The J-Walkers taking things a step further

Lead singer and Castledermot local Cassells began his musical journey at 16 when a demo he made was picked up by Hype Entertainment in Kilkenny. "They organised for me to play a singer songwriter night and it took off from there".

Cassells admits he found the experience intimidating and, "nearly vibrated off the stage he was so nervous".

He quickly decided he needed a full band and was put in touch with Omar Mahfoud through his music teacher at the time. "We've been together ever since", says Cassells going through some 11 or 12 musicians in that time.

"At one stage we had cello, viola, violin and clarinet, laughs Cassells. "We decided that wasn't for us. It was a live nightmare for mics.

In its current make-up the band has been together for just six short months but have accomplished more in that time than Mahfoud and Cassells had achieved in all the years before that. As Cassells admits for a long time, "nothing was happening".

However, the last few months have brought gigs throughout Dublin including their favourite show at the DIT Battle of the Bands in the Button Factory and a final appearance at the Oxegen Platform V competition. While neither proved successful, at least in terms of winning the contests the DIT gig heralded a tantilising offer for the young group.

"After the show a chap approached us from a management company and offered to work with us.". The band have now been with Darren Farrell management for three months and have been making use of all his requisite music industry knowledge

Recording an Ep is the next step for the group which regularly uses guitarist Mahfoud's recently built studio. "He spent a fortune on it, God love him" reveals Cassells.

A converted garage with an electronic drum kit and a separate recording booth it is ideal for a young band wishing to make some good quality demos.

At the moment the band are getting ideas on paper and already have a producer lined up for the Ep which should be finished in the next few months.

Preparations for recording have been hit by the defection of bass player Bernard Kavanagh to his other band Blessington based covers group Blackwater. There is no hard feelings, however, as the singer accepts living so far away was too much for him.

They are now in the market for a new bassist, preferably one "who could also be a backing singer".

Other band members have been auditioned for the role but as Cassells laughs it just sounds like, "bad karaoke".

As well as a bass player, strings will be enlisted for the studio recordings though not neccessarily on stage. "For live its a shambles unless we have a great set up which you don't ever have".
You can hear the pop rock of the J-Walkers at myspace.com/thejwalkersmusic

If you want you band featured in the Leinster Leader please contact edward.walsh@live.ie