Jajaja records in a new label based in Detroit, Michigan. It started up this year and is run by Lilly Koloski and Nick Rorick.
(Cheri Clair is a local booker, promoter and writer.)
CHERI: Hi, Lilly and Nick! Thanks for doing this interview with me for Rock in Detroit. I want to start off by having you each introduce yourselves to the readers. I know you’re movers and shakers, but musicians and fans of every genre use this site and may not be as familiar with you as I am.
NICK: Hi there! I’m Nick Rorick and I’ve been helping Lilly with some of the label logistics. We play in the band The Randy Bastards together, where I sing and she plays bass. I also drive and tour manage bands so you may know me from seeing me at a merch table. Or vending records at various punk rock swap meets.
LILLY: Yo! Lilly, Liljana, FISHI . . . I’m a fish of many names. I used to front Detroit’s Lily Livers. I currently play in the Randy Bastards alongside Nick and have my own solo project called “FISHI.” “Pond Punk” is how I call it.
CHERI: So, Lilly, you’re the owner of Jajaja Records. As I understand it, your label seeks to expose the whole world’s music. Your first release is of a Macedonian band, My Tear. How did you happen to find them?
LILLY: Me listening to My Tear is a long story. Back in 2011, I had a desire to meld my two worlds of punk rock and Macedonian heritage. So I hopped onto Google and found a Macedonian punk rock band called Noviot Pochetok exactly in the midst of promoting their then new record “Melancholic Machine.” I watched the video for their single Dopir and then Tamu Zhiveam. They were fast. Really fast. Beautiful melodies infused with speed and aggression. I was hooked immediately.
I reached out to the band–first to the guitarist, Nikola. He chatted with me and was always super nice. I think he could tell I was a total fan and always entertained my messages and questions. First, I asked about other good bands from their scene. He was in a hardcore band called “Screaming for Change.” Fitz, the singer of Noviot Pochetok, had an acoustic project. Ace, the bassist, made sausages, and Deni, the drummer and newest member, was in a band called “Fonija.” Same great melodic hardcore. I’ve followed the Macedonian punk scene since then and watched all the bands Fritz, Ace, and Deni have created over the years. Eventually, Fonija called it quits and Deni started My Tear, and I was still hooked.
CHERI: Do you sign bands to your label and release music for them just online? Or do also release in physical format (vinyl, CD or cassette)?
LILLY: Yes we do. “My Tear” is the first on the roster and we do have a release planned for them. We do digital and small runs of physical releases, predominantly CDs or cassettes. Vinyl is expensive! When we get closer to a release date, we will have Jajajajrecords.bandcamp.com up for digital downloads. It will be looking way prettier than it does now. Hopefully a website as well. Maybe a Discogs listing? We’ll see.
CHERI: You and Nick play together in The Randy Bastards. How did that happen? Got any cool shows coming up?
LILLY: Yeah! I love Nick. He’s been a good guide into the punk rock world for me, the world of being an active musician. Everybody who knows Nick knows he’s full of fun and has a kind heart.
I joined the Randy Bastards on a whim about six years ago. I went to a show; they needed a bassist. I hopped on stage and started plucking a tune, then someone else jumped on stage, and I decided I wanted to do it again. So I just took the bass back for the next song, and finished the set with them. The band was impressed. I was impressed. The other bassist I kicked off stage was not impressed! I have no regrets!
The Randy Bastards are opening up for the Dickies at the Sanctuary in Hamtramck with Choking Susan and the Black List! I’m really stoked on that! (For info see https://rockindetroit.com/events/the-dickies/)
CHERI: Sounds like fun! Do you have any other record releases planned that we should keep an eye out for?
LILLY: The future is unwritten. I’m working on a FISHI split release with a great songwriter from New York. More info on that soon as well! I’m sure you’ll see a Randy Bastards release in the future as well. But for right now, we only have My Tear. All focus on them for the time being! They’re great people and deserve the little limelight we can provide.
We’re also planning on releasing a sampler compilation so listeners can get a little preview of what’s to come and check out some of the bands that they may be unfamiliar with. That’s a big part of what got us into new bands growing up and I’m glad to see that tradition is still alive and well these days.
CHERI: Awesome! I can’t wait to hear it. In terms of future releases, do you think it’s more likely you’ll continue with other bands from the Macedonian punk rock scene or you’ll look for more locally based bands?
LILLY: People can expect a mixture of both . . . and then some. We’ll always have our heart in Michigan, but I don’t see a reason to ever be region specific. The USA, Macedonia, India, Japan—anywhere. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to chat and explain our origins!
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