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Hometown: Melbourne, VIC, AU
Label: (Independent)
Website: www.jaimifaulkner.com
Sounds Like: John Mayer, Ben Howard, Mumford and Sons, James Morrison, Chris Whitley
Genre: Folk
JAIMI FAULKNER - BACK ROAD
By the time that he relocated to Europe from his native Melbourne in 2010, Jaimi Faulkner had already racked up an impressive list of credits as a powerful, soulful singer, exceptional guitarist and songwriter of great potential. His debut album “Last Light” (2004) garnered rave reviews in Australia and received considerable airplay there. Faulkner devoted the next years to extensive live performance, both as a solo artist and as support with touring acts such as Chris Whitley and Chris Isaak, as well as being nominated to represent Australia at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. His next full length album “Kiss and Ride” (2009) underlined his growing abilities as a songwriter, producer and arranger and brought Jaimi to the attention of European audiences for the first time. The chemistry was right and after a couple of successful tours in Germany and the Netherlands he made the decision to move to Berlin and explore what life there had to offer.
Fast forward to 2017: Jaimi Faulkner releases “Back Road”, his fourth European album and the first to be completely self produced and engineered. Following the more pop-oriented “Up All Night” (2015), it marks a return to the rootsy rock’n’roll and Americana that characterized his earlier work and for the first time does proper justice to his long-time backing band, featuring Leon Den Engelsen on piano and Hammond organ, Judith Renkema on bass and Luuk Adams on drums.
In November 2016, Jaimi and the band moved into an old farmhouse near Bremen with their equipment plus Jaimi’s portable studio, set up their gear and started work on the new album. All songs were recorded live, before adding a few overdubs, and the entire production came together within two weeks. Its tight, live feel reflects both the relaxed studio environment and the band’s command of the material. Later, backing vocals were recorded in the Netherlands and during an Australian tour. Though the focus is firmly on the songs, Faulkner’s superb guitar playing really comes into its own on “Back Road”, providing the perfect foil to his vocals as well as delivering a string of great solos. And speaking of vocals, Jaimi Faulkner has a voice to die for, an effortlessly warm, throaty tenor which packs a real emotional punch while never seeming contrived. It lends his self penned songs the rare quality of total conviction and puts him right up there with today’s finest singers.
Which brings us to the songs. Ranging from autobiographical reflections to world-weary observations on the current political environment, the 11 all new compositions on “Back Road” run the gamut from catchy acoustic ballads to straight up rockers, framed by Faulkner’s guitar and Engelsen’s keyboards and underpinned by the punchy rhythm section of Renkema and Adams. These performances underline the fact that Jaimi and his band have been working and playing together for years and they exude that easy assurance born of total familiarity, running together like a well oiled machine. From the evocative atmosphere of 9929 Miles to the dark gospel tinged blues of All My Hope Is Gone, the catchy country pop of Like You Did Back Then to the classic rock’n’roll of I Can’t Hold On or the duelling guitars of the title track, the songs on Back Road show Jaimi Faulkner coming to grips with maturity and pulling all the elements together to realize his potential as a writer, singer, musician and arranger. They represent his most coherent and convincing work to date.
“Back Road” will be released on August 25th by Make My Day Records. Jaimi and his band will be embarking on a 33 date album release tour of Europe and the UK starting in late September.
www.jaimifaulkner.com
“Again a beautiful work by Jaimi Faulkner: the Australian plays his music with great warmth and a fine sense of gentle grooves between Americana, rock and songwriter soul... Back Road focuses on the musical core of the singer and - very experienced - guitarist.”
Jörn Schlüter - Rolling Stone
“A huge talent, reported the press in 2004 when the young Australian presented his Folk, Country, Roots and Rock entered music: sometimes with his trio, sometimes as a soloist purely acoustic. Faulkner has released five albums and is always praised for his catchy, uninhibited songwriting. Again, he plays to his strengths with "Back Road": the sonorous voice, the Australian casualness and keen sense of groove.”
Stefan Woldach - AUDIO
“Very rootsy and soulful: Faulkner demonstrates great finger dexterity on the eleven strong numbers. A slight Country and Americana-touch perfectly rounds off the album.”
