Echo 18-04-2006 pg23, Seven - happy music people, music people, music, juzzie, people, love

APRIL APRIL Volume Echo Publications Pty LtdALL YOUR COASTAL ENTERTAINMENTPhone Fax Editor Mandy Nolan Dance OKA FREAKY LOU ALEX LLOYD BYRON VISTA SOCIAL CLUB JODIE MARTIN DON GIOVANNI NORTHERN EXPOSURE Everyday PeopleMandy shoots the breeze with Juzzie SmithI MET Juzzie Smith years ago when he did my stand up comedy course. He was just this cute young freckle faced kid with an electric smile and an easy charm that had audiences immediately smitten. He was born funny, half man, half harmonica, he could suck and blow, and speak and breathe, in odd little segments that were more like detail snapshots of a subject, rather than a continuous narrative. Juzzie had a love of performance, and an affection for his audience that had people talking about him for weeks after his 5 minute show. In fact, he even had people offering to manage him. His mantra is rather simple, and uncomplicated. While some perform for the love and approval of others, others do it to make someone else feel good. Juzzies music, is very much like his comedy. Original, energetic, uplifting and always authentic. He says I love to make people happy. the whole idea of my music is to make people buzz. Just this year he claimed himself a Golden Guitar at Tamworth Country Music Festival for Best Busker and played the big stage alongside Troy Cassar Daley. He was up against only other performers Quite an experience for this humble musician who sources some of his best beats from Op shops. I play percussion with my feet. I have a suitcase that I put a microphone inside. When I was doing acoustic shows, on the street, I used to use it to create a warm fat sound. It also works pretty well because I can carry all my gear in it as well. Except my suitcases hate me because they keep breaking up. I go op shopping for suitcases and the grandmas think Im crazy because I start whacking their suitcases. you go for tone. I got this really nice one from an antique shop the other day, but the hard cardboard ones are the best ones because they have the best tones. But its not just luggage that Juzzie lugs all over the country, hes got a plethora of instruments that he takes on stage as well. I play slide guitar, normal guitar, and harmonica, didgeridoo and with the right foot I have a tambourine on a board so it gives the high hat sound. When I

play music

I am thinking of dance styles, of the beat coming in and going out and building up, because I go from one instrument to the other. I stick to one guitar at a time I also do harmonica singing the last track on the album is a surprise track it comes from a place called Tuva in Mongolia the Mr Smith, who became a Dad three years ago. He is now a proud parent to Olive 3 and Rumi 6 months. For Juzzie having a family has focused him on his music, not taken the focus away. Having family is the best gift ever for me, because when Olive was born I was pretty lazy, I used to always play music myself but never realised how good it would sound if I put the effort in. I was making a week and youd think, yeah, that will get me by Juzzies rst album was made with the spirit of the street and has been his aural calling card for the past year. Good Vibes is where it all started, because that album sort of was what I was doing when I was performing and people really loved it. I got emails from all around the country and Xavier Rudd and he loved it. As we are talking, Juzzie is setting up in Johnson Street for an afternoon busking session. I love street performing because you are performing for everyday people. Kids who just get mesmermized by the music. My friends little son got himself a suitcase and a little didge and he plays along to the album, he even plays a tambourine with his foot. Theyre the kind of little things like make you go wow You can check out more about Juzzie on his website Juzzie appears alongside Oka at Coorabell on Saturday 8pm.I love to make people happy. the whole idea of my music is to make people happythroat keeps the drone and you move your tongue to keep the harmonics. I heard it and taught myself while I was driving myself lots of places, its peaceful and makes me feel peaceful, you can hold a note for up to a minute because its so calming. Life has changed dramatically for its so special, to know you have your own show and nothing can change that. Its hard to keep a band together, its like joining another family, its tricky to travel with bands, I went to Vancouver last year, took my suitcase and my instruments, and my family.