Jakob Battick & Friends won last month’s Deli band of the month, and for very good reaon. The young artist along with his rotating cast of musicians are sonically pushing things in their hometown of Portland in the most delicately poweful way possible. Jakob mixes folk and atmospheric elements in the style of Current 93, but brings a unique and more diverse edge to the stage that carves their sound out to stand wholly on it’s own.
Jakob is releasing a new EP at the end of the month, Heavy the Mountains, Heavy the Seas, and has even bigger things planned for the outfit.
The Deli: How and when did you get your start and what does the "Friends" in your name refer to?
Jakob Battick: I started playing music at the same time that I started recording. I would craft these song cycles of loner folk on an old four-track tape machine, like soundtracks for little strange cartoon worlds, and give them to my friends. I remember banging on dollar store cutlery in my garage to make drum tracks. From there, I passed through loud fuzzed-out noise rock things to slow and wilted dreamfolk things. I formed bands, 1800s Sea Monster & Swollen Spring Violets & Mt. Moon. Somewhere along the line I decided to use my own name, but added "& Friends" to pay honor to the loose…
Read the whole interview Here.
–Interview by Will Ryan