More on: Jesse Malin

Following on from last year's 'Glitter In The Gutter' album, Jesse Malin has just unleashed his LP of cover versions in the form of 'On Your Sleeve'.

The New Yorker covers classic tracks from the likes of Lou Reed, Sam Cooke and The Ramones, all recorded in New York over the space of a week. Malin heads to the UK on 8th May, where he kicks off his tour in Oxford, joined by Dave Bielanko of Marah.

Fresh from joining Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello at a Boston show to fight for healthcare for all Massachusetts residents, we got Jesse to answer a few of our questions.

How did the recent gig for Tom Morello's benefit show go?
Super sweet guy. Really energized political crowd. Got to play with Tom, Wayner Kramer, Dave from The Low Stars, and raised a lot of money for a good cause in New England. We did covers of 'The Harder They Come', 'Walk On The Wild Side' and 'This Land Is Your Land'.

Why did you decide to release a covers album at this stage in your career?
For fun, for love, for kicks, for real.

What were you trying to achieve with the covers?
The passion of what gets me into songs, like making a mixed tape for a friend or a lover. Sharing my record collection with the fans. Finding different ways to approach these songs was doing it fast in seven days as a holiday project.

Are there any songs that are favourites of yours that you wouldn't feel comfortable covering?
Wished I did 'Gypsies Tramps and Thieves', 'Between You and Me' by Graham Parker, 'B13' by BAD and so many more.

You're returning to the UK - what fond memories do you have of these shores?
Great crowds, great beer, bad food, good times with old friends, sit downs, sing alongs, rum, sodomy and lash.

What can UK fans look forward to on this tour, set wise? Any new material? Collaborations?
All of the above. New obscure covers of songs I don't normally play from the three solo records.

Have you started work on a new album at all?
I've written about fifteen songs and hope to get into the studio in the early Fall. I have been doing some soundtrack work as well.

Can you reveal which direction the new material is taking? What is inspiring you to write at the moment?
I want to make a warm, honest, natural, exposed classic record. I want to challenge myself lyrically, rhythmically and melodically - some kind of fruity Renaissance. I like to move but I don't often practice the rhythm method.

Which artists are you listening to at the moment?
The Kills, The Hold Steady, Joseph Arthur, MGMT, Nick Cave, Paul Simon, Johnny Thunders.

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