Q&A: meet Jordi, Auckland creative exploring uncharted waters

Auckland based creative, Jordi Webber, has recently founded his new music project Waazzoo and the Vibes and has recently released his third major track of 2020. Ay Ay Ay! is an indie-pop track that beams with summer energy. It’s giving me circa 2015, getting up at the crack of dawn and bussing through Spain going from beach to beach. Waazzoo is definitely bringing the vibes. 

The track is complimented through the appearance of Tane with his rap flow smooth and sexy, sounded a little like Andre 3000. Huge mood. 

Every aspect of this project is thought provoked and relates to one another as it tells a story through an array of mediums. The music side of things is the first piece of the puzzle, soon to be followed by a clothing label, comic book and eventually an animated series. How cool is that? There’s so many arms to this body, each looking like they’ll compliment one another perfectly. 

What we love most about Waazzoo and the Vibes is that through his three songs released so far, they’re all giving us something different, he is giving us level y’all. Waazzoo is the real deal and in the few short months since releasing music we’re getting a taste of what’s to come. 

We caught up with Waazzoo and the Vibes to chat about his new music, his creative vision and his enjoyment of pizza-pie sandwiches. 

Here’s a snippet of our conversation: 

Hey Jordi, tell us a little bit about your music project Waazzoo and the Vibes? 

Waazzoo and the Vibes is my new artist name. Originally I went under my name Jordi but as our tastes and musical influences change, so did my vibe. I resonate a lot with surfing, skating, and vibing in general. The name Waazzoo came up, I started jamming with a few session musician mates, and the name Waazzoo and the Vibes was born. At this stage, it is a solo act, but when I do live shows, the band and the boys will bring the ‘Vibes’ to Waazzoo.

There looks to be a lot of creative work outside of music that goes into this project, do you create the artwork as well?

I don’t create the artwork myself. My business partner Nicholas Sampson creates the artwork. He’s a super talented artist from Melbourne and together him and I have created a clothing brand/Comic series called Waazzoo. So we are intertwining my music with the rest of our brand. It’s all part of one big picture. 

‘Ay Ay Ay!’ is such a vibe! Tell us a little more about this song. What was it like to collaborate with Tane?

Ayyyy! Glad you guys dig it! That was definitely a fun one! It started off as a guitar riff with a nice pace to it. I wanted energy and I wanted a different culture in it, so decided to throw a rap in the mix. Thats where Tane came in. He’s a good friend of mine so it was a no brainer. We got in the studio, fleshed out the song and created something Fun!

Has music always been a big part of your life?

Music only became part of my life in 2012. I was studying a Bachelor of Performing arts at university, majoring in acting, then somehow took a detour, ended up in a band. Over the next few years, I found a new passion, moulded my craft and paved the way to where I am now.

Tell us about Waazzoo Threads! 

As I hinted above, Waazzoo threads is the instagram for my collective brand Waazzoo. It’s a modern surf/skate/vibe brand that emulates being bold and energetic. We are hoping to dive into a comic series, clothing, music and eventually an animated series. So everything we do under this umbrella is very precise and it all links to the other aspects of the brand. 

We are looking to launch our clothing in September, in the form of Collectible iron-on character patches. Watch the space.

What’s something that you think people assume about you?

I think people assume I’m always positive, busy and successful. I’d love to say that were the case all the time. I think I do tick those boxes a lot of the time, but being full time creative, we definitely hit our walls. One thing I’m learning recently is investing energy into the right places and people and really prioritising projects until their completion. 

Where would you love to be a fly on the wall and why?

I’d love to be a fly on a wall in the Rock Dwayne Johnsons creative space. That guy inspires me so much in terms of sheer determination and energy output. I’d love to pick up a few good nuggets and just hear how he manages to do it ALL.

What’s a weird food combination you love? Eg. Ketchup and cereal.

Haha, personally can’t say I’ve tried that one. Ahh, I think I’m quite a simple man, but if there was one thing, it’d be pies and pizza in a sandwich with sauce. People don’t usually do that because thats carb overload, but it’s a real good time. I hardly ever do it now, but you’ve got try it once.

Who would you say is your doppelgänger?

Thats a tricky one. Iv’e had a few people say I look like Ben Stiller? Or Eddie Redmayn? (Fantastic beasts and where to find them) But I kinda don’t see that. 

But hey, i’ll let you guys be the judge of that one. 

Pizza is better cold the next day, Y or N? 

Pizza is 100% not better the next day! I think home cooked meals generally are great the following day, but pizza is a ‘must eat’ the night of :)

I’m really not sure if a pizza-pie sandwich is going to be my thing but I’m willing to give it a go. Jordi has created something with substance in Wazzoo and the Vibes and the thought behind the project is exciting as it dives into new waters, not many artists have crossed over into other mediums to tell a the story of their brand. Get ready for something epic.

Check out his song below or head to our I’m So Indie You 🌞 playlist to hear more songs like it.

By Samuel Seedsman.