THE SCENE: The flatmate's suggestion that led Jay Sellwood to sing
In today’s THE SCENE profile we catch up with FOTA lead singer Jay Sellwood as he provides an insight into his music journey and the Southland group.
In today’s THE SCENE profile we catch up with FOTA lead singer Jay Sellwood as he provides an insight into his music journey and the Southland group.
What’s your music style?
Rocking.
Tell us about your music journey?
I chilled in Mummas womb for 9 months listening to Elvis and The Beatles. As a young child, I'd obsess in watching all the bnw musicals then as a preteen I'd watch all the music program and sing to all the songs and then I saw a KISS concert and the Sex Pistols on a late-night music show and my soul was sold.
What are your musical influences?
Begun with the Beatles/Elvis then progressed with mostly 80s esp. reggae-inspired tunes and Madonna/Prince/Michael Jackson.
Because of my love of horror books and comics one day, I picked up an Iron Maiden Killers cassette cheap with my meagre pocket money because of the cool cover when I was around 11 or 12.
It blew my mind because I'd never heard music like that before which made me obsessed on guitar orientated music which introduced me to my big 4 Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Deep Purple and thus I started mimicking those singers with a touch of the blues Brothers and rocky horror.
One day years later at the age of 18, my friend and flatmate asked me to be a singer in his band to which I replied; 'I can't sing' to which he replied; 'it doesn't matter, neither can Lemmy' and I’ve never looked back.
Give us an insight into your creative process?
Generally, Vance or Shane will come up with riffs and I’ll create a vocal melody and then once the structures are sorted, I'll write some base lyrics which will most often evolve over time.
Any enjoyable gigs that stand out?
Any gig where the audience has had a good time or when I’ve got to share a stage with my local music heroes ie. Shane Vance and Joseph
Keen to have a listen to FOTA’s music? - CLICK HERE
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