For several years, J*Davey has been on the precipice of ‘making it.’ There’s been significant buzz built around the Los Angeles-based duo for some time, however, like with many things in this world, things don’t often go according to planned. After spending several years stuck in neutral on Warner Bros. Records, J*Davey recently released their first album, New Designer Drug, independently. If that’s not enough, former BestNewBands.com staff writer Rebecca Haithcoat wrote the liner notes for much anticipated record.

Brianna Cartwright, aka Jack Davey, and producer Brook D’Leau have known each other for some time, in fact, their chance encounter at Davey’s high school prom is what led to the fruitful partnership that became J*Davey. D’Leau was at the prom with one of Davey’s friends and they were together in a big group that would hang out. A year later, D’Leau mentioned that he was working on some music at his dad’s studio and Davey had recording music since she was a child, so the duo serendipitously started collaborating after he asked her to come record some music and everything blossomed from there.

Though both went to college early (Davey for cinematography and D’Leau for computer animation), music was the art form that both pursued as their respective careers.

The duo’s sound blends elements of alternative hip-hop, alternative rock, soul, electronica, fusion, jazz, punk, funk, new wave and R&B. It’s probably difficult to envision or imagine a sound as far ranging as this, but not only does J*Davey make it work, they’ve built a large cult following because of this and their dynamic live performances.

Outside of the music, the group is influenced by a number of other types of art.  Their eclectic, diverse sound comes from their wide range of inspirational figures, albeit in other types of art. “We draw a lot from fashion photography mainly,” Davey said. “But mostly it’s things that we see, either online or in books, specifically Edgar Allen Poe.”

“I draw a lot from film,” D’Leau said. “I watch a lot of Netflix movies when I’m home, so it could be something like in a specific movie, be it a character or scene, about the mood and personality of that thing that puts me in a place where I can hear music. Stuff like that is inspirational.”

Davey and D’Leau have performed with some of the biggest names in music, including being personally invited to open for Prince at his 3121 Club. However, there’s one band that the duo has learned valuable lessons from.

“The Roots,” they both say simultaneously. But D’Leau continues, “?uestlove to be more specific. The Roots family is pretty widespread and we’ve learned bits and pieces from all of them, but ?uestlove had the biggest learning the process. We can’t forget about Prince either, he’s a legend and it was amazing to open for him.”

J*Davey signed with Warner in 2007, but as previously stated, got caught in the major label machine. They began work on an album, which I’ve been hearing about for sometime, which the outfit joked was like their Chinese Democracy, however, it took a quarter of the time to be released than the fabled Guns N Roses album.

 

“It’s so freeing, and its like having a 10 pound weight lifted off your shoulders,” Davey said. “There was a point in time where we never thought it would see the light of day. To be able to complete something and put it out independently after so much back-and-forth craziness, it feels great.”

D’Leau puts it better. “It was like waiting to give birth to a baby for four years,” he said.

Without having to deal with the shackles that a major label would have on their creative process, the tandem was able to regain control of what their vision of their sound would be.  They collaborated with producer Greg Wells on New Designer Drug, who has a major influence on the group’s sound and focus.

“He’s an amazing producer and I don’t know if we would have been able to finish the project without his guidance,” Davey said. “He broadened our horizons in terms of being a writer and a producer. His hand in our career has been invaluable.”

As for 2012, expect big things from J*Davey. The band’s acclaimed live show will be out in full force just like in 2011, when the duo was on the road for 7 months. But just because it took them four years to release this album, they don’t plan on waiting that long to release their follow-up. “We can’t wait to release as much as music as possible, especially after having to wait as long as we did to put out this one,” Davey said. “We’ll be beating people over the head with content.”

Photos bu Moes Mitchell.