Whenever they're asked about how the duo Moma Jest formed, James and Tom never quite know how to answer the question, though it's clear it was building up for a long time.
James's version of how they met goes like this: "I remember sitting around in the drama room waiting to go on stage with the school band I was in at the time, and I met this guy (Tom) who was playing a sexy blue Telecaster. I think he played 'Under the Bridge' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and maybe an original song. At the time I thought he was alright but not mind blowing."
Later, throughout their college days Tom and James kept crossing paths at parties. Then, having arranged to jam with a friend at The Fountain (a muso's pub in Rowlands Castle), James found that mixing with the group of musos and friends was that Tom character again. Haha! This time was a lot different. Tom watched James play and was impressed. Then James saw Tom play and was even more impressed. God, had this guy improved!
His voice was unique, airy, and husky - and he had a cool style to his guitar playing. Tom and James didn't really chat much this night. It took one more party till they actually said, "Hey, you play guitar and sing right? Lets get together for a jam sometime".
So, jam they did. On one hot summer’s day in June, they wrote their first song together and something seemed to click... Personalities, musical direction, everything seemed to be in place, along with the desire to want something out of music. From then on they kept throwing the names of different artists at each other. When they came across a song by Damien Rice and Christy Moore called 'Lonely Soldier', they were inspired to harmonise. Ever since meeting they have been constantly writing, learning how to get musically tight, and enjoying meeting some amazing and inspirational people along the way.
As James says: "For us everything feels right at the heart of it. May this journey end.
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