MUSIX
“Especially when he’s performing alone with his acoustic
guitar, the music of 27 year old jaimi Faulkner reminds me uncanningly
of Chris Whitley. The slightly coarse mix of folkblues and soul is
definitely there”
Peter Bruyn - Revolver’s Lust for life
“Should he meet the devil himself on a lone street crossing, the latter would gladly sell his soul to this young man, just to be able to play this well”
OOR MAGAZINE
“This Faulkner is Gre---eaaat! I never saw anyone play an accoustic
guitar this well. Absolutely delightful! If he continues like this I
promise him a really big future”
Sytze Braaksma - Radio 1, The Netherlands
“Jaimi Faulkner does everything right. A great voice with an edge and truly viruous guitarplay. Jaimi also succeeds in combining humor and mastery of his instrument”
Thomas Spiekerman - Weekkrant Ede
“For a while Faulkner ignores the microphone and effortlessly silences the crowds to subsequently make them explode. You won’t be disappointed when paying attention to this australian one-man band.”
Blues Magazine
“His voice sands the soul, his playing is of extraordinary class. But it’s not just his fabulous skills on the guitar that make Faulkner the sensation that he is. Anyone seeing Jaimi Faulkner on stage is sold immediately. This kid is going places”
OOR MAGAZINE
“Incredible voice,without a doubt. But it's the combination with his unmatched guitar play that makes Faulkner of extra ordinary class...Unique? Faulkner just might be.
”
Theo Ploeg - Zwartgoud Music Magazine
“This guy knows how to play some great tunes. One of our favorites of the year.”
V-Radio Holversum, Holland
"Naja, der erste Eindruck täuschte vielleicht auch ein wenig, denn zum Auftritt von Jaimi Faulkner, der den Support für Wallis Bird gab hatte war es alles andere als leer. Und dann kommt ein Mann mit Gitarre auf die Bühne und ich verliere ehrlich gesagt schon die Hoffnung auf eine gelungene Einstimmung. Aber weit gefehlt. Jaimi Faulkner rockt den Saal. Zwischendurch frage ich mich ernsthaft, ob die Fans die um mich herum stehen in Wirklichkeit wegen ihm gekommen sind und nicht wegen Wallis Bird. Jedenfalls singen sie mit und jubeln was das Zeug hält. Und Jaimi Faulkner heizt der Menge ein, denn seine Songs erfüllen eigentlich nicht das Klischee eines Singer-Songwriters. Unterstützt wird das ganze davon, dass er in bester Marcus Mumford Manier zur Gitarre eine Basedrum tritt, wenn auch "nur" die elektronische Variante. Selten so einen guten Supportact gesehen!
www.regiomusik.de
"Jaimi faulkner wurde zur große überraschung des Ingolstadt Blues Festival."
Blues News
“Um es gleich zu sagen: Der Mann ist ein Riesentalent: Als Komponist spannender und zugleich eingängiger Songs, als versierter Akustikgitarrist, als bombensicherer Sänger mit sehr ausdrucksstarker Stimme und natürlich auch als überaus sympathischer Entertainer.
Faulkner ist längst dem Status eines Nachwuchsautors entwachsen und auf der Bühne entpuppt er sich als Unterhalter, dem sein Publikum spätestens nach zwei Songs zu Füßen liegt. Sehr geschickt verbindet er seine Fähigkeiten zu einer Show von der sich auch erfahrene Künstler eine Scheibe abschneiden könnten.
”
Karl Leitner - DONAU KURIER
“Every now and then a record comes along that perfectly matches your mood or gives you what your mood requires. This record does that for me it’s a really soothing lovely delightful record.
”
David Reyne - Channel 10 Morning Show w/ David & Kim
“A really nice gutsy soul sound. Excellent!”
Ian 'Dicko' Dickson - Channel 10 Morning Show w/David & Kim
“Smoldering singer-songwriter Blues
”
Patrick Donovan - The AGE Newspaper
“
Ripping conventional blues and roots grooves into confetti and hurling them over the audience, inciting wild yawping, dancing of all sorts”
Sam Fell - Rhythms Magazine
“
Five tracks with the winning ingredients: songs rich in rhythm and melody, passionate playing, arresting vocals and slick production.”
Chris Lambie - Forte magazine
“
What can I say? Great voice, amazing guitar-player-dude, this guy is gonna take over the world! As Molly would say, 'do yourself a favor' and check out J-My live!
”
Sarah Howells - Triple J Radio
