Q&A: Jayce Lewis

The Bridgend-based solo artist who is better known in India than back home, aspires to achieve his bit of rock stardom in Asia. The former drummer of Losing Sun who launched his solo career last year, has released his first single ”˜Icon’ and looks to releasing his debut album, Chapter, this fall. Having already performed in the country on various occasions, this multi-faceted musician is gradually building a fan base here. Speaking with Jayce Lewis, we find out what to expect on his debut album and explore his relationship with the country that gave him his real break.

So, why Asia?

I came here because I thought not many people are focussing their attention on Asia, especially within this genre. I wanted to take a different approach and apply my unique style to the Asian region. It’s quite a big deal back home about me and India. People back home are scratching their heads because they can’t figure India out at all, and when I tell them that there is a thriving, very passionate rock community out here, they are just surprised.

You were the drummer in a band, Losing Sun, before this. Why the fallout?

It was a bit of everything. My ambition was far more than theirs, they had other commitments with family”¦ Eventually, we started to really hate each other to be honest. Towards the end, it got really messy. Another thing was that when I recorded with them, most of the keyboard/synth work was me, drumming of course and guitars too. So I was already doing a lot of stuff anyway.

So when did you realise that you wanted to go solo?

Basically I was already playing a lot of instruments, so some producers and friends asked me why I didn’t do my own thing. Towards the end of 2008, things got real bad ”“ nobody was signing us at the time, the workload was immense, I was in a troubled relationship at the time – and eventually it all fell apart. Looking back on it now, it inspired me to write the track ”˜Icon.’ I’ve been naïve, and I’ve had lot of people come along and take chunks out of me and ”˜Icon’ was sort of like a backlash. The video in which I wear a mask and play all the instruments is symbolic of how I felt in a band, of anonymous musicianship.

Audiences mostly know your work by this one single. Tell us a bit about your upcoming singles and debut album.

I’m just about to release another video; a second single is coming out. It’s been eight months since Losing Sun fell out, and I have had to learn how to sing, write an album. So it’s all been really rushed for me. The only think that sort of threw me into the dark void was music and the very thing that brought me out of it was music so music for me is like this double-edged sword. So within this album there a lot of ups and downs, different experiences of my life, and it is essentially dark.

So is it all just about how you were wronged by your band, love and life in general?

Yeah, well, that’s an essential part of it. It’s also got a bit about drugs, which I’ve had a bad experience with in the past. Eventually it’s about getting a lot of things out of me; things I’ve bottled up which now I’m learning how to let out in the best way I know, which is music. I’m sure a lot of would people relate to it as everybody’s got their own personal hell.

What are your influences on sound? How would you describe your sound?

The best way I’d put it is that on each instrument I’ve got a different influence. With drumming it’s most definitely metal/rock/tribal, stuff like Sepultura, Fear Factory, Mudvayne and Ill Nino. On guitars, it’s Fear Factory again with the likes of Limp Bizkit, Queen and Metallica. And then I have the electronic influences, mostly dance music like The Prodigy and Depeche Mode. I think I’d tag it as high energy electronic rock ”“ it covers the whole spectrum from being chilled out to when you want to go crazy, burn down houses and cause carnage. I’ve also got that sinister edge to my sound. I’ve got that bit of Darth Vader in me, it’s another bloody influence.