#straightjacketnation

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Straightjacket Nation - Maggotfest Saturday 29/10, Tote Viper Bar.

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STRAIGHTJACKET NATION - live at The Tote (Melb). Showing as part of VHS FOREVER at the Mercury Cinema 19/10 in Adelaide, curated by Capital Waste Pictures.

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#straightjacketnation #nowplaying

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PUNK MUM: AN INTERVIEW WITH EMILY JANS OF STRAIGHTJACKET NATION

Emily Jans is unreal - on top of being lethal in Straightjacket Nation & more recently for a stint in Miss Destiny, she’s also a retired boxer, runs an organic fruit & veg business & has just become a ROCK N’ ROLL PARENT together with her other half, Dave ‘Gash’ Kovess (Guitarist for SJN). Over the years Emily has gotten the reputation for not only being one of the best drummers in the country, but also for just being a gorge gal to hang out with; thoughtful and strong-minded, with the kind of work ethic that makes her more than cut out to kill it as a hot mum. I had a chat with Emily about being a sick chick, taking care of all aspects of buis & life since her lovely son Vinnie joined us.

What are you, Dave & Vin up to this week?

Just chillin. Visitors are coming around to meet the Vinster plus we’re just getting used to taking care of a little person.

How is Vinnie enjoying his stay on planet earth so far?

He’s slowly getting used to it but hasn't liked it all that much so far. He must have liked hitching a ride listening to me stressin out at work, getting fed intravenously and not having a care in the world. So far, his likes are breast milk, being bounced, pats on the bum and sleeping in people’s arms. His dislikes are everything else.

What star sign is Vinnie? + Do you believe in the significance of ‘signs etc?

Yeah, I do believe in star signs so thankfully, mine and Dave’s signs are compatible with Vinnie who is a Virgo.

Has Vinnie met Mr and Mrs Kromosom’s son Levi yet?

Yes, Levi and Vinnie have met. Vinnie was pretty much sleeping the whole time and while Levi pointed at him, he was more interested in our cat Yoda and kinda pissed that he wasn’t the centre of attention. 

Can you explain why you decided against having a baby shower? 

Haha, you never stopped hassling me for one! I just wanted to keep it all on the down low – didn't want to make a fuss plus I was so busy during the pregnancy that there was no time to think about it.

Who’s Vinnie most looking forward to checking out at Maggotfest this year?

I reckon Vinnie would just wanna see Straightjacket Nation and Miss Destiny (both not playing) cos he knows those songs really well but he defo wants mum and dad to check out Hank Wood and Crazy Spirit.

Was being pregnant hell annoying?

Yep. I managed to get through and work up until 37 weeks but yep, I was so over it. Tired, uncomfortable, bored, I am so used to being in control of my body but I had no control at all being pregnant – fluid retention, crazy hormones, internal organs squished up, having to piss all through the night, sore back blah blah, the list goes on and on and only people that have been through it will understand. So many things…

In true Jans fashion, you recorded drums on the forthcoming Miss Destiny LP while (how many months?) pregnant & probably got up and worked at 5am the next morning. As someone who always has a million things on the go & has a very ‘TCB’ attitude, was it a struggle for you to chill the hell out for the final stint of the pregnancy?

Definitely. I'm a determinedly independent person so needing Dave to put my shoes and socks on was a massive blow to my ego. Miss Destiny recorded when I was about 5.5 months and SJN recorded at about 7 months but I actually didn’t have that much trouble playing drums, I was dreading it but when I got on the kit I was alright – you know, the powerhouse I am, haha. I had heaps of stuff on the go during pregnancy – wanting to get it all finished – with bands, work, moving house and other stuff. So yeah, it was a real struggle to take a step back from everything and just chill out and wait for Vinnie cos I was so used to being busy. After I stopped work I continued doing some things from home, Dan [Stewart, my co-worker and singer for SJN] actually texted me while I was still lying on the table after giving birth asking me where to get some product for the shop. I just texted him back with a picture of Dave holding the baby! I had trouble slowing down late in pregnancy cos I like to be busy and productive but by week 38 I was pretty fucked – needed to lie around on the couch all day, totally bored but CBF having visitors cos I just wanted to lounge around half naked.

What advice would you give to any hard rockin gals who are considering becoming a mum?

