Your New Favourite Band: J Lima Foxtrot

In a very RECENT EDITION OF PULSE I introduced you to awesomely talented and driven J Lima Foxtrot, who didn’t let a guitar-playing-hindering-injury get her down and stop creating, but instead took this as an opportunity to immerse herself in another medium and taught herself to play synth and how to work with MIDI software and produce.  Beyond that JLF has just got a straight up can do DIY attitude, that not only comes across in her music, but this interview too.

Over the course of the interview we have a chat her musical influences, how she got started out, her DIY ethics, what got her where she is, and where she plans to go. More so than that JLF came across as an intelligent and honest person willing to share what she really thinks and what she really wants to do, and clearly enjoys talking about it too. Enjoy.

First and foremost; hello there, how are you, and who is the J Lima Foxtrot that is you?

Hi! I’m great. I could not be more content sitting at my desk with hot coffee and Bossley (my cat) reading through and answering your questions. J Lima Foxtrot is just a simple music alias. A year ago I moved to a new town (Washington DC), started writing new songs, started recording with new tools, and with that I wanted to release my new music under a new alias. Not putting too much thought into it, I went with the phonetic alphabet using my initials, JLF.

So, we recently featured you in an edition of our music feature Pulse. How’d you enjoy that? What’d we miss? What would you like to say in your own words that J Lima Foxtrot is all about?

I recently started following CULTURED VULTURES, and PULSE, after you ran the piece on fellow Washington, D.C. music-makers, PAPERHAUS, whom I love.  So when I read that I was featured in Pulse, I smiled like a fool all day long.  You nailed my attitude of “fuck it, I’ll just do it myself”.  Although I’m a passionate audio engineer, my outlook was born out of necessity; I didn’t plan on taking the DIY approach. In fact, over the course of a year I met with many recording studios and producers in an attempt to pair up and work on my new project. I met a lot of talented, nice people from Baltimore, D.C., Richmond, VA. But for some reason, none of them seemed to click with my ultimate vision. I WANTED a glossy, shiny, digital, electronic sounding EP…even though I was an “indie” artist.  I didn’t want to emulate old-school mixing consoles or fake an analogue sound as most of them proposed.  So after many unproductive meetings, I turned to YouTube and starting teaching myself home recording techniques (the RecordingRevolution.com is still my favourite resource.)  J Lima Foxtrot is all about sticking to your guns and being your own advocate for your own music.

Prior to J Lima Foxtrot you had been doing the rounds in a number of bands, playing guitar, but an unfortunate injury lead you to becoming unable to do so. As an outlet for your musical needs you looked towards synths and MIDI equipment. Could you tell us a bit more about that? Do you look back on that injury as a positive thing now?

I injured my fret-board hand terribly when I decided to play-through-the-pain during a recording session. 5 doctors and almost 2 years later, I had surgery to correct it. But with that came a 6-month recovery period of no playing, then physical therapy.  I didn’t want to stop making music, so I taught myself synth and MIDI programming. I do perceive the injury as a positive thing, I chose to create an opportunity out of it instead of sitting around sulking. Now I’m obsessed with synths.

In respect of teaching yourself as you did, your DIY ethics also run further through your music and career? How important is DIY to you?

As an independent musician, I believe a DIY approach is critical. Beyond the creation of music, you have to understand marketing, booking, promoting, sale conversions, etc. The DIY approach lends itself to learning all these facets of being an artist, to jumpstart a career.  However, I don’t believe a career can blossom without the help and knowledge of others.  Despite my DIY approach, I’m still searching for a studio and producer to work with. I always have an eye out for mentors.

You’ve recently released your Wishy Washy EP, how have you found the response to it has been so far?

The response has been pretty good. It received some serious praise from several online publications like Brightest Young Things, the Deli, and others. But it’s all relative.  I know there are people out there who listen to it and love it, and there are people out there who did NOT like it what-so-ever. But I’m happy with it. It’s a stepping stone.

Speaking of the EP, it has a distinct character with its heavily synthesized sound, but at the same time it switches things around; funk elements, traditional rock/punk deliveries through synths, a touch of hip hop here, some playing around with what’s expected of pop song structures, and most profoundly a keen ear for a big chorus and melodic hook. What I’m rambling my way into is that you must have a wide array of influences, any you’d care to share? I’d be particularly interested in hearing who you’re vocal heroes are too? 

I absolutely love Miguel, and many other “R&B/hip-hop” artists (I am very beat driven).  I also listen to a sick amount of Lady Gaga (production driven), Cold War Kids (straight forward song-writing), and Phantogram (synth driven).  Vocal heroes would be the sisters of HAIM, Gaga again, and Alanis Morissette. Alanis would be my number one vocal hero.

With the EP out there, are you currently touring? Anywhere our readers can catch you live?

My back-up band is undergoing some changes at the moment, we are currently looking for a drummer. So until we find that critical player, we aren’t playing any full band gigs. I am, however, sneaking in acoustic performances here and there. But nothing on the books to promote at this very moment.

Speaking of the EP being out now, what exactly is next for J Lima Foxtrot? More EPs, maybe an LP? Trying out something new altogether? I’ve read that you’re actually interested in recording and writing with other artists? Even going into a more straightforward producing role?

I still feel like I haven’t found “my sound” yet.  I still want to find a producer to work with. I want an edgier, more “streamlined” sound for my next batch of songs. Could be an EP, could be an LP. On the flip-side, yes, I want to record and produce others and recently started doing so. It’s really nice to work on music outside of my own songs.

We’ve spoken a bit about you, how about artists that are contemporaries of yours? People you’ve played with? People you know? Who do we need to be checking out now that we’ve found you?

I really love the band Sequels from Virginia; they’re just getting started and have lots of potential.  Motion Line is a cool synth band that I’d like to play a show with.

Lastly, and quite obviously most importantly; if you had a pet vulture and you found it to be especially cultured – what would you call it?

I would call it Morgan.

MORGAN EDIT : BLUSH