Steve Jansen

Last updated

Steve Jansen
Stevejansen5354.jpg
Jansen in 2017
Background information
Birth nameStephen Batt
Born (1959-12-01) 1 December 1959 (age 64)
Origin Sydenham, London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Drums
  • electronic percussion
  • keyboards
  • sampler
Years active1974–present
Labels
Member of Exit North
Formerly of
Website stevejansen.net
Steve Jansen autograph Quiet Life (1980).jpg
Steve Jansen's signature (c. 1980)

Steve Jansen (born Stephen Ian Batt, born 1 December 1959) is an English musician, composer and record producer. [1]

Contents

Biography

Jansen was a founding member of the band Japan, along with his brother David Sylvian (vocals, guitars and keyboards) and Mick Karn (bass guitar), having met in Catford. [2] [3] Japan began as an amateur band in 1974, and the trio were later joined by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean (guitar). [2] Their first studio album entitled Adolescent Sex was released in 1978, followed by Obscure Alternatives the same year. [4] Both albums saw polarized reviews and poor sales domestically in the UK, but were commercially successful overseas. [5] The band's third album Quiet Life marked a significant departure from their original alternative glam rock style, with the change in sound causing them to be associated with the New Romantic movement by critics, though this was repeatedly rejected by the members themselves. [6] Virgin Records released Japan's final studio albums, Gentlemen Take Polaroids and Tin Drum , while the band had their last live performance on 16 December 1982. Japan suffered from personal and creative clashes and decided to split during a period when they were beginning to experience significant commercial success both in their native UK and internationally. The band briefly reunited in 1991 under the name Rain Tree Crow and released a self-titled album. [4] [7]

After Japan's break up, Jansen recorded with bandmate Richard Barbieri under the name Jansen/Barbieri and released an instrumental album Worlds in a Small Room and later (Catch the Fall) as the Dolphin Brothers, with Jansen handling lead vocals as well as drums and percussion. [8]

In 1991, Jansen, Barbieri, and Karn formed Medium Productions as a venue for releasing their own music, as well as releases by other artists. [9]

Jansen has worked as a session musician and in collaboration with a wide range of international artists, such as Yukihiro Takahashi and Italian singer-songwriter Alice. He collaborated with David Sylvian and Burnt Friedman on the Nine Horses project, [10] which has given birth to one album and one extended play CD released through Sylvian's record label Samadhi Sound. Jansen performed with Sylvian during his live tours, [11] playing drums and percussion.

He released his first solo album, entitled Slope in 2007. [12] Regarding the creative process behind the album, Jansen stated that he "approached composition attempting to avoid chord and song structures and the usual familiar building blocks. Instead I wanted to piece together unrelated sounds, music samples, rhythms and 'events' in an attempt to deviate from my own trappings as a musician." [13] The album was released on Samadhi Sound, and features Sylvian in a "bluesy" duet with Joan Wasser, and contributions by Anja Garbarek, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, Thomas Feiner and Nina Kinert. On 15 April 2016 Jansen released a second solo album entitled Tender Extinction via Bandcamp and other digital music retailers. [14]

Jansen has continued to work on new compositions, some of which he has released as standalone tracks, and continues to be in demand as a producer and collaborator, working with musicians across a range of genres. A recent re-release of the 1995 Jansen/Barbieri album Stone to Flesh includes a new track entitled "Map of Falling," composed by the two musicians in 2015. [15]

During his time with Japan, Jansen dabbled in photography, documenting the band and their transient lifestyle. [16] He held small-scale photographic exhibitions in Tokyo and London during 1982 and 1983, respectively. A selection of these images are available on his website. In October 2015, Steve released a book of his photography entitled Through a Quiet Window through the Japanese publisher Artes Publishing. [17]

Jansen maintained a Tumblr blog under the username of "Sleepyard" as an additional avenue to publish his photography and answer fan questions, but wrote a post on in April 2016 stating that he would no longer maintain it, citing his displeasure with the platform as a whole. [18] Later in the same month, Jansen re-launched his blog through WordPress.

In 2014, Jansen formed a new musical project, Exit North, with three Swedish musicians Charlie Storm, Ulf Jansson and Thomas Feiner. They worked together in Charlie Storm's studio in Gothenburg, and the album was released on 1 October 2018, called Book of Romance and Dust. [19] Exit North played live in Tokyo, Japan, on 27 September 2019. [20] In 2020, Exit North released a new single, Let the Hearts Desire. Their second album, Anyway, Still, was released on 14 April 2023. [21]

Views

Jansen is an atheist [22] and describes astrology as "almost as bonkers as religion." [23]

Discography

Solo albums

with Japan

with Rain Tree Crow

with Jansen/Barbieri

with Jansen/Barbieri/Karn

with The Dolphin Brothers

with Jansen/Barbieri/Takemura

with Nine Horses

with Yukihiro Takahashi

(also appears as guest drummer on several Takahashi releases)

with D'Agostino/Foxx/Jansen

with Exit North

with David Sylvian

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japan (band)</span> English new wave band

Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian, Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn, joined the following year by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean. Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Sylvian</span> English musician (born 1958)

David Sylvian is an English musician, singer and songwriter who came to prominence in the late 1970s as frontman and principal songwriter of the band Japan. The band's androgynous look and increasingly electronic sound made them an important influence on the UK's early-1980s New Romantic scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Karn</span> Musical artist

Andonis Michaelides, better known as Mick Karn, was an English-Cypriot musician and songwriter who rose to fame as the bassist for the art rock/new wave band Japan. His distinctive fretless bass guitar sound and melodic playing style were a trademark of the band's sound.