Totally do it if that’s your thing. I never really fancied kids that much, never really liked babies but I’m smitten with my little one and now I really like babies! I’ll get back jamming as soon as I can (which won’t be too long) so it’s not like having a baby has to turn your life upside down. I’ve never been much of a party animal but I guess for the rock chicks who like to get loose, that’s one thing that would have to ease up.  

How old were you when you first started going to punk shows in Melbourne & how would you say the local scene has changed btwn then and now?

I started going to shows in 1997 so I was about 14 or 15. I reckon the main thing that has changed is the scene has gotten so much bigger that line ups don’t need to be diverse, you can just play shows in your own little niche scene. When I started going to shows,straightedge youth crew bands were playing with drunk crust bands at all age venues. Now I guess also there’s a real lack of all ages venues which means most gigs are in bars and there’s no kids. Scenes are so niche in Melbourne these days that you don’t even hear about shows and bands in other small (but different) scenes that you would probably have played with 15 years ago.

Which of the newer bands in Melbourne are you feelin the most ATM?

Definitely GROTTO, I haven’t really heard any other new band lately. Do I need to be schooled? I hope so.

You are physically probably the strongest person I'm mates with. I’ll never forget the first time you hugged me & feeling actually scared, hahaha. Have you gotten into any memorable brawls in your time? 

No, no fights outside the ring. I’m a lover, you know…

Can you give me a brief history of your boxing career + what made you realise it was time to stop competing? I did about 7 pro kickboxing fights before I switched to boxing - that's 'pro' as in you're not wearing protective padding, not 'pro' as in you're getting paid. Then I did about 13 amateur boxing fights - 'amatuer' as in the league where you qualify for the Olympics. I guess what made me stop training was I realised I had lost the love for what I was doing and was just functioning on autopilot. I probably should have done a couple of things differently and I maybe wouldn't have fallen out of love with it but ah well, it's really not everything. I got so consumed by it when I was training that I forgot that. It's taken this long to remember.

Is there a SJN gig locked in for the coming months?

Think we’ll start jamming in the new year. I need a good break and have some things on the go before I get back on the kit so early next year we’ll get the record out and play a few shows.

I remember you saying that you couldn't wait 'til Vinnie was born so you could get drunk, or ‘break edge’ as some people in the punk circle call it. What was the first drink you went for?

Well, I broke edge years ago but I was hanging out real bad to unwind with a couple of drinks, not even get pissed but just have the freedom to drink as much or as little as I want and cos I felt so exhausted, I just really wanted to wind down with a coupla happy hour cocktails and float away. Anyway, after about 36 weeks, I started having the occasional cider and it was pure delight – just enough to take the edge off. Even now, I gotta be sensible or the little guy will be boozing on the tit.   

Do you have a regular babysitter locked in for when you & Dave Gash need to play a show, or have a romantic night on the town?

Tonnes. Vinnie is the first grandchild on both sides of the family so there’s plenty of family, plus friends to babysit.

Is Vinnie vegetarian, vegan or TBC?

Vinnie is vegan but we’ll see how we go in the future. Ultimately, I’d like to raise him vegan and he can make the decision for himself when he’s old enough.

Do you reckon when he grows up Vinnie is gonna be; a) a punk b) a crusty c) a hard rocker, or d) all of the above

Can I say a) and c) together? I hope I didn’t turn him off music all together by blasting him whilst jamming with MD and SJN in utero. Was relieved when he passed the newborn hearing test.

If you had to choose a punk song which title best describes your experience with pregnancy, what would it be?

Not a punk song but how about Queen – Fat Bottomed Girls…

Dyin to know - What are your all time fave albums?

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory Avengers – Compilation album The Clash – Self titled The Saints – (I’m) Stranded

Other notable mentions: Frenzal Rhomb – Not So Tough Now; Limpwrist – S/T; RIP/ESKORBUTO split LP;  Propagandhi – How To Clean Everything;  Australian Crawl – Reckless 1979-1995;  AC/DC – High Voltage;  Black Flag – Damaged.

Do you think you’ll ever have another kid?

I generally don’t like only children and I want Vinnie to have a friend so I think yes but when I was in labour I was definitely thinking “fuck ever doing this again”.

Do you think this new blog I'm working on is gonna be a success? Y/N/unsure?

Classico, lock it in.

And Finally - Is there anyone you’d like to give a shout out to before we wrap this one up?

I’d like to thank Dave Gash for giving me my lil Vinnie.

~END~ Click here to listen to Straightjacket Nation

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#bitterend #integrity #thedeadwalk #straightjacketnation