Jagwar Ma is an Australian psychedelic dance band formed in Sydney in 2011. It consists of Gabriel Winterfield (lead vocalist, guitarist), Jono Ma (guitar, beats, synths, production), and bass guitarist Jack Freeman, who joined in 2012.[1] The band name is derived from a satirical compound of the word "jaguar" and Jono's surname.[2][3] In 2013, Jagwar Ma signed with record labels Mom+Pop (US), Marathon Artists (EU), and Future Classic (Australia) and released its debut album Howlin'. It released its second album Every Now and Then on 14 October 2016.[4][5]

Jagwar Ma
2013
2013
Background information
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresPsychedelic rock, acid house, baggy, experimental, alternative dance, trip hop
Years active2011–present
LabelsFuture Classic
Mom + Pop Music
Marathon Artists
Members
  • Gabriel Winterfield
  • Jono Ma
  • Jack Freeman
Websitewww.jagwarma.com

Career

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Ma and Winterfield met in 2007. At this time, both were playing in different groups, Lost Valentinos and Ghostwood. It would be until mid-2010 at an FLRL performance that the two shared the stage. FLRL was a locally based krautrock experimental pop group - initially founded by Jono Ma, Kirin J. Callinan and Julian Sudek - local musicians would get together, curate an evening of new music, and perform it to an audience. One night, Winterfield took vocals and guitar and Ma generated sounds from the use of vintage drum machines, radio frequency manipulation, improvised percussion, and other esoteric methods of creating sound. By 2011, Ma and Winterfield began frequently getting together at a studio (often a living room) and recording sounds and melodies, whilst also swapping old demos from unfinished side projects, "Jaguar Paw" and "Flintstone". Subsequently, loose jams and recordings started as anything from Motown to electronica. It would be during these recording sessions that the band's first songs "Come Save Me" and "What Love" would emerge. At this point, the pair decided to semi-relocate to France and to extend what was originally "going to be a one off 7 inch single" to a full LP.[6] Jack Freeman, a London-based musician and old friend, joined the live lineup in mid-2012. In June 2013, the band released Howlin',[7] which reached the UK album chart.[8] In 2015, the band toured as support to Tame Impala.[9]

The duo began writing material at their Crescent Head studio in rural Australia, before returning to the farmhouse in La Briche, France to record.[4][10] The record was finalised in London and featured guest appearances by Stella Mozgawa, Ewan Pearson and James Ford.[4] In May 2016, Ma confirmed that the second album would be released in the second half of 2016.[9] The band released the first single, "O B 1" in July, followed by a second "Give Me A Reason" in August 2016.[11] The 11-track album, Every Now & Then, was released on 14 October 2016.[4] Musicfeeds maintained that it "rewards a dedicated listener with a fine-tuned ear".[12] NME gave the album four out of five stars, calling it "a mind-altering second album with melody at its heart"[13] DIY Magazine said the album had Jagwar Ma "on a process of self-discovery, just a couple of steps away from striking gold."[14] The band embarked on a headlining tour in support.[15]

In 2018, the band began recording sessions in Iceland,[16] however further tours and recordings were delayed by an illness which confined Ma to Australia. According to Jono, the band has "by no means disbanded".[17] Both members have embarked on separate projects. Winterfield began a "surf blues" solo project as Golf Alpha Bravo, releasing singles "Groove Baby Groove", "Unwind", and "Blue Wave" via Mom+Pop Records in 2019. His full length debut album, The Sundog, was released on his own label, Treasured Recordings, on 12 June 2020.[18] Jono Ma started an ongoing project with Jonti called Mystics, who released their first single, "Steppers" in 2019, and performed live at Carriageworks in 2022. He also released an EP in collaboration with Dreems titled The Dreemas on Kompact in 2018, and a cover of Kraftwerk's "Neon Lights" on Bandcamp in 2020, in memory of Florian Schneider and Andrew Weatherall, with proceeds benefiting The Aboriginal Legal Service.[19]

The group is not affiliated with Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma.

Touring and shows

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In 2014, Jagwar Ma played the Summer Festival circuit throughout the UK, EU and Australia including Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, Pukkelpop, Latitude, Bestival, Paredes de Coura Festival, The Big Day Out, Splendour in the Grass among others. Jagwar Ma has played sold out headline tours in the UK, France, Australia and the US.

