Howard Jones Given The Third Degree
Third Degree
Things Can Only Get Better
By Martin Hennessy
For 15 years, Howard Jones has waged a relentless assault on pop consciousness. His first album, Human's Lib, went #1 in the U.K.; ten more phenomenal albums followed. Just a few of the nine U.S. Top 40 hits from Jones' repertoire: "Things Can Only Get Better," "Everlasting Love," "No One Is To Blame" and "Live In One Day." In A finicky music market always on the lookout for the newest thing, Jones has proven over and over again that he's no fluke. Jones' latest gig: "The Big Rewind" tour with Culture Club and The Human League, promoting his new release People. We decided to subject Howard (also known as HoJo) to The Third Degree in order to find out what keeps him going.
1. You've been a busy boy with the new tour and new album People. Great album cover. Are those a few fans on there? (210 to be exact)
HoJo: Yes, we asked a bunch of our fans on our website to send in their photos for the cover. I feel these days I've got my constituency. I mean in the '80s it was a different thing and now I've got this core of people who follow what I do. I've done a few gigs and record for them. So I figured, let's put them on the cover.
2. They've actually made a record for you, Step Into These Shoes -- A Howard Jones Tribute.
HoJo: Yes, I haven't heard the final product, but it means a lot that they did it.
3. Do you think your music styles have changed since doing Live Acoustic America (acoustic world tour and album)?
HoJo: I don't use the synths and drum machines like before. That'd been a trend for me -- ever since (Live Acoustic America) I've been trying a different way of orchestrating my music. I think you come up with different landscapes in a song that way.
4. I know in your last few albums you've dabbled with a little blues and dance, and on People the track "Everything" seems to have a reggae feel.
HoJo: Yeah, yeah, (laughs) I'm a big fan of reggae.
5. Does that mean Howard goes classical soon?
HoJo: (laughs) Actually, I have looked at doing a piano album at one point, but I'm not sure if it will be with vocals or not. But, I will do an album that is strictly instrumental piano, but like a studio album.
6. Tell me about D-Tox Records.
HoJo: I started that out of frustration with the short-term thinking of the industry. They are only interested in a couple of singles, an album and that's about it. They don't really let an artist fully develop. The label lets me develop young artists. And I want to continue writing and performing.
7. You picked up Nick Beggs (ex-Kajagoogoo) for this tour.
HoJo: Yes, Nick. It's great how I met Nick, actually. I was on a plane flying back from a trip and this guy came up to me and said he was Nick. We got chatting for a while and wound up swapping numbers. For this tour we even picked up the ex-drummer from China Crisis.
8. Should be great if everyone stays healthy. I heard a rumor Nick got locked in a refrigerator.
HoJo: He loves small spaces. I've actually come up with a name for what he has: "claustrophilia." He was playing around in the Human League's dressing room and no one could believe he could fit in the fridge. He wound up cracking a rib and is playing that way the rest of the tour.
9. Your first hit single, "New Song," turns 15 years old in January. What do you think has changed for you musically other than less synth?
HoJo: I feel that I'm under a lot less pressure. I can really enjoy myself more with my music. My mission is really to enjoy what I do.
10. There are a lot of beautiful tracks on the new album -- the first single, "Tomorrow Is Now," and the haunting "Not One Of The Lonely Tonight." Where did the initial idea behind "Let The People Have Their Say" come from?
HoJo: That song was my insight into Princess Diana's death. That was pretty much on my mind at the time. I kept waking up at night with the melody. It was more of a response to what happened to Britain at the time. I had never seen such an outpouring of sympathy from the British people in my life. The people online...the news coverage...times have changed. It's an anthem, unashamedly an anthem.
11. Yet, it has a very strong dance beat.
HoJo: I find it a little bit overcomplicated myself. Like I tried too hard. Those are my only reservations about it. I think pop music should only have one idea at a time. A Calypso verson of it is due out on the U.K. release and as a single in January as well.
12. What song do you thing you'd like to be remembered for writing 20 years from now? Or do you think you are still writing it?
HoJo: Well, I'm not sure about that. Probably the song that I'm most remembered for now: "No One Is To Blame."
13. I think some of these new tracks like "You're The Buddha" are pretty complex in that there are many ways you can take that song.
HoJo: It was meant to be slightly controversial. I wanted people to think. I have a strong belief that at every moment of our lives we have a choice. Whether we choose to accent the positive or not.
14. I saw your website, and it's really informative.
HoJo: We're really proud of it. We're just about to open an online shop soon also.
Howard Jones' website can be found at http://www.howardjones.com.
Martin Hennessy is a local freelance writer.