The heart is a strange beast and it knows what it wants. Our spirit thirsts for music that “satisfies our souls” and edifying tunes are exactly what The Dojo, an Atlanta based band, produces. The young band has mastered the art of marrying various genres into what they call “transformative music.” When asked, “How would you describe your sound?”, Jack Preston, a member of the band, responded, “we’re in an era where genres are starting to disappear– we’re hopefully making music that will stand the test of time.” The band was gracious enough to chat with me at The Independent Bar in the heart of midtown Atlanta and by the end of the interview, I had a better understanding of the absolute genius that’s at work when passion for artistry fuses together with the collective bonding of like minds. The fusion makes for an all around transcendent musical experience.
The Dojo [Band]
Jack Preston [musician, multimedia artist]
Micah or MICAHteer [musician, aural-visualist]
Chris “The Cosmic One” Edwards [musician, organic farmer]
Brandon “Mr. Big Strings” Belcher [musician, photographer]
Jordan Washington [drummer, producer]
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Auxiliary Members:
Jaymon “The 5th” Kearney [musician, craftsman]
Born “On The Horn” Foster [musician- trumpeter]
Jon “Jon Bom” Bomarito [musician, producer]
Larry Lambert II [musican- drummer, pianist]
Enoch “Enoch’s Light” DeMar [DJ]
Jay Smart [DJ]
“Creativity comes out in different ways…” —-Micah aka MICAHteer
Live performance of 'Intergalactic Picnic" by The Dojo at Star Bar in Atlanta Ga.
Andrea: I know you all are a part of a larger group of Atlanta artists–The Dojo Collective. Can you tell me a little about how the group came about?
Chris: It started in the mind of Jack more so than anyone else’s. The initial idea was to bring folks together to inspire collaboration. It took the right people to make it work and eventually a group of us moved into a house together. We’re all artists so the goal was to move in together so that we could maintain that creative spirit…the goal was to inspire each other. Things sort of grew from there. Other people we shared a kinship with came along and the group expanded out naturally to include myself [Chris], MICAHteer, Brandon, Jack, and Jordan Washington… We don’t all still live together now, but we keep the spirit of community alive. We’re a bunch of creatives; writers, musicians, even farmers…
Micah: This is the main farmer [pointing to Chris]….[laughs]!
Andrea: So what’s it like in The Dojo?
Jack: One of the cool things about The Dojo is that we don’t keep each other from pursuing individual endeavors. I have a solo record that’s called End of The Future that’s dropping in 2014. Chris and Brandon make their rounds with a lot of notable artists here in Atlanta; Micah is working on some solo material. I like to think we’re like the Wu-Tung Clan but we’re a band as well.
Andrea: Are you all from Georgia?
Micah: I’m from New Orleans.
Andrea: Nice!
Jack: I grew up between Georgia, North Carolina and California.
Chris: I’m from Atlanta
Brandon: I am from Atlanta as well.
Andrea: How would you describe your sound?
Jack: …I would say our sound is a new classic for the 21rst century. When you think of the 20th century, and you think of classic sounds; we’re creating a new classic for our time. It all sounds very vague but the truth is we’re in an era when genres are starting to disappear… we’re making music that will hopefully stand the test of time.
Chris: Our music is transformative.
Micah: [jokingly]. Yea we said it, we claim it [laughs].
Brandon: Yea transformative, trademark!
Andrea: Jack and Micah you two are the vocalists in the band. How long have you all been singing?
Micah: I’ve known I can sing since I was about eight. I grew up being a secret singer. I started a new level of involvement and dedication to the craft when I was in college and my beginnings with The Dojo. It wasn’t until I started singing in The Dojo that a lot of people found out I could sing. I’d been hoarding this thing inside [laughs with a beaming smile].
Jack: I didn’t grow up singing. I started singing around the same time I started playing the guitar which was back in college. It kinda came naturally I guess. I’m an emcee, I can draw, play the guitar, I sing…but I can rap like hell [all around laughter].
Andrea: What’s your hope for the band in 2014?
Chris: The release of EPs, videos, Micah’s and Jack’s stuff.
Jack: We really just wanna get our work out. Our last project was in 2012. The band was a different incarnation then, so we really want to make sure we present something that’s representative of where we are right now….we do a lot so we’re just trying to put material out there. The idea is to introduce ourselves to people while showcasing our various talents. We want people to experience our different worlds.
Brandon: Peace!
For more on the band follow them on tumblr and twitter. Also follow Jack Preston, Micah, Chris and Jordan.
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