His Clancyness started as a solo project of Jonathana Clancy. Jonatan grew up living in Canada and Italy. Is surely effected his life and created specific musical expression that is mixture od 60's and 70's American sound with European influences as well. First album "Vicious" was recorded in Detroit and by time His Clancyness became full band that lead to new phase in band's development. Second album "Isolation Culture" was recorded in England, and Matthew Jonson and Stu Matthews participated in production. At the moment band is on tour promoting this last album. We used the opportunity to talk with Jonathan about growing up between two continetns, old and new releases, how it's like being in one man and full band, and some other stuff.

photo: Giulia Mazza
HC: Jonathan, you grew up between Canada and Italy. It must have effected you in your life and adolescent (formative) years. What was it like living on two continets since you had a chance to feel and live that special (different) spirit that Europe and North America have? In your music both USA and European influences can be found.
J: It definitely affected me, I think it sparked my interest in traveling and appreciating different cultures. And I feel completely divided by the two, now that I’m living in Europe I obviously miss Canada, when I’m over there I’m missing Italy. It’s just a sweet condition I got to live with.

HC: Before His Clancyness you play(ed) in bands “A Classic Education” and “Settlefish”. How different are/were they from His Clancyness, and how they lead you to your last band?
J: I hardly think about the past really, those bands reflect the state I was in during those years but moreso they reflect the interaction with different people. People are what make bands, the way you relate, the way you understand music with another person make each band unique, interesting, less interesting etc. His Clancyness started as a way to express myself away from the band dimension but soon enough pulled me back into that mode and setting. I think I just like the band, “gang of friends” feeling so I always go back to that template. His Clancyness is as much Giulia, Nico and Jacopo as it is Jonathan.

HC: Album “Vicious” was released in 2013. You consider it as your first album, but you released “Hissometer”, “Always Mist” and “Always Mist Revisited”. What were pre-“Vicious” releases: EPs, singles?
J: I’m such a fan of the “album” format, obsessive about it that I consider Vicious to be the first album because it’s the first one where the set of songs where written to be together. I think albums are important, the flow, they imagery they convey, the themes. Before that it was just  random songs and we collected them together.

HC: Your last album “Isolation Culture” was released last year. When you compare your releases, how do you think you music envolved? Are you in some kind of constant search for new sounds and expressions? I am asking you this because untill “Vicious” album you were “one man”, and after that His Clancyness became full band. So it must have had effect.
J: Yeah totally, I think Isolation Culture is a better, deeper record because other people are involved in it. It was written as a four piece and every once can bounce ideas off one another. That exchange I think in this case made everything more interesting. I was even more stimulated.

HC: What are addvantages and disaddventages of being in “one man” and full band?
J: Everything is a democracy and you can have crazy fights about even one song. For example on the last record we took out two songs that I think were some of our best. But we all voted… and I had to be ok with that decision. That is how a band works.

HC: Your tour where you promote “Isolation Culture” album and your work just started. Part of it will take place in Ex Yugoslavian countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia. It will be your first time here so, are there any expectations, and, is there a difference (from your point of view) when you play in cities you played before, and when you play and explore some new countries?
J: I will be our first time playing these countries. Some of us, including me, have been to Slovenia and Croatia to visit and absolutely love it. We’re culture freaks so we’re super excited in general to visit new places, see different ways of living life and enjoy that brief connection you can have with new friends at a show/club. I think for example in this case, being new places for us, the tour will probably have a bit more energy and excitement.

HC: My impression is that the sound like yours are maybe more closer to European audience than North American (USA and Canada). Can you tell me, did you notice something like that (playing live, or in any kind of contacts with your audience), is there difference between these two continets in accepting your music?
J: Tough question and hard to answer. I have not noticed really a big difference overseas. Sometimes in North America they tend to point our small European characteristics that make everything more interesting.

HC: With what feeling you want your audience to leave the show?
J: I wish our audience could literally get lost in a haze for 45-60 minutes, dream, leave everything behind and hopefully by the end of it go home with a sense of excitement and liberation.

HC: You’ll finish this tour at the beginning of February, what’s next?
J: Tour, tour and more tour. Maybe also a few singles.

HC: Thank you for your time and the interview. For the end, please send final message to the audience here in Balcans before the shows. :)
J: Can’t wait to play in your area. Come up to the merch table to say hi before or after the show. Lets have a drink!

Interview done by Milos Pavlovic