We were really impressed with the latest album from the Dannish band Jomi Massage. Because we were so blown away, we wanted to know more about Signe Hoirup Wille-Jorgensen the woman behind Jomi Massage so we asked her some questions! Here you can read the interview with Jomi Massage.

Could you first tell us something about yourself? Who are you and where are you from?

I am an Copenhagen based artist called Jomi Massage and Signe Høirup Wille-Jørgensen, depending on what I do and what name is suitable. I make music, play guitar/keys etc. and sing, sometimes I make different shapes of art and exhibitions. I write political columns for the biggest newspaper in Denmark. I like interfering and have done that for 33 years.

Before you started with Jomi Massage you have been playing in two other bands, Murmur and Speaker Bite Me. Can you tell us something about this period in your live and how did you get involved?

I still play in Speaker Bite Me. We just made a fantastic album called "Action Painting”. My rock background in music started as a teenager, sitting in a rehearsal room, spliffing away, watching the boys playing. One day the first Breeders album “Pod” was released. I heard it, found out it was women playing and the sound was so drawing and simple. So I thought: I want to do that and started making songs and never stopped. First in Murmur, then Speaker Bite Me, then Jomi Massage. I do all kinds of sounds now. I play with Big Bands, classical trained musicians... Jomi is a messy and busy lady. But I like not belonging to a scene and spread myself as far in and out of musical landscapes as possible.

Where those bands very different then Jomi Massage?
 
They are all full of love to music. In Jomi Massage I am the leader.
 
You started Jomi Massage in 2000, was this also a turning point in your live? And what was the main reason to start a new band? 

I needed to find out what kind of music I would create, if I was the boss. I had worked in bands of democracy and with mainly men. I needed to get in tune with a pure feminine expression and to see what I would do being on my own.

Did Jomi Massage change over the last 6 years?

She does not do anything else than changing. That’s her thing. You can never be certain what she is up to. Jomi is for music lovers who have no need of control or needs to learn a lesson or two about it.

When I first heard the name Jomi Massage, I thought: “Wow, that’s a really strange name for a band.” It is a massage device from the ‘60’s. Why did you choose this name?
 
A massage device is meant for relieving tension. That is my mission to. I want to relief tensions made by thoughts and heart by describing and attacking them with music.

What artists have inspired you the most and did this change over the years?

I can't pin things out like that. It is one big mess of music, art, newspapers, books and conversations. But “lectures on silence” by John Cage and the Samuel Becket quote “Fail again, fail better” are both very important to me. Patti Smith I call mum...

Inspiration never changes. You maybe just get less afraid of being openly inspired as you get older and don’t need the originality kick. Originality is overrated in music. Its a lie.

The album Aloud is really divers, sometimes it can be very loud and sometimes really quiet, it also can be very emotional. Does this in a way reflect your personality? Or is it maybe that you have a lot of energy which you want to get rid off.

This record is, in music, build up the same way as all people in the western part of the world. We believe in loud/quite, black/white, cold/warm. I thought that making the music change in these known shapes, would make it easier for people to recognize the feelings in themselves.

Do you have any Scandinavian bands you like at the moment or we should hear of?

Wildbirds & Peacedrums are new Swedish favorites. Tys Tys is always a Danish darling. Check out my label site morningsiderecords.dk – lots of great bands.

What can we expect in the future from Jomi Massage?

I will re-record my latest English album “From where no one belongs, I will sing...” with a group of classical and very weird people. I will tour with Speaker Bite Me. I will finish off an album I have done with a wonderful Danish poet. In other words, Jomi will keep on going straight.

More information:
http://www.jomimassage.dk/