Hey Jacki!

First of all, congratulations on the new album, after hearing the MySpace samples and seeing the “Fuck You” video on YouTube, we’re all very excited about it. How did the recordings go?

JACKI: Thank you! We are all excited too and I think the album came out great! The whole recording process went really quick... only a few hours a day over a 14 day period. Adam Hamilton, the producer, was awesome to work with!

Can you tell us a little bit more about the album?

JACKI: It's an album filled with classic rock songs that we covered and put our own twist on it... It's Something that we wanted to do in between our original albums. It's a good and fun album for sure! The only 'new' song we covered was the Cee Lo Green song, "Fuck You".

 

“Fuck you” does really sound good, but where did you guys get the idea to do a cover like that?

JACKI: The label came up with the idea of doing a top 40 song. We all liked that and Jesse was the one that was most familiar with it... So we took a listen, liked it, played around with it a bit and nailed it in the studio really quick.

 

Who else, apart from the band, was involved in the making of Reverse Tripped (producer etc.)?

JACKI: Cleopatra Records are the label, these are the guys that approached us with the idea of doing an album like this. Adam Hamilton was the producer... amazing guy! The director for the "Fuck You" video is Blake Bogdanovich. He did a killer job too!

 

When you guys write new material, do you all write together or is there one main writer?

JACKI: It's mostly Nicki and Jesse that write now... They take their ideas to rehearsal and we play around with it... That is pretty much how it goes, although it changes sometimes too.

 

The band has gone through quite some changes, how did you experience that?

JACKI: Jesse is a new fresh voice for the band, he fits perfect for us. It is exciting to tour with, you could say, a NEW band...That's what it really feels like. We now have our touring buddy Joel Eliasson with us on rhythm guitar as well, he's doing a great job, awesome, funny guy too!

 

There are hundreds of great bands coming out of Sweden these days, what is it about Vains Of Jenna that puts you on the top of the list?

JACKI: I don't really know... I just think our music is great and we are real.

 

With all these bands coming out of the same country, is there a lot of rivalry between the bands?

JACKI: I don't think so. We have been in the U.S most of the time...

 

Except Jesse you’re all originally from Sweden, is Los Angeles the new home now?

JACKI: It has been for many years now... we only went back to Europe to tour a few times. We will see if we will record a new album in the States or in Europe.

Los Angeles is like Rock N’ Roll heaven to us Europeans. Is it really that great?

JACKI: Hehe, it is an awesome city and things always happens there: music, film etc., but it becomes like a little small town after a while too. I love it, but it's great to be on tour and go all over the place, thats what I love even more.

 

Any places that are worth the long flight over there?

JACKI: I love New York, Austin, Chicago and New Orleans.

 

The band is promoted by Bam, right? Can you tell us how you got into that?

JACKI: We got signed by his label back in 2006. He is still somewhat involved, but not as much as before... He got so many other things to do as well. Great guy though!

 

How is the current situation?

JACKI: Good friends. We are probably gonna stay at his house when we play West chester again.

 

You guys toured with several amazing bands, any highlights so far?

JACKI: Wow, Poison and Ratt tour and the Viva La Bands tour were the biggest tours we've done... But touring with Dirty Penny was so much fun, same thing with Crucified Barbara... also Viking Skull!

All tours we've done with bands have been amazing, like with Fireball Ministry and Artimus Pyledriver and also the Wednesday 13 tour.

 

Any crazy touring stories you want to share with us?

JACKI: There are too many of those... Haha

 

If you could pick one place in the world to play where you haven’t played before, what would that be?

JACKI: Japan!

Question machine gun time: Sweden in summer or LA in winter time?

JACKI: Sweden in summer

 

Black or blonde?

JACKI: Brunette

 

Beer or liquor?

JACKI: Beer

 

Axl or Vince?

JACKI: Axl

 

Ramones or the New York Dolls?

JACKI: Ramones

 

Old school or new & cool?

JACKI: A little of both

 

Thanks for the interview Jacki! Any “last words” to the Belgian fans?

JACKI: Can't wait to see you all again!!!