Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Hi! I’m Venus, 1/2 of Venus and the Flytrap and We are members of Jestamang. I was born and raised in Boston, specifically Somerville… Flytrap and I met each other at a bar called Vera’s off Union Square, specifically the Comedy Club inside it. We then met The Ace of Chase and Caleb Mars Hickman and they invited us over to their house. They then showed their music to us and after that, we were at their house frequently. They then explained Jestamang, which is a music collective consisting of professional jokers originating from the Jesta metropolis who’ve been training to open up the psychedelic renaissance from alter egos which weave and build up Jestamang on the daily.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: The only formal training that we have had is from The Ace of Chase and Caleb Mars Hickman. They took us under their wing back in 2021. They are the co-founders of Jestamang, and they were in a band called The Perfect Trip. They would teach us how to sing and write songs! They are very nice (and cute boys!)
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Jestamang’?
A: Personally, my musical influences include bands part of Jestamang, especially The Perfect Trip, Alissa Orange, and Blue Jays! I never really had a serious taste for music before I met the boys. I was originally going to go to beauty school and was working at a wine shop. As for the name Jestamang, I have no idea! You’d have to ask Ace and Mars for that story.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Don’t ID Jesus’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Don’t ID Jesus was written when we were living in Boston when Covid-19 hit. It was very strict up there, with things closed down for a long time. We were bored as ever, but we definitely had time to write songs. It’s basically a diddy about Jesus going to a bar and not getting ID’d at the door, because you need to have faith in Jesus being older than 21. I mean he’s Jesus for crying out loud! You know how old he is, let him have fun!
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: As of now, we have no plans to record at the moment, as we are focusing on promoting the album. Jestamang however has a concept going on with an album a month for 2023 on the 23rd day. We took the May slot! We also have another album we released in February 2022, which is our self-titled.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: Our elements are to bring upbeat, psychedelic, and girly vibes. We just get inspired by love, fun and what our boyfriends are rambling and ranting about! We like reacting to their vibes, as they get so worked up over the dumbest things.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: Absolutely! Without this collective I don’t know what I would be doing other than kicking rocks at the hair parlor. Being a part of this collective gives me optimism for where it will take us.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Well usually I will just write words down and Flytrap will focus on the music side of it. Very traditional and simple approach! We try not to get in each other’s way, and are very agreeable to what we bring to the table. You gotta have trust and be open minded with your partner, or else bitterness ensues. We’ve seen it happen in Jestamang with the other bands, and we try to learn from that. That doesn’t mean there aren’t disagreements, but we also have Ace and Mars chip their two cents in so we balance out the opinions. They end up producing and mixing the songs.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I can’t speak for Flytrap but for me, the heartbreak of my love is what hit me the hardest. He was my soulmate, but he passed away from a motorcycle accident back in 2019. I think about him every day…
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: The proudest moment is probably completing our two albums in one year! Also another thing is getting the Jestamang website up and running. Look up Jestamang.com and you’ll be in for a treat! <3
