Band makes waves and goes places

By Lilly O’Gorman
THERE is a long story behind the band name, Jakk’s Azimuth, involving an acronym, mythical creatures and the celestial sphere.
But it hasn’t taken the band all that long to make its mark.
Pakenham’s Rachel Quagliani, 19, joined the band eight months ago, after jumping on board for a few gigs on backing vocals and saxophone.
Although Rachel has been playing music since a very young age, it was her first gig with Jakk’s Azimuth at Ruby’s Lounge in Belgrave that really ignited her love for singing and playing live.
“Nothing compares to playing to a big crowd, there is just so much energy,” Rachel explains.
And it seems the crowd too loves the band.
The five-piece band recently won $2500 in a band competition run by touring company MLG. They will be competing in the Grand final of another competition run by the same company, to hopefully be selected from a total pool of 60 other bands on 21 August at Village Green in Mulgrave.
It’s hard to pin down the band’s style, but Rachel gives it a go.
“I guess you could say we are folk/rock or prog-rock. We have a lot of different influences.”
Jazz, folk and metal are some of the many styles that the band members bring to the table.
“We have a very broad range, but it comes together really well,” Rachel said.
“It’s only in the last four months that we’ve really found our sound.”
At the time of the interview, the group is spending a week in Rye to bond and further consolidate their sound.
“We will be recording in a bungalow out the back and bonding and we will hopefully come out of it with a few new songs. We want to record our first EP in the next few months.”
Rachel’s musical career has never been planned. After skipping from keyboard to flute, she got to high school and was handed a saxophone by one of her teachers. She has never looked back.
“I wanted to play in the big bands, so my teacher handed me a saxophone. I never had lessons.”
She “ended up” majoring in saxophone as part of her performance degree at Box Hill TAFE, but has taken a year off this year to focus on the band.
“I think I will go back next year and major in singing,” she said.
For now, though, the focus is on Jakk’s Azimuth.
“We’d all love to make a living off the band. We’d love to make an album and tour. We’re all going to make a serious go of it,” she said.
To find out more about the band, go to myspace.com/jakksazimuth