquai bandwagon. Travelling Without Moving has already sold 4 million copies worldwide, and the band, which plays the Paramount Theatre tonight, has grown more accustomed to packing arenas.

"Last night we played in Seattle, and it was a crowd of 800,' ' Smith said on the phone from San Francisco. "It had a real nice vibe, but that was the smallest crowd we've done in four or five years. In Europe and Japan, it's 15,000-seat arenas."

But the band really wants to break America, mainly because that' s where Jamiroquai has found most of its musical inspiration. "The music that we love comes from here," Smith said. "When I'm at home, I listen to Marvin Gaye or Herbie Hancock or whatever, and they're all American."

Also, more money would be nice. Smith and Kay have both adopted the expensive hobby of collecting cars, an admittedly ironic pastime for a band that has made a name for its eco-politics. "Jay is into vulgar cars. I like beautiful cars," Smith said. Kay has nine high-priced, high-speed automobiles such as a Lamborghini Diablo and a 355 Ferrari. Smith has six classic cars such as a BMW M6.

"We all want to be an ecologically conscious band, but we like cars," Smith said. "Yeah, we're hypocrites like the rest of the world. But then again, you can only drive one car at a time."

INFOBOX
IF YOU GO
Jamiroquai performs at 7:30 p.m. today at the Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place. Information: 830-8497.