“No One Can Declare Rock Dead — Just the Listeners”: An Interview with James, Vocalist of Jayler

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I used to believe that rock music was dead — or at least quietly living out its retirement years. Then one day I turned off my usual playlist and discovered a huge number of new names. Still, the skeptic inside me kept whispering, “It used to be better.” Even hours spent listening to modern heavy albums couldn’t silence that voice. So I decided to speak with representatives of the new wave of rock to understand who they really are, what rock music means to them, and how they deal with criticism. This is a conversation with James Bartholomew, the vocalist of the British band Jayler — and it challenges stereotypes about Gen Z in rock.

About Jayler

For a deeper look at the band’s background and their place in the contemporary rock scene, **you can read my previous feature.**

Rock Isn’t Dead — Just Underground

[embed]Jayler — Riverboat Queen (Official Live Video)

Rock is often said to have died in the 2000s. James sees it differently:

— I would say that rock hasn’t died. It has definitely taken a little more of an underground route, as in the sense of the rock bands that came out in the late 2000s were more like emo punk bands. And so they were classed as the rock stars of the early 2000s and the late 2000s. But I think there’s definitely some re-surge of rock and roll from the 60s and 70s. I’m seeing it on social media and there’s loads of artists that come out and kind of making that genre popular again. So I don’t think anyone has the authority to declare a genre alive or dead, just the listeners.

Even when faced with critics who dismiss new bands as secondary or unoriginal, the attitude is simple:

— I don’t really give in to the rock snobbery. The rest of the guys don’t either. We just take it as it is and don’t pay it much attention. I don’t care for that opinion.

Old School Roots, Modern Perspectives

Jayler’s sound is a collision of different influences, blending classic rock traditions with the distinct voices of its members.

— Okay. With that, obviously a lot of our inspirations are from the 60s and 70s and a little bit of the 80s as well. But there’s also so many different roots there besides classic rock. So Ed’s a big fan on soul and disco and he’s our drummer. Our bass player, Ricky, he’s big into Motown and kind of that jazzier stuff. I’m into my country folk music and Tyler’s into his 80s hair metal. So we’ve all got different genres that collide together and make what Jayler is. And I think to say it has a modern perspective in the sense of lyrics, yes, definitely. But not sound-wise, I don’t think, because we feel like that sound needs reviving. So we definitely have that kind of sound that we’re going for.

As Gen Z musicians, they approach rock differently, bringing new life and a sense of unity:

— Back in the late 70s and 80s, rock was shown as rebellion. And you would listen to a certain band to kind of rebel against something. But in this day and age, I don’t think there’s much to rebel against nowadays. Everyone’s rebelling in their own way and making their own kind of separate groups and cliques and all that. So I think with our music, it’s about bringing these people who are in their separate groups together. And instead of fighting against each other about what our beliefs are and what should we call each other, you know, it should just be about being human and being as one.

Moments of Realization

They are aware of the impact their music can have:

— Yeah, I think the rock scene right now. And yeah, there was a couple moments, sorry. Like Stone Dead Festival and Steel House and all these big festivals are playing. And now we’re getting added to bigger bills around Brazil and Deep Purple and Sammy Hagar and Joan Jett, those kind of things. It’s just like, we’re going to bring this sound that people haven’t heard for a while, or not in the mainstream way, in that sense, and give it kind of refresh the meaning of what it once was, you know, the 70s and 60s was about peace, love and unity and micro dosing and just having a good time. But this version is our Jayler version is more about peace, love and unity and everyone getting on just, yeah, just being as one.

What Makes Music Unique Today

In a crowded and noisy rock scene, meaning matters:

— I think lyrics should be truly meaningful, not just like the old blues songs I love — “I left my baby, my baby left me” kind of stuff. When I first listened to John Denver, I thought it was all about trucks and beer, but he’s actually one of the most poetic songwriters I’ve heard, same with Bob Dylan. Music today can feel quite samey, so it’s nice to bring something different to festivals and radio.

Stagecraft and image are part of the formula:

— Yeah, okay. I think a rock band should be 50–50–50% sound, 50% looks. You’re there to see a show. Some bands do it with pyro, some without, but stagecraft and interacting with the audience are important. Still, the sound should matter more than the image. At the end of the day, if you’re not entertaining the crowd and creating the moment, they won’t remember the show — and that’s how you get forgotten.

Staying True to the Core

They refuse to compromise the essentials:

— Yes, there are a few things we don’t want to give up, like showing off the band members with solos and their true musicianship, and never making a song shorter than four minutes. It’s just not who we are. We like to push each song to its limits, exploring every nook and cranny, so nothing important gets left out. We expand the song as much as needed to get the message across.

Looking Ahead

For the future, they hope to revive the spirit of classic rock’s ideals:

— Yeah, for that question, I’d love to see the whole 60s and 70s peace, love, and unity thing come back, because that’s what we stand for as Jayler. It’s about being together as one, instead of getting caught up in these stupid fights. The 60s and 70s are a big inspiration to us, and I’d definitely love to see that spirit return.

Fan Community and New Music

Jayler also engage with fans through their interactive online community: **The Voices**, where listeners can connect, share experiences, and get behind-the-scenes access to the band’s projects.

The band has also released “Down Below” - the first single from their new album Voices Unheard

[embed]Jayler — Down Below