Extended Play

Bedouin Soundclash plays Sunday at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood and Monday at House of Blues Anaheim. For more from my interview with singer/guitarist Jay Malinowski, read on.

Q: What prompted you to get Daryl Jenifer in to produce again?

A: We wanted to make sure if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. He’s really close to the band - still is - and we talk all the time. It’s important to have people you have that connection with around you when you’re doing something creative.

Q: Did you learn a lot from him?

A: Yeah, if not musical, we always learned a new story about something crazy Daryl’s done in his life.

Q: Were you familiar with Bad Brains before?

A: We totally were. Not like obsessed fans. We knew their stuff. Now I have met a lot of people who are like Bad Brains fanatics.

Q: Wade MacNeil from hardcore band alexisonfire added vocals to some songs on "Street Gospels." Was that a result of the hometown connection in Kingston, Ontario?

A: Yeah, we’ve know them for about four years. We have mutual friends. I heard Wade was coming out with a solo record and listened to his voice. It was really incredible.

Q: City streets and nightlife tend to crop up in your lyrics. Where do you usually find inspiration?

A: Living in Toronto. The inspiration is just everyday stories really and things happening in my life. I always try to make it a macrocosm.

Q: “Gunships” has some vivid imagery.

A: That’s probably one of our favorite songs to play. It is about when two people (in a couple) are fighting for the same thing but in the end no one really wins.

Q: For “Nico on the Night Train,” was she a real person you saw on the subway?

A: That was about a friend we found out had turned to stripping to make money. I wrote that song on the subway - never passing judgment on it, but just hoping for the best.

Q: You had some success with the last CD "Sounding a Mosaic" back home and in England. What to do think was the reason for the U.K. success?

A: They have had this massive history (with reggae bands) and on a grassroots level, I think that’s very prevalent. Their media attention right now is completely focused on the boring indie rock scene. The first time I went over there it was really frustrating to see...(the media had) this flavor of the week style of looking at music. It can be exciting, but frustrating as an artist.

Q: In 2004, you got a fair amount of airplay on the BBC.

A: There were a few bands coming up at that time – the Dead 60s were doing ska and The Ordinary Boys were going that direction as well.

Q: You do all the art design for the band. Do you do a lot of art in your spare time?

A: I was just part of a group exhibition in Montreal last week. I try to keep that going. It’s definitely a love of mine – creating works. I try to do it as much as I can. It’s hard on the road. I try to keep it up.

Q: You also have a new label for outside projects called Pirate’s Blend. Is that Bad Brains mash up I've read about one of the first releases?

A: Yeah, hopefully that will come out early next year. We’re excited about it.

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