Jake La Botz | Interview | New Album, 'Hair On Fire'

Born and raised in Chicago, La Botz spent his early days learning from the last of the city’s pre-war era bluesmen, studying under the likes of David “Honeyboy” Edwards, “Homesick” James, and “Maxwell Street” Jimmy Davis. He began releasing his own albums in 2000 and recently released a brand new album, ‘Hair On Fire’.

Jake La Botz was teaching meditation in a northwest Georgia prison when something unexpected caught his ear. It sounded like a band was playing in the room next door. And not just any band, for that matter, but a genuine, bonafide, soul-shaking gospel band. “I remember getting really excited because I could feel both of my worlds coming together in that moment,” La Botz recalls. “The two sides of my life converged into this one, beautiful experience, and it just stopped me in my tracks.

La Botz didn’t realize it at the time, but that marriage of music and meditation would go on to form the bedrock of his captivating new album, Hair On Fire. The collection balances the wisdom and patience of La Botz’s decades of Buddhist training with the grit and vigor of his Chicago upbringing to create a sound that’s at once unabashedly vintage and decidedly present.

It’s really nice to have you. Are you excited to play across the US and present your latest album, ‘Hair On Fire’?

Jake La Botz: I’m finishing a five week tour playing at tattoo shops across the U.S. right now, and yes, it’s been exciting to be back on the road and to play some new songs. I especially love to meet the people who come out.

How long did you work on ‘Hair On Fire’ and did you find the isolation creatively challenging or freeing?

The songs on ‘Hair on Fire’ came out over a two year period starting just before the pandemic. I found the isolation to be freeing for writing without any expectations of where any of it should be going. It wasn’t clear to me until the beginning of 2021 that I would record a new album.

“I find songwriting to be one of the most challenging undertakings”

What’s the idea behind Tattoo Across America where you’ll be playing in support of the record in mostly local tattoo shops across the country…

The tattoo tour was born out of necessity in 2006. I needed to tour and I didn’t have a booking agent, but I did have many friends in the tattoo world. I dreamed up the tattoo tour and put it out on social media to determine interest. The response was great so I went for it. From there it sort of took on a life of its own and continued for many years. 2022 was the first Tattoo Across America Tour in 5 years.

The main inspiration for your latest album seems to be music and meditation. Tell us how you first began practicing meditation?

When I got clean from heroin in 1999 I believed it would take a major spiritual shift in me to remain free from the debilitating addiction. I investigated a few traditions and found a home in the “practicing lineage” of Tibetan Buddhism as taught by Chogyam Trungpa, where there is a strong emphasis on one’s own realization of the Buddha’s teachings through meditation practice.

What about music? Tell us about the background. What would we find in your teenage room? What kind of records and fanzines?

When I was 12 and 13 I had posters of the Who and the Rolling Stones on my wall. I mostly listened to Reggae and Rock N’ Roll in that era. We were poor and didn’t own many records. I often went to the public library to listen to music, or I made tapes I recorded from music on the radio. By the time I was 14 I was hanging out in the hardcore punk scene (this is in 1982/83) but had started to listening to more soul and blues by then as well. By 15 I left home.

Can you share some further details on how your latest album was recorded and produced?

I recorded at the same studio in Chicago, HiStyle/Reliable Recorders, that I’ve made my last three albums at. The core group was me, Alex Hall (engineer and drummer), and Beau Sample (bass). We recorded the bones of the songs together and then I brought in a couple of other guys to overdub. It worked well for us during the pandemic to have just a couple of people at a time in the studio.

What I love about your songs is the way you deliver the words… Every album tells a different story… How do you usually appreciate songwriting?

Thank you! I find songwriting to be one of the most challenging undertakings. It doesn’t come easy to me. Not usually. And I never know what is going to come out. Sometimes it’s terrifying. Sometimes nothing comes out. Sometimes I worry that the songs aren’t worth sharing with other people.

Did it change during the years?

My appreciation of songwriting is always deepening. Particularly when I hear someone else’s song that I find to be very moving and well-crafted. I realize more and more how difficult it is to write good songs. I’m not sure how many more I have in me. I keep thinking I’m going to quit doing it, and then something else shows up demanding to come out and be given form. But who knows, this may be the last album.

Are you happy how the “marriage” music and meditation transcended on ‘Hair On Fire’?

I’m not sure how transcendent the music is. But I think it’s a decent album.

You taught meditation in prisons?

That’s right. I still work one-on-one with a couple of guys in prison via email and phone. I haven’t gone back to teaching inside since the pandemic.

What’s the next project that you’ll be working on, or are working on right now?

I’m taking a break right now. I’m not sure if I’ll continue to make more music or not.

Any hopeful plans for getting back to playing live this year?

I won’t be playing much more this year after the Tattoo Tour. Next year I plan to go back to Europe.