Founded through a mutual love of 60’s and 70’s dub and punk by three friends namely Geoff Lagadec - (vocals / guitar) ; Dave Smith - (guitar / vocals) and Ben Murphy - (bass).
Jaya The Cat create songs ranging from booze fueled anthems to chilled out dance tracks to outright political commentary.
With a current line up including Jordi ‘Pockets’ Nieuwenburg on guitar, Jeroen Kok on bass, and Onverwagt on keyboards.
Following the 2001 release of their debut album Basement Style ( Gold Circle Records ), Jaya The Cat were joined by ex-Shadows Fall drummer David ‘The Germ’ Germain and began a steady touring schedule of stages across the United States and Europe, playing major clubs and festivals such as Lowlands in Holland, Pukkelpop in Belgium, and the Warped Tour in the US. Their music has also been featured in numerous skate, surf and snowboard videos.
Summer 2003 saw their sophomore release, First Beer of a New Day ‘’ (4tune Records).
Although both albums met with positive critical success and they had gathered a loyal worldwide following, personal differences saw the departure of Smith and Murphy that fall, which effectively left the band in limbo. After a freezing music-less winter working shitty jobs in Boston, Lagadec and Germain met up and decided to look for new members. Temporarily joined for a spring European tour by dutch musicians Jan Jaap Onverwagt (Green Lizard) and Alejandro Londoño, they took a 3 month sublet on an apartment in Amsterdam with the plan of regrouping and figuring out what the hell to do with themselves. Three months turned into three years.
In the interim, the band has continued to grow, playing hundreds of live shows to an ever expanding audience, as well as adding keyboards, samples, percussion and a tiki bar to their onstage act. An average Jaya the Cat concert usually becomes more of a party than a performance, with the audience singing, dancing and drinking right along with the band.
September 7th 2007, saw the European release of their third studio album entitled More Late Night Transmissions with... on I Scream Records. Drawing on their experiences, More Late Night Transmissions with... delivers 13 tracks filled with seedy bars, cheap hotels, dysfunctional love affairs and political disillusionment. Punk rock, reggae, ska and pop, glued in their own unique style.
More Late Night Transmissions with... was released on the 10th of May in the US by I Scream Records USA.
Discography:
* CD ‘Basement Style’ (Gold Circle Records 2000)
* CD ‘First ‘Beer Of A New Day’ (4Tune Records 2002)
* CD/LP ‘Ernesto’s Burning’ (Music Machine Records 2004)
* CD More Late Night Transmissions with... (I Scream Records 2007)
* CD Single ‘Closing Time’ (I Scream Records 2007)
* CD Single 'Good Morning' (I Scream Records 2008)
* CD More Late Night Transmissions with... (I Scream Records 2009)
Web links:
Jaya The Cat Official Site
Facebook Fan Page
Myspace page
Purevolume
Are You With Me?
Jaya the Cat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
are you with me
are you with me
I'm like a pimple on the microphone with locked yaw
purring gin in the original non stop
and in the valley of the shadow of doubt i got a 83 pickup and a dug out
wake up in the morning, start the war
i ain't looking for answers like jack calla hur said you get your own choice of cancer
advocate of the zero hour work, while your busting your ass man
I'm steady home asleep, why the hell should i struggle like that
even if you win the rat race your still a god damed rat
are you with me
are you with me
are you with me
I'm like a sawed off barrel with a pistol grip
little sunset over this concrete wilderness
voice from the underground bring it to the dance floor
raw take i make my testimonial
and in the valley of the shadow of death man
sometimes i feel like I'm the only living witness
DIY since the day i started breathing, fucking forming man
you know I'm going out screaming
and i ain't changing till i gone, anther voice for chaos in the land of Babylon
another brick through the window of the establishment
coast to coast peace originating from the basement
are you with me
are you with me
are you with me
The song “Are You With Me?” by Jaya The Cat speaks of the singer’s personal beliefs and values. In the first verse, the lyrics state “I’m like a pimple on the microphone with locked yaw /purring gin in the original non-stop.” This could mean that the singer is comfortable in their own skin and confident in their own abilities. They may also have a rebellious nature, indicated by the reference to “locked yaw” which can refer to a car's steering wheel being turned sharply to one side to make it difficult to move.
The second verse also alludes to the singer’s dissatisfaction with the status quo. They mention waking up in the morning, starting a war, then taking the train to work. The lyrics “I ain’t looking for answers like Jack Cola Hur said /you get your own choice of cancer” suggest that the singer prefers to make their own decisions, even if they are risky. They don't want to be a part of the rat race, even if they could win, because they do not want to be a rat.
In the chorus, the singer repeatedly asks “are you with me?” indicating a desire for like-minded individuals to join them in their fight against the establishment. The overall message of the song is one of rebellion against the norm and a call to arms for those who feel the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
are you with me
Asking if the listener shares the same values and beliefs as the singer.
I'm like a pimple on the microphone with locked yaw
I am a nuisance to those in power, but determined to make my voice heard.
purring gin in the original non stop
Drinking heavily to cope with the struggles of daily life.
and in the valley of the shadow of doubt i got a 83 pickup and a dug out
Despite uncertainty and hardships, the artist has a reliable pickup truck and a safe place to hide.
wake up in the morning, start the war
Every day is a battle to fight for one's beliefs and goals.
put the cap back on the 40, take the train to work man
Setting aside vices and taking on the routine of daily life.
i ain't looking for answers like jack calla hur said you get your own choice of cancer
Resignation to the fact that life is full of choices, some of which may lead to negative consequences.
advocate of the zero hour work, while your busting your ass man
Supporting the idea of working smarter, not harder.
I'm steady home asleep, why the hell should i struggle like that
The artist prefers to avoid the grind of daily work and instead live life on their own terms.
even if you win the rat race your still a god damed rat
Success in society's definition does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment.
I'm like a sawed off barrel with a pistol grip
Dangerous and powerful, yet controlled and purposeful.
little sunset over this concrete wilderness
Finding beauty in a bleak world.
voice from the underground bring it to the dance floor
Taking underground and rebellious ideas to mainstream culture.
raw take i make my testimonial
Speaking honestly and unfiltered about personal experiences and beliefs.
and in the valley of the shadow of death man
Acknowledging the presence of death and danger in life, but refusing to be controlled by fear.
sometimes i feel like I'm the only living witness
Feeling alone in one's beliefs or struggles.
DIY since the day i started breathing, fucking forming man
Taking control of one's own life and creativity, rejecting mainstream standards and expectations.
you know I'm going out screaming
Refusing to be silenced or subdued, going down fighting for what one believes in.
and i ain't changing till i gone, another voice for chaos in the land of Babylon
Continuing to fight for change and disruption in a society controlled by power and corruption until the end.
another brick through the window of the establishment
Symbolically breaking down the walls of the oppressive power structures in society.
coast to coast peace originating from the basement
Making a difference and spreading ideas of harmony and justice even from one's own small beginnings.
Contributed by Aubrey G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.