BIOGRAPHY
jo jacobs was born joanna caroline
jacobs on May 7th, 1974, in Camperdown, Australia.
Although she has been playing piano
since the age of eight, jo has been interested in music since she first
discovered dancing as a two year old, to the sounds of early Neil Diamond
records. (her favourite songs include Stargazer, Sweet Caroline and Crunchy
Granola Suite).
After finishing high school, where
she studied music and developed an interest in drama and photography, jo
joined BELOW ZERO. This group was primarily acoustic based, consisting
of Renea Baker (vocals,guitars), Jim Parker (bass) and jo (vocals,guitar,percussion).
BELOW ZERO regularly performed in Coffs Harbour, favouring the intimate
cafe atmosphere, and were occasionally joined by guest musicians Ryan Squires
(guitars) and Julie Williams (vocals and percussion).
jo is a qualified hairdresser, having
worked in the industry for six years. jo specialised in competition work
and has worked as an image stylist and colourist. This also led to further
developments in her interest in photography.
jo, while studying at the CONTEMPORARY
MUSIC CENTRE, met friends and musicians Fonda Shae and Nicholas Zachary
Chapman. Together they would form the acoustic trio TADEMA, an outfit that
produces emotional and uncliched music.
TADEMA is predominantly acoustically based, with Fonda
(vocals,guitars). jo (vocals,piano,percussion) and Nico (violin and percussion).
The trio plan to incorporate more technology into their performances in
the future, and each performance always has a strong visual emphasis.
jo jacobs maintains a solo career,
with the release of her debut solo ep ACOUSTIFIED due in july, 2000. The
ep will be released on FLUFFY CAT PRODUCTIONS, the independent label/ production
company run as a partnership between jo and her sister; Melbourne based
visual artist Susan Elizabeth Jacobs.
ACOUSTIFIED will be the second release
on the label, which has previously released a remix for Sydney based songwriter
David Beniuk, along with producing several visual arts events and exhibitions
in Melbourne.
jo is currently working on production
of her debut solo album, due for release in December, 2000. The self-titled
six track ep TADEMA is now available in independent record stores.
jo continues to perform both with
TADEMA as well as solo, and has also appeared locally and at festivals
as a backing vocalist with DAVID BENIUK'S INFOTAINMENT LIFESTYLE BAND.