In 2017, Jagwar Ma played at Summer Bright Lager's Summer Sessions Tour[20] and at Coachella.[21][22] In the summer of 2017, the band performed at Panorama Music Festival on Randall's Island in New York City and England's Glastonbury Festival.[23]

In 2018, Jagwar Ma performed at Dark Mofo in Tasmania, headlining a Red Bull Music lineup.[5][24]

Members

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  • Gabriel Winterfield – lead vocals, guitar[25]
  • Jono Ma – guitar, synths, drum machines, samplers, producer
  • Jack Freeman – bass

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album Peak positions
AUS
[26]
BEL
(Wa)

[27]
FRA
[28]
UK
[8]
2013 Howlin' 198 133 64
2016 Every Now & Then
  • Mom + Pop Music (US)
47 160 131 85
Year EP
2013 The Time and Space Dub Sessions

Singles

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Title Year Album
"Come Save Me" 2011 Howlin
"The Throw" 2013
"Man I Need"
"Come Save Me" (re-release)
"Uncertainty" 2014
"O B 1" 2016 Every Now & Then
"Give Me a Reason"
"Ordinary"
"Slipping"

Awards

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AIR Awards

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The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013[29][30] themselves Best Independent Artist Nominated
Howlin' Independent Album of the Year Nominated
Best Independent Dance/Electronic Club Album Nominated
"Man I Need" Independent Single of the Year Nominated
Best Independent Dance/Electronic Club Song or EP Nominated
themselves Carlton Dry Global Music Grant Nominated
2017[31] Every Now and Then Best Independent Dance/Electronic Album Nominated

APRA Awards

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The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.[32]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2014 Jagwar Ma Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Nominated [33]

Australian Music Prize

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The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013 Howlin' Australian Music Prize Nominated

J Award

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The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013[34] Howlin' Australian Album of the Year Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Jagwar Ma | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  2. ^ Litwin, Brian (20 July 2013). "Interview with Jagwar Ma". blahblahblahscience. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ^ Day, Laurence (11 April 2013). "Jagwar Ma". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Wilkinson, Matt (18 August 2016). "Q&A: Jagwar Ma Detail Their New Album Every Now & Then". Stereogum.com. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Beyond the infinite: What Jagwar Ma did next". Red Bull. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. ^ Alexis, Jeremiah. "Jagwar Ma's Long, Fascinating Journey to 'Howlin''". Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  7. ^ Stevens, Jenny (26 April 2013). "Noel Gallagher says he's 'too busy talking about Temples and Jagwar Ma' to reform Oasis - NME". NME. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  8. ^ a b "JAGWAR MA | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  9. ^ a b "What's going on with... Jagwar Ma?". DIY. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  10. ^ Beaumont, Mark (19 August 2016). "Jagwar Ma Interview 2016". NME. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Jagwar Ma detail new album, share "Give Me a Reason" — listen". Consequence of Sound. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  12. ^ Madden, Ben (14 October 2016). "Jagwar Ma – 'Every Now & Then' - Music Feeds". Music Feeds. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Jagwar Ma - 'Every Now And Then' review | NME.COM". NME. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Jagwar Ma - Every Now and Then". DIY. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  15. ^ Brash, Tallah (18 October 2016). "Jagwar Ma interview: Every Now and Then - The Skinny". Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Beyond the infinite: What Jagwar Ma did next". Redbull.
  17. ^ "Meet Mystics, the boundary-expanding new project from Jono Ma and Jonti". Redbull.
  18. ^ "Gabriel Winterfield: An interview". Fruit and Grooves Collective. 6 April 2020.
  19. ^ "Neon Lights 2020 In Homage". Bandcamp. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Summer Bright Lager "Summer Sessions" Coastal Tour ft. Jagwar Ma, Jack River & The Babe Rainbow". Mucho Bravado. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  21. ^ "Here's everything you need to know about Coachella's live streams". DJMag.com. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  22. ^ "Five Aussie acts that aced Coachella". Red Bull. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  23. ^ "Lineup - Panorama NYC: Music • Art • Technology". www.panorama.nyc. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  24. ^ "See what went down at Jagwar Ma's massive Dark Mofo rave". Red Bull. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  25. ^ "Jagwar Ma's Gab Winterfield Gets Real On Tourin' The World W/ Tame Impala". Pedestrian TV. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  26. ^ "Jagwar Ma discography". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  27. ^ "Jagwar Ma discography". Ultratop.be/fr/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  28. ^ "Jagwar Ma discography". Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  29. ^ "Final AIR Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed, $50,000 Prize Announced". tonedeaf. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  30. ^ "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  31. ^ "A.B Original dominates 2017 AIR Awards nominations". theindustryobserver. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  32. ^ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2014. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  34. ^ "The J Award 2013". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
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