JAMIROQUAI IS coming to Portugal to perform at the Super Bock Super Rock Festival this July. The eccentric group has been confirmed to be taking part on July 5.
Having taken the world by storm in the early 90s, Jamiroquai is still seen as being a solo artist, when in fact, it is a band with the longest running members being lead singer and song writer (Jason) Jay Kay and drummer Derrick McKenzie. The creation of Jamiroquai came following Jay Kay’s unsuccessful audition to become lead singer of the Brand New Heavies.
When You Gonna Learn was the band’s first single with the Acid Jazz Label in 1992, the success of which led to an eight album deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The group’s first album with Sony, entitled Emergency on Planet Earth, was released in 1992, but it was the song Space Cowboy on their second album, Return of the Space Cowboy, that gained them acclaim throughout the UK and Western Europe.
Their third album hit the big time, giving Jamiroquai worldwide recognition. Released in 1996, Travelling Without Moving yielded two enormous hits, Cosmic Girl and Virtual Insanity. It was the video clip for the latter single that achieved award-winning status, taking home prizes for Best Video, Best Special Effects, Best Cinematography and Breakthrough Video at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.
Jamiroquai’s sound has evolved since the group’s early days, now having more of a funky edge to it. They have since released Synkronized, A Funk Odyssey, Dynamite and in 2006 released High Times: Singles 1992-2006, a greatest hits collection which featured two new tracks, Runaway and Radio.
“I like the sense of closure it has about it (the greatest hits album),” says Kay. “I’ve closed that chapter of my career and I’m ready to start the next. We’ve already got tracks lined-up that are very different. It feels like the right time, in readiness for the next phase.”
Suzy Turner
