JARREAU VANDAL FOR THE OPERATIVES |

JARREAU VANDAL FOR THE OPERATIVES

Posted by: operativejp on November 19, 2019

For Melbourne Music Week 2019, Jenn C catches up with Amsterdam’s beloved devil on the decks, Jarreau Vandal to discuss his music journey, fashion, culture and misplacing USB’s.

JC : It’s sick to have you back in town for Melbourne Music Week.

That Operatives gig with SoSuperSam & LAKIM in 2017, that’s still talked about around these streets. Everyone’s careers and sound has grown tremendously since then.

What’s been your favourite line-up you’ve played with recently?

JV : There have been a lot of cool artists I have been on the line up with in the past few years, a bit too much to mention. My recent favourite gig however is the last Boiler Room I did in Rotterdam. The crowd was very involved and that is all you can wish for as a selector.

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2017 Tour with The Operatives

Photos by SoSuperSam

JC : That energy is all you dude. Melbourne Music Week 2019 line-up is hectic. Do you listen to any Australian artists?

JV : Yes, I really like Hiatus Kaiyote, Kaiit, Mall Grab, Skin On Skin, UVboi 😉

JC : Some of our best. Travelling puts our hometown in perspective. Amsterdam will always be an iconic hub of culture. What’s your favourite thing about the Amsterdam music & creative culture?

JV : What I like about the Amsterdam scene is that the bar is set very high. There is a lot of positive competition and we got a good taste for music (not to sound stuck up). I think that is the reason I always want the best of the best for my music and sets.

JC : It shows, no doubt. Has it changed over the years and if so, how?

JV : It has definitely changed for the better. When I started out, I found it very hard to connect with the people that were doing cool stuff. I felt they kind of blocked out the less successful / cool kids. Nowadays, everybody is helping each other and works together. I love that.

JC : We can only get better together. Feeling your best, take us through a whole day of Jarreau Vandal in Amsterdam?

JV : I wake up and get ready around 11, I have breakfast and start to work on some music. When it’s time to eat, I drive to the center to get some dinner at my favorite Thai snackbar called “Bird”. After that, I go back home, I shower and I invite my friends over for some beers. Then, we move the drinking session to Soho House Amsterdam. After Soho House, we go to either Chicago Social Club, Club Air, Bitterzoet or wherever the good music is at.

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Photo by Vicky Grout @vickygrout

JC : Good times! Your NTS (Radio) feature with Daily Paper was really insightful. They’re really pushing boundaries in the young movement of cross-culture aesthetic. Music and fashion has always been symbiotic.

How’s your process with your Vandalized merch been? Can we expect new drops any time soon?

JV : The idea of Vandalized is that I make items and clothing when I got a cool idea or when I’m releasing it together with some music. This gives me the freedom to think about making clothing whenever I feel like it, kind of an unorthodox way of making clothing as a “brand”. However, I’m definitely doing a few drops every year.

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Photo by Vandalized Gear

JC: Your dream apparel labels you would love to work with? Local or international.

JV : Nike (USA), Braindead (USA), Daily Paper (AMS), Perks And Mini (P.A.M.) (AU)

JC : P.A.M. is a local legend. Your favourite up-and-coming artists/producers coming out of Europe?

JV : There are a few cool artists from Europe that make incredible music.

K Le Maestro is a really dope hip-hop producer from London

Tamera is a really dope vocalist from London, you got to check out her latest single called “Romeo”

Dvtch Norris is a sick rapper from Belgium

Ashley Morgan Is a cool producer and vocalist from Belgium

Tamera – Romeo

JC : Chucking that on the list. What are the cities would you pick for its creative culture around Asia, Australia and NZ?

JV : Seoul has an amazing music scene, I definitely have to go shopping in Melbourne and of course Tokyo is a madness. I bet Sydney has some cool stuff to see as well but I just didnt have enough time to explore. Luckily I will, this time around!

JC : They definitely do. Any particular music collectives around you enjoy working with and see potential in?

JV : Colorful (Amsterdam), Mason Collective (Manchester), 99Ginger (Paris), Les Amis (Hamburg)

They’re all dope and doing something good for their scene!

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Photo by Gino Gold @ginogold

JC : Your favourite song out of Anthology?

JV : I love them all but my favorite is one of the most underrated ones, “at least you know”.

JC : With such a hectic schedule of travelling, what keeps you evolving your style of producing and playing?

JV : I try to move to a more balanced way of working every year. So one part of the year I work on music and do barely any shows, the other half I’m touring. I’m still far from this ideal but I’m getting closer.

Photo by @ginogold

JC : Who’s more likely to misplace their USB’s? You or Jael?

JV : Don’t really know. We’re both pretty wild. I lost a lot of my USB’s, even broke one during my set, so I had to run to my hotel to put my set on a new USB.

JC : LOL, that intense finesse. Ok, most important question, favourite food to eat after a gig?

JV : Shawarma!

JC : Thank you for your time, we’ll catch you at Kubik and hopefully wherever else you’ll be playing!

Jarreau Vandal plays at Kubik for Melbourne Music Week on Thursday, 21 November with Billy Davis & The Good Lords, Jordan Dennis, Teymori, Jael and more local support.

Tix here: http://theoperatives.com.au/events/espionage-feat-jarreau-vandal-billy-davis-jael-jordan-dennis/