The Dolphin Brothers were a new wave/alternative band featuring Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri, both previously of the band Japan. The band released one album, Catch the Fall in 1987, featuring Jansen on drums, percussion, keyboards and lead vocals, and Barbieri on keyboards and synthesizers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Barbieri</span> English musician

Richard Barbieri is an English musician, composer and sound designer. Originally a member of new wave band Japan, more recently he is known as the keyboard player in the progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, which he joined in 1993. Aside from the founder Steven Wilson, he is the longest tenured member of Porcupine Tree.

JBK or Jansen Barbieri Karn, is the name by which former Japan and Rain Tree Crow band members Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri and Mick Karn have recorded several albums of music, all released by their own Medium Productions label, between 1993 and 2001.

<i>Brilliant Trees</i> 1984 studio album by David Sylvian

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<i>Tin Drum</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Japan

Tin Drum is the fifth and final studio album by English band Japan, released in November 1981 by Virgin Records. It peaked at No. 12 on the UK charts, and featured the top 5 single "Ghosts". It has received acclaim as the band's best and most original work.

<i>Gentlemen Take Polaroids</i> 1980 studio album by Japan

Gentlemen Take Polaroids is the fourth studio album by the English band Japan, released in November 1980 by Virgin Records.

<i>Quiet Life</i> 1979 studio album by Japan

Quiet Life is the third studio album by English new wave band Japan, first released on 7 December 1979 in Canada, Japan and The Netherlands by record label Hansa and on 18 January 1980 in the UK.

<i>Obscure Alternatives</i> 1978 studio album by Japan

Obscure Alternatives is the second studio album by English new wave band Japan, released in October 1978 by record label Hansa.

<i>Oil on Canvas</i> 1983 live album by Japan

Oil on Canvas is a live album by the English band Japan, released in June 1983 by Virgin Records. It was released six months after the band had broken up, and became their highest charting album in the UK, peaking at number 5. It has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.

<i>Rain Tree Crow</i> 1991 studio album by Rain Tree Crow

Rain Tree Crow is the sole album released by English band Rain Tree Crow, a reunion project by the members of the new wave band Japan. Recorded in 1989 and 1990 and released in April 1991, it was the first time that members David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri had collaborated as a four-piece since 1982. The album peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Everything and Nothing</i> 2000 compilation album by David Sylvian

Everything and Nothing is a compilation album by David Sylvian. Released in October 2000, the album contains previously released and unreleased, re-recorded, and alternate versions of tracks from Sylvian's twenty years with Virgin Records. The record peaked at no.57 in the UK albums chart.

Samadhi Sound is an independent record label founded by singer and musician David Sylvian after his departure from Virgin Records in the late nineties.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightporter</span> 1982 single by Japan

"Nightporter" is a song by English new wave band Japan. The song originally featured on the band's fourth album Gentlemen Take Polaroids in 1980. However, it was then remixed by Steve Nye and released as a single in November 1982. The single peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Art of Parties</span> 1981 single by Japan

The Art of Parties is a song by the British band Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Son (Japan song)</span> 1982 single by Japan

"European Son" is a song by the British band Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gentlemen Take Polaroids (song)</span> 1980 single by Japan

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References

  1. "Steve Jansen | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 "A Beginner's Guide To JAPAN - The Electricity Club". The Electricity Club. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  3. STEVE., BINNIE (2014). SOUND OF THE CROWD - A DISCOGRAPHY OF THE '80S (THIRD EDITION). [S.l.]: LULU COM. pp. 157–159. ISBN   978-1326073589. OCLC   1032351265.
  4. 1 2 Cowley, Jason (9 April 2005). "Turning Japanese". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  5. Cartwright, Garth (5 January 2011). "Mick Karn obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  6. "Rolling Stone Random Notes", The Tuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa, AL, p. 6, 17 July 1981
  7. The rough guide to rock. Buckley, Peter, 1971- (3rd ed., expanded and completely rev ed.). London: Rough Guides. 2003. pp.  533–4. ISBN   1843531054. OCLC   59305933.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "Lost Albums: THE DOLPHIN BROTHERS Catch The Fall - The Electricity Club". The Electricity Club. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  9. "Steve Jansen biography". Stevejansen.com. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  10. Peschek, David (6 October 2005). "Nine Horses, Snow Borne Sorrow". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  11. "David Sylvian, Royal Festival Hall, London" . The Independent. 24 September 2007. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  12. Walters, John L. (7 December 2007). "Steve Jansen, Slope". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  13. "Steve Jansen, Slope". Slope.stevejansen.com. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  14. Jansen, Steve. "Tender Extinction". Bandcamp.
  15. "Steve Jansen discography". Stevejansen.com. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  16. "Book Review: Steve Jansen's Through A Quiet Window". movingtheriver.com. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  17. "A Short Conversation with STEVE JANSEN - The Electricity Club". The Electricity Club. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  18. Jansen, Steve. "Tumblr post by Jansen". Sleepyard. Tumblr. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016.
  19. "A B O U T". Exitnorthmusic.com. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  20. "Exit North Setlist at Billboard Live TOKYO, Tokyo". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  21. "Anyway, Still release date". Exit North Music. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  22. Jansen, Steve. "Answer to question regarding religious beliefs". Sleepyard. Tumblr. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  23. Jansen, Steve. "Answer to question regarding belief in astrology". Sleepyard. Tumblr. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.