How was your first time playing a Punk Black show?
Ah dude it was amazing I think the first one was in Melbourne? I’m pretty sure. I just remember being so excited to like be platformed by a group I’m so aligned with. Like idk how did chocolate feel meeting peanut butter?
How did your song ‘Gardens’ come about?
Ooh this is interesting so Gardens is the first song I wrote, in like 2017. My friend Jackson Hamme of the Telescreens was fooling around with a chord progression and I started humming a melody that would become Gardens, I then promptly forgot then rewrote the chord progression and the rest was history
Which city do you want to play that you haven’t yet, and why?
Hmm I think Chicago maybe, or the DMV. Both have a rich history of black art making AND rock n roll so I’m eager to get to the fans out there and be a part of that lineage
What or who are your inspirations?
Jimi Hendrix, Frank Ocean, and Stevie Wonder are my big 3 and King Krule is a close 4. More broadly I’m inspired by the lineage of Black American music we kinda invented everything and that really inspires me
Which artists have you been bumping on your playlist?
Ooh okay so the UK rapper/singer Len; His song CHAKRa is definitely triple platinum in my phone. I been vibing with Katseye too lowkeyyyy, what can I say sometimes the formula hitssss but yeah some playlist staples for me are The Sundays, Slowdive, Robert Glasper, Pavement and Japanese bands like Number Girl, Mass of the fermenting dregs or Tricot!!
We need your top 5 anime!
You’ve activated my trap card😈 okay *cracks knuckles*
FMA: Brotherhood (peak everything run time, soundtrack, design, animation); truly cannot be fucked with
JJK; y’all it’s the TRUTH I’m tryna tell you
Durarara ; it’s like Jazz but anime
One Piece & Naruto [PRE TIMESKIP], my two most formative anime they’ll share a spot cos I’m specifically talking about the first half of each series (the other halves? Let’s talk manga)
And last but not least
I’d say Samurai Champloo, it is just BRIMMING with sauce and like by the time you get to the end it is genuinely upsetting that there isn’t more of it to watch it all wraps up nicely but still you just don’t wanna let it go ya know? Great stuff
HM: Kekkai Sensen (peek animation) Devilman Crybaby (most impactful anime I’ve seen, couldn’t sleep for a week prolly will never watch again lol)
What can people expect from Pilot Jonezz in 2026?
My follow up project; Better Luck Next Time! fresh music, videos, and merch!
Do you have any words or advice for young black artists coming up?
Hmm embrace the learning curve and leap, learn that instrument , start that band, host that jam. Be a beginner! be “bad” at it we need more of us out here. I will also say that like it’s your life and your art no one’s gonna make it for you and people tend to prefer joining in on a train that’s already rolling so get rolling!
