Interview with Jolly Jackers

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

- I've always been interested in music – I started playing when I was 15. Alongside music, I also have a 'civilian' life: I have a degree from a completely different field, and I currently work in that area as well. Still, my dream is to one day make a living solely from music."

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

- I’m also really passionate about gastronomy. In many ways, I find it quite similar to music. There are certain rules that always apply – ones you need to follow and respect – but at the same time, there’s a lot of creative freedom. When you're experimenting with flavors, it's a form of artistic expression. You can play with tastes, textures, colors – there are so many elements you can combine when you're cooking.

How long has your band been around?

- The band was formed in January 2013, and I joined later that same year.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

- The band was formed in Dunaújváros, which is an industrial city, but from the very beginning, we've had members coming from different parts of the country. That dynamic has always had an impact on our creative process. I believe this diversity has always been one of our defining traits – everyone brought their own world and perspective into the music.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

- Our band name mostly doesn’t have a deeper meaning. It just sounded good and fit well with the imagery connected to our style. Plus, there’s Jack — the skeleton on our logo — who’s as old as we are, and who knows how long he’s been in a skeletal state! :D By the way, Jack comes to life and even dances in the music video for our song 'Devil'."

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

- For me, it’s always the recent concerts that leave the strongest impression, and those are the ones I try to fully experience and store in my memories. But looking back, 13 years and over 400 shows have created countless memories. Some of the most defining moments for me were our first performance at the Sziget Festival — which is one of Hungary’s biggest and most important festivals — as well as playing at the Paaspop Festival in the Netherlands. Still, one of my fondest memories is our very first concert in the summer of 2013, which we played for about 20 people in our garage.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

- I really like playing at A38 in Budapest — it’s a concert ship on the Danube, and we’ve played there several times. It’s an iconic venue. Of course, there are big goals that are still dreams for now, like playing at the Nova Rock Festival, for example.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

- Definitely some of the greats of the genre like Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, and Fiddler's Green. To mention some of the big Hungarian names, Paddy And The Rats and Firkin would be awesome. And just to throw in a few of my personal favorites — though I don't want to sound too ambitious! — maybe RHCP and Limp Bizkit. I think we'd have a pretty great day together!

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

- I’d say it’s important to find yourself in the music, stay open-minded, and listen to as wide a variety of music as possible. Play as many gigs as you can — stage experience is really important — and always do everything in music out of love. If I were to give advice to my younger self, it would definitely be to practice more. You can never practice enough.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

- Deaf and Dumb' is a very important song for me because I wrote it with a therapeutic intention. It helped me process a lot, and I’m really glad that Rea decided to re-record it in the studio. Having this fresh version available on all our streaming platforms means a lot to me, as it gives the song new life and a chance to reach more people.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which gets requested the most?

- I always enjoy playing our newest songs the most. Right now, that’s 'Weird Ones,' which will be on our upcoming album and so far is only available live from us. As for the most requested songs, definitely 'Sobriety' and 'Whiskey' are fan favorites.

What is the creative process like for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

- Usually, Mark brings the backbone of the music to the band, and Rea writes most of the lyrics. Of course, I also contribute both songs and lyrics myself. Our creative process typically starts with someone bringing a rough draft, which the band members then shape on their own instruments. Each person is responsible for their own part, and together we build the final arrangement.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

- As time goes by, we take things more seriously. We like to deal with deeper topics: life’s challenges, handling difficulties and emotions, and frustrations caused by the things surrounding us — whether that’s social issues or world politics.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

- 13 years have brought a lot of friction and many changes. I believe we’ve always tried to handle these situations as maturely as possible. When cooperation started to suffer — whether in the creative process or personal relationships — it usually ended with someone leaving the band.This was usually the last resort. Most of who left due to personal reasons or changes in their life circumstances."

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

- Our new single will be released on Spotify in about two weeks, before November, so I recommend you stay tuned! At the end of the year, we'll go into the studio to record our new full-length album, which will come out in spring 2026. Until then, we have festivals lined up for the summer and a Czech-German club tour planned for the fall.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

FACEBOOK | OFFICIAL VIDEOS | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE| TIKTOK