Jacket Burner: To be honest with you that decision mostly came from being a loner. I don’t have many friends (please weep for me). I guess I’ve moved around a lot in life so I’m well used to being isolated and doing my own thing. Plus having to explain songs to a bunch of other people sounds like absolute torture. Fuck that. Musicians are fuckin weirdos mostly from what I gather (myself included)
Shock Treatment: Being a few years into this musical project, are you starting to feel the itch to play these songs live at all?
Jacket Burner: I’d love to play live but it would be a logistical nightmare for me. Where I live is all farmers and stupid feeble old ladies. Nobody even knows what punk rock is in this town! I think it would be a great show tho. Maximum intensity + maximum rock n roll action / posturing. If there so happens to be a band of JB super fans out there that know how to play all my songs I’ll link up with them and crack some skulls worldwide
Shock Treatment: What bands or records had the most influence on you growing up?
Jacket Burner: I was kinda into metal for a good while but hearing KISS changed everything. Then The Hellacopters / Turbonegro etc and on into the rabbit hole that is punk. Direct influences for Jacket Burner is more obvious tho, namely The Spits and Buck Biloxi. Modern punk don’t get much better than that.
Shock Treatment: You’ve released most of your records on the fabulous Goodbye Boozy Record label. How did you hook up with them?
Jacket Burner: When I made my first demo I naturally sent it to a bunch of labels and they all ignored it outright (understandably cos it sux). But thankfully Goodbye Boozy wanted to do a tape of it. Which is extremely fortuitous cos I happen to think they’re probably the best punk label on the planet. Honestly truly special. Most of the stuff they release will blow yer tits off which is so rare really.
Shock Treatment: All of your records have a certain minimalist look to them. Did this particular aesthetic to your album art come along with the music you made or was this look something you had in mind prior to ever recording?
Jacket Burner: I didn’t have a look in mind to be honest. I can’t really do traditional art so pretty much everything I have done so far has been composed of photography paired with shitty handwriting cos I hate fonts. It kinda works tho. I think aesthetic plays a huge part in music generally so it’s a happy accident really. If my art was amazing, people might expect something more accomplished from the music itself. I like to look at a record cover and have a rough idea of what it’s gonna sound like
Shock Treatment: Many modern, major-label punk bands have massive budgets and top-tier producers, yet their music often feels sanitized or completely puts people to sleep despite being loud and fast. What do you think is that 'missing secret ingredient' they are lacking, and how does your music manage to actually touch those raw nerves punk is supposed to hit?"
Jacket Burner: Lack of ambition and natural authenticity. I genuinely don’t give a fuck and I think people that dig Jacket Burner understand that. I gotta get these songs and feelings outta my system and that’s where it ends really. If I make a song and I think it rules then that’s a success. I don’t care about being popular or being sonically suitable for radio or whatever. Fair fucks to anybody that wants to make something of themselves but I’m not interested in the slightest. Real punkers know what’s up!
Shock Treatment: ou just released Pig Vomit Sessions, your third LP if I’m not mistaken. What keeps you motivated to continue to write and record music on your own?
Jacket Burner: I’m constantly plagued with ideas for new songs. Riffs and lyrics and hooks come to me every day and I can’t ignore them. An ancient supernatural force is using me as a conduit to create bad rock n roll and I will continue until the ideas stop coming to me. Also I love the buzz of putting out records. I’m a big time collector and the high from having my own records out is untouchable. That’ll never get old
Shock Treatment: One of my favorite songs of yours is “Re-Wire My Brain” from last year’s Eat Shit and Die LP. Can you tell me a bit about that song? What was the inspiration behind it lyrically and how did it come together for you?
Jacket Burner: I’m basically very mentally unwell. I try not to write too much about mental illness but it’s a big part of my daily life. Even if you just break down exactly what I’m doing it’s fucking crazy. Double life, ski mask, recording albums in the spare room of my house while trying to hold down a job and just survive life in general. "Re-Wire My Brain" is my ultimate statement on that I guess. I would love to either be restored to factory settings, given a lobotomy or reprogrammed to be a normal cunt that’s happy with just the very basic elements of life. Live Laugh Love and scroll TikTok in my spare time and that’s it. It sounds so peaceful. I envy those types of people
Shock Treatment: What’s coming down the pike for Jacket Burner in the near or not so near future?
Jacket Burner: I have a split 7” with Dru The Drifter coming out on Low Ambition Records in Australia in the near future. They do really cool super limited releases that come with a bunch of extras. Can’t wait for that one. That’ll be my last release of the year. 2027 will have at least one new LP and a new EP out as a 7”. I gotta stay tight lipped on those two right now, but I’ve adopted a different recording technique for them so it’ll be a slightly different spin on what I’ve done before. Nothing like Pig Vomit Sessions anyway but it’s still gonna be raw and nasty
Shock Treatment: Where can people go to follow your band and to listen and buy your music?
Jacket Burner: Right now I update on happenings mostly on a website called Instagram.com. You can also follow / listen on Bandcamp, YouTube, and all the usual streaming platforms. Record wise I think discogs or your local distro is the best way to score some action right now. Apart from the new 7” which you can get from Fish and Cheap Records France. I also have an online store where I have records for sale time to time
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