If you find yourÂself on the streets of NewÂcasÂtle, EngÂland, you might stumÂble upon Ojay (aka Stephen OlivÂer Jones) buskÂing away, doing things you nevÂer thought posÂsiÂble with the bass guiÂtar. Hence why he’s been dubbed the Jimi HenÂdrix of the bass.
Ojay learned to play the bass withÂout putting much effort into it. Years ago, he played in the Dust Junkys, a rap rock band in ManÂchesÂter, before then movÂing to NewÂcasÂtle and givÂing buskÂing a try. That was nine years ago, he told Tom DrapÂer in this interÂview.
For Ojay, buskÂing offers more than a chance to earn a livÂing. It proÂvides a creÂative space, a chance to conÂtinÂuÂalÂly improÂvise and work out new musiÂcal ideas. Watch him in action above. And do yourÂself a favor, give the video a litÂtle time to unfold. It just keeps getÂting betÂter and betÂter.
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RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Neil Young BuskÂing in GlasÂgow, 1976: The StoÂry Behind the Footage
Bono and Glen Hansard BuskÂing in Dublin on ChristÂmas Eve
Jaco PasÂtoÂrius is still my favourite, but…
Ojay knows my soul!
Very talÂentÂed genÂtleÂman but sounds a lot like Jaco PasÂtoÂrius. He is the HenÂdrix of bass.
you’re playÂing is so damn dope. i hope i find you someÂwhere
MetalÂliÂca can start to CONSTANTLY give him shit and turn down his bass tracks on future albums (ala Jason NewÂstad) so Robert TruÂjilÂlo gets pissed off and quits the band (but not before layÂing down a CYCO BEATDOWN first!!) Then the “surÂvivÂing” memÂbers can hire this dude! Or…Ojay and Les ClayÂpool can have “DuelÂing Bass GuiÂtars” instead of “DuelÂing BanÂjos”!!! SeriÂousÂly, Ojay gets his JAM on here, F‑YEAH!!
I like what he’s doing, but I feel like he sounds more like Eddie Van Halen with a dash of Willie Weeks, then Mr.Hendrix