The Bellville-raised Jax Panik made his first record in his bedroom. Using only some cheap recording software and his own peculiar genius, he discovered a sound that hangs charmingly sincere lyrics amidst bubbly, almost comedic, pop arrangements.
Jax released the songs online and became a surprise viral hit, with his single "Cigarettes & Cinnamon" gaining wide attention in South Africa including collaboration requests from Cape Town's hottest artists and demands for live performance. Lacking bandmates, Jax Panik chose a different route than fellow online superstar Greg Carlin, who assembled live performers to take on the road as Zebra & Giraffe. Jax instead produced zany internet videos (found on YouTube, MySpace and his website) featuring an inscrutable German character and silly costumes that only broadened the mystery.
Now, for the first time ever, SPIN Earth correspondent Lu Chase takes a look behind Jax Panik's mask and into the recording studio where he is working on a follow-up album with producer Johnny de Ridder (of Fokofpolisiekar and Die Heuwels Fantasties).
WARNING: Video contains elaborately eccentric creative process, and underwear.
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