Permission To Have Time & Space: A Him Interview

JAZMINE ROSE of HIM: Permission To Have Time & Space

An interview by Molly O’Brien.New Zealand three piece band Him have embarked on a nationwide tour, spreading their experimental waves of music like watercolour across a page and releasing their latest album ‘Snakes at Night’ to eager ears. Molly O’Brien had the opportunity to catch up with the ethereal Jazmine Rose to chat inspiration, dreams and the future of Him.

Your music is self-described as ‘often haunting’; for me personally it conjures up a sense of magical, pensive nostalgia in a hammock, surrounded by New Zealand nature. Could you describe your sound as a place, a taste and a texture?

It’s inside Mount Cannibal, a mountain near where I grew up. On one day it can have hundreds of white butterflies everywhere, another it will be ablaze as you try not to step on snakes and sometimes it’s just still. I’d like to think of it as there or perhaps the nostalgia of there. It tastes like licking a river rock and feels like water.

The experimental nature of Him allows a beautiful wave-like shift between a marriage of instruments and sounds. Is there any instruments you’d like to incorporate or explore in the future?

Many, the violin and the trumpet I will probably try to incorporate in my next single. Always exploring different parts of my voice, that will always change as I do I feel…

What’s your writing process like? Shower songs? Midnight madness?

I often am awake in the wee hours but I wouldn’t say there is a set process. I think I could always sit down and write or express – its more about giving myself the time and space to do that, without expectation. That’s something I need. Permission to have time and space. It usually just all falls out of me like an over tired toddler, and then I decide whether it’s safe enough or if I desire to share it with other people.

Him’s shifting sound fits in a non existent genre I like to call ‘Dreamstate’. What was the last dream you had?

I’m in Lyttleton and have just woken from one. In the dream I was in India on some strange safari that I was the guide to. I was riding with my friends on a quad bike through this narrow path that was quite ruthless and thin. Next I saw a gorilla and we were spending some time connecting – imitating each others gestures and doing some very lovely eye gazing. It was a feeling of trying to navigate and hold everything together. I reached into my bag and there was a small wad of cash, but that was all. It was suddenly so deeply sad that I felt there was nothing other than this little pissy pile of cash. A lot of my friends were there but very far away. I don’t know the word for that. The word for loneliness in company…

Where do you seek inspiration?

I’m not sure I seek it, I have been lucky to be around friends and lovers that have wonderful imaginations and view the world in a wonderful way, and they taught me to decide to see it like that. So I decided to be inspired by everything. I recommend it.

You’re currently on tour across Auckland, Dunedin, Whanganui, Wellington, Lyttleton and Christchurch. Where has been your favourite place to perform so far?

They’ve all been different and had their wonders and struggles. I couldn’t choose a favourite. I’m just grateful that people were so supportive, both friends and strangers, and that for the most part people are open to hear and feel. I feel very full for that. Some highlights were, seals, rocks, the colour blue and Josie.

Who would be your dream line up to play alongside?

No one specific comes to mind, I am really enjoying playing alongside other femme/queer and non binary artists – though for a long time that hasn’t been the case. For the most part I enjoy playing with anyone that is kind and pleased to be in the room – I’m really excited to have Ana Te Kōtiro joining us for our Auckland show. They are one of the most wonderful music performers I have ever seen. I can say that with tingly fingers and certainty.

Is there anything you want your audience to know about Him, or do you prefer leaving it to individual interpretation?

That I am lucky to have a platform and a tool to express myself, and that we are privileged to be able to hear each other. Remember that when witnessing anyone perform please be open and kind.

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