Plugged into Pug Jelly

By Valerie Chen · Urbanwire
email reporter · email story · printer friendly version

This band of 3 Australians and 1 Japanese, has just released their self-titled debut album but is already making waves in local radio station, Power 98FM with the public able to request for their songs through SMSand letter or e-mail dedications. Pug Jelly rocks. Listening to Masashi Kimura on guitars, Matt Cooper on drums, Sam Cooper on lead vocals and bass and Adam Nelson on guitars makes one high. In fact, they’re so good you find yourself fighting temptations of wanting to start moshing, skanking and body-surfing through the crowd. Valerie Tan speaks to Pug Jelly and take a peek into their lives.

Questions are answered by Sam Cooper unless otherwise stated.

What’s the best thing about being in a band?
“Writing my songs at home and then getting everything together with the guys before presenting them to our audience. Seeing the people’s reactions brings a sense of achievement because we see the fruits of our labour.”

Why are you based here instead of Australia?
“We study here because our families are based here. We’re all from different parts of Australia, and one of us is from Japan, so it’s rather hard to meet up anywhere else, so it’s easier making Singapore our home.”

How does it feel to be an expatriate band playing for the local scene? Or would you rather be termed a local band?
“We don’t really care. When we first came to Singapore it was because of our parents. It wasn’t by choice, but now, even though we have the opportunity to leave Singapore upon graduation, we’ve chosen to stay in Singapore because we’ve formed a bond in our band.”

How does it feel being in an expatriate band?
“(Hesitation) It doesn’t feel any different. We don’t really know how it’s like ‘cause we’ve never been in a local band so we don’t know what being a local band feels like. It varies – sometimes it can be cool, sometimes not so cool. You occasionally hear bad comments because you are the “expatriate band” in Singapore but we learn from there. We realise that we’re very fortunate because we probably get more exposure than other people… since we’re foreign. However, we really hope that people will ultimately judge us based on our music and not something else.”

Local musicians always term themselves as “poor and struggling”. Do you consider yourselves so?
“We really haven’t had to worry about poverty because our parents are still supporting us, but when we grow up, and move out of our homes and our band has yet to find success, then that’s when we probably will start talking about being poor and struggling performers. Obviously we do have limits – we can’t [afford to] go out recording and releasing a new album every weekend.”

I’m sure you’ve got a pretty huge fan base of girls. A lot of Singaporeans tend to hold the stereotype of “ang mohs” coming to Singapore to get Asian chicks. How true is that?
“That pretty much goes for the 60-year-old men who can’t get chicks back in their own countries (laughs). We don’t really come with their mentality; it’s really not about the girls.”

How do you resolve conflicts in the band?
“We talk about it. We don’t keep it in because more problems will arise from that, and we do not wish for any problem to result in the breaking up of the band.”

Your parents are very supportive of your music, yes? So do you hang out with them a lot? I recall seeing you and your parents drinking together at the Roomful of Blues.
“We don’t really hang out much but they’ll turn up at our performances occasionally to show their support.”

I understand that you guys opened for Sum 41 during their concert on the 30th of July at Fort Canning. How do you view this opportunity?
“Yeah, we look at it as a step forward for our band. We’re moving on. We’re excited about it but we’re very nervous as well. We feel like we have to live up to a certain expectation so we’re just going to give it our best shot.”

Do you consider yourselves rock stars?
“No way!” (In unison)

Should you attain celebrity status after opening for Sum 41, how do you think you will cope with your newfound stardom?
“We never really thought about it. We just consider ourselves lucky to have the opportunity to play for Sum 41. Sum 41 has always been one of the bands we looked up to as we were growing up.”

You guys have been flamed on the forum of your website. What would you say to these flamers?
“Ever since we put it [up], we knew there were surely going to be people flagging us in our forum but we don’t feel like we shouldn’t have it there just because we’re getting flagged. One of our favourite bands has a forum and their forum is full of bitching, but that’s how it is. They’re always going to be people who don’t like your music and want to express that. We feel that having a forum is a good thing ‘cause we can hear the bad stuff and improve. At the same time, we like to hear the compliments, such as people liking our music and showing their support. Anyway it’s a good thing even if we get flamed ‘cause it shows that these people know the band, and actually listen to us.”

On to the release of your self-titled album: How did you get your inspiration?
“Our inspiration comes more [from] what we experience in our lives.”

How do you guys come up with your material? Who does?
“I [Sam] write the songs and I bring it to these guys to help me figure out the chords. Usually I go out, get really drunk, come home, get bored and just pick up my guitar and the inspiration flows from there. Well, I’m not always drunk though. I think I wrote a song when I was sober once.”

What is your target audience?
“10-year-old girls! (laughs) It’s for anyone who likes our music. Our parents’ friends like our music.”
Adam Cooper: “My Grandma likes it!”

Do you think you guys have developed a lot since recording the album?
“The song writing has definitely improved since Masashi came into the band. You can see the way the music sounds and how it has matured.”

You guys used to have a member called Lewis (guitarist-vocalist) who had to leave the band to go back to Australia. If another member decides to leave, would you guys disband or get a replacement?
“We wouldn’t consider disbanding because we’ve all put in a lot of hard work and we’re all equally important in the band – no one stands out more than another. But if someone really does leave, we believe that this band will continue without him. It will be sad, but our friendship still lives on. As for now, we’re a united band of 4!”

Parting words for UrbanWire.com readers?
Masashi Kimuraand Matt Cooper: “Hello!”
Adam: “Hi mom!”
Sam: “Go check out our website at www.pugjelly.com and always be true to yourself!”
Communal come on: “Come on!”

To win an autographed Pug Jelly CD, simply describe yourself as a Pug Jelly member in less than 50 words and e-mail your answer to us theurbanwire@email.com by September 15th 